Today's is absolutely perfect for this season of my life. It says:
"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."
-Theodore Roosevelt
Work worth doing is something I've thought a lot about lately. What does that really mean? How do you define your worth or the worth of your work? I think that largely depends on the line of work you're in. I don't know many people who say "my job is worthless", nor can I think of many jobs which I would consider worthless.
But because I'm a teacher, I'm going to talk about the worth of my job today. I really believe with my entire soul that my job is far and away the greatest job on Earth. It doesn't come without struggle or frustration, but at the end of the day - teachers are the epitome of working for the greater good in my opinion. Can you name one teacher who has entered the profession for any other reason than because they enjoy kids and want to make a difference? I've thought a lot about it, and I can't think of one.
Are there "bad" teachers? Sure, just the same as there are "bad" actors, "bad" musicians, "bad" cooks, "bad" doctors, "bad" police officers, and "bad" news reporters. Every profession has their less than great members, so why is it that we as a country are so overly critical of bad teachers? I find it hilarious when people argue about the importance of people's jobs. {because it really doesn't matter} "Police are the most important jobs in our community", "No, it's the firemen and women", "no it's the teachers" - Well, ladies and gentleman (all 3 of you reading...) - I guess I would argue that the importance of a profession could be measured by how critical people are when it's not being done well. I rarely see a person complaining about a police officer who is not doing their job, or a garbage collector who leaves the can tipped over in the street or with some garbage left in it, or the journalist who doesn't cover the entire story, or a doctor who misses a diagnosis or is less than friendly to his/her patient - but when there is a bad teacher, look out - everyone has something to say. I personally, take that as a compliment because I go to work everyday and do the very best job I can do. When people are critical of teachers though, it's difficult not to be defensive of my fellow colleagues.
Does this job have benefits? Sure, but it (like any job) also has it's bumps. Summers off are nice - except that usually I'm working another job to pay the bills or in my classroom getting ready for the next school year. Our salary is nice - except by the standards of our country it pales in comparison to other professions. Working 8-4 as a contract day is great - but to be honest, I can't tell you the last day those were really the hours I actually worked, usually coming early, staying late, and taking home work. Working with kids all day is awesome - except that I spend more than 1/2 my day doing things that 50 years ago were done at home {teaching middle names, phone numbers, manners, appropriate responses, anger management, etc} Our benefit and pension package are great - and what are people attacking right now - the only free and clear, no questions asked tangible benefit of teaching.
But here is the bottom line, every single day teachers in this country put all the political crap aside and go back to work in hopes of making a difference. As Ralph Waldo Emerson says:
"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
And so today, I will go to work and work hard at my work that is unquestionably worth doing.
Have a happy day, Friends :)
1 comment:
I couldn't agree more! I would bet those most critical have no idea of what actually goes on day to day in a classroom.
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