Confession is good for the soul, I guess
I had a strange realization last night, and it annoys me a little. Actually it annoys me more than I care to admit. I was at a friend's birthday dinner where I only knew a couple of people. Someone asked me what I do, and I explained that I'm a teacher, but added that it's totally different than anything I've ever done. As I ate my salmon salad, I realized that I do similar things frequently ~ tack on an addendum to my current job explanation, so that people know I haven't always been a teacher, that I had a different job in my "past life."
I'm generally not one to indulge in Dawson's Creek-ish navel inspection, but I wondered as I drove home, "Why do I do that?" It's not as if I want or need validation for my current job. I didn't fall into this job by default or inherit it as the family business without any choice in the matter. I deliberately chose to be a teacher because I love science and I love kids and I want to make public schools better. I know teaching isn't really a valued profession by many people, and that few people truly understand the energy required to be a teacher. I don't think my past job was any more reputable or commendable . . . in fact, I hated trying to explain what I used to do, b/c I never knew how much background knowledge people had, and it was just tedious to explain. Plus, I hated that job, so I hated talking about it.
I'm not ashamed of being a teacher. I know that I do value my journey, and the fact that I've had other life experiences besides teaching. But who really cares if anyone knows that? I hate that I'm not more satisfied with saying, "I'm a teacher," and that I can't admit that without hesitating a little. Most people are supportive, especially when they find out I deal with middle schoolers. I've only gotten a couple of those idiotic responses where people sneer and seethe, "Must be nice to have your summers off!"
Maybe I've just begun to realize how little people value the profession of teaching, and so I don't want to associate myself with a less-respected vocation. Which, I think, is completely self-absorbed & disgustingly prideful. It's one of those times where I utterly annoy myself.
One a more cheerful note: I know I'm not supposed to have a teacher's pet, but a kid in my 5th period is just so completely great. He's very smart, always engaged, very verbal for his age, and an amazingly independent thinker. I did a group work assignment yesterday, and all day long I heard, "Grrrrrrr! I cannot work with that girl!" (and yes, they really do growl) and "Can I puh-leeze switch my group?!" Because, you see, sitting with someone less than desirable for approximately 25 minutes is, of course, the end of a middle schooler's world.
However, in 5th period, I assigned groups, explained the instructions, and sat back to do the typical crowd control required in afternoon classes. Teacher's Pet walked up to me, grinned, and said, "I really like my group, Miss Kat!" And then he sauntered off to join his group, where he solved the assigned dilemma in about 30 seconds, and then happily explained it to the other 2 students.
Oh. It was like music in my ears. Gotta love that kid!
I'm generally not one to indulge in Dawson's Creek-ish navel inspection, but I wondered as I drove home, "Why do I do that?" It's not as if I want or need validation for my current job. I didn't fall into this job by default or inherit it as the family business without any choice in the matter. I deliberately chose to be a teacher because I love science and I love kids and I want to make public schools better. I know teaching isn't really a valued profession by many people, and that few people truly understand the energy required to be a teacher. I don't think my past job was any more reputable or commendable . . . in fact, I hated trying to explain what I used to do, b/c I never knew how much background knowledge people had, and it was just tedious to explain. Plus, I hated that job, so I hated talking about it.
I'm not ashamed of being a teacher. I know that I do value my journey, and the fact that I've had other life experiences besides teaching. But who really cares if anyone knows that? I hate that I'm not more satisfied with saying, "I'm a teacher," and that I can't admit that without hesitating a little. Most people are supportive, especially when they find out I deal with middle schoolers. I've only gotten a couple of those idiotic responses where people sneer and seethe, "Must be nice to have your summers off!"
Maybe I've just begun to realize how little people value the profession of teaching, and so I don't want to associate myself with a less-respected vocation. Which, I think, is completely self-absorbed & disgustingly prideful. It's one of those times where I utterly annoy myself.
One a more cheerful note: I know I'm not supposed to have a teacher's pet, but a kid in my 5th period is just so completely great. He's very smart, always engaged, very verbal for his age, and an amazingly independent thinker. I did a group work assignment yesterday, and all day long I heard, "Grrrrrrr! I cannot work with that girl!" (and yes, they really do growl) and "Can I puh-leeze switch my group?!" Because, you see, sitting with someone less than desirable for approximately 25 minutes is, of course, the end of a middle schooler's world.
However, in 5th period, I assigned groups, explained the instructions, and sat back to do the typical crowd control required in afternoon classes. Teacher's Pet walked up to me, grinned, and said, "I really like my group, Miss Kat!" And then he sauntered off to join his group, where he solved the assigned dilemma in about 30 seconds, and then happily explained it to the other 2 students.
Oh. It was like music in my ears. Gotta love that kid!
posted by Kat at
6:03 PM
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