Why I Teach

Titus 2:7 offers us a glimpse at some characteristics of a teacher. In everything set an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech.

Growing up in a rural elementary school system in the mid eighties I can honestly say that of those who taught me, the majority did not posses those qualities. They did not care about their students or take their responsibilities seriously. They were quick to overreact to the bad students and overlook the good. They were slow to offer help to those who were falling behind and did not take the better students to the next level. They just showed up followed the curriculum for the day and went home.
There was a tension in the classroom caused by the new arrival of minority students in our school system. The teachers were not prepared for this and their discipline styles ranged dramatically from ignore the problems to put the problem in a room by his or her self. The teachers had preconceived negative attitudes towards the other cultures and it quickly rubbed off on many of the students. As the students began to develop negative attitudes towards their peers I started to develop a negative attitude towards all teachers because of the way they mistreated all students, good and bad. I carried my attitude with me all the way through my school years. I had a passion for teachers, I passionately disliked them, with the exception of one.

It was the year 1986 and my 1st grade class was sitting with many other classes to watch an amazing event. The launch of the Challenger Space Shuttle. What made this launch significant was the fact that a teacher was going to space that day and that teacher could’ve been the man standing about twenty feet from us, Mr. Lee. He was a top ten finalist, he wanted to see the effects of weightlessness on arthritis. Before the tv was turned on Mr. Lee was asked to speak to us. He was introduced as “our new celebrity teacher”. I remember his speech almost word for word. “Celebrity, not quite”, he said “I’m just a teacher, it’s what I do, it’s what I enjoy. If I would have been selected for the Challenger mission it would only be because I’ve found my purpose in life and lived it out to the best of my ability. My advise to each young person is to find what you love and reach for the stars.” 10, 9, 8 the countdown had begun. I looked at Mr. Lee standing proudly behind us. 3,2,1. We watched as that controlled explosion hurled the shuttle towards space. I leaned to my best friend and said some day I’m gonna go to space, he quickly replied “dude, you’re already there. At that instant a silence fell over our assembly. I looked back up at that giant tv and all I saw were three streaks of smoke flying in separate directions. I felt a numbness come over my body as I glanced at Mr. Lee, who was no longer standing in his proud position but leaning against a wall with his eyes closed, possibly praying.

We lost some of our innocence in that seventy-three seconds of our lives, a part of us we couldn’t get back. A part we’d spend the rest of our lives trying to find. What we would find is pain, and fear, and loss. We would find that not everybody is meant to reach the stars, some of us were destined to crash and burn.

For five years my class was left to dangle with fears of the future and no hope in sight. It was sixth grade when we would finally find some hope and get some much needed encouragement. We had all looked forward to being in Mr. Lee’s class. It was decorated wall to wall with artifacts, bones and all kinds of neat stuff. He even had a live alligator and two boa constrictors. But what I think we really looked forward to was how he taught. He enjoyed what he did, he believed in us, saw potential in us and gave us hope for the future.

My motivations for teaching partly stem from these events in my life.

My goal is to never let my students lose their hope and to restore the hope to those who have little. Teaching is more than math, English and social studies, even though all are very important. None are more important than the individual. When the foundation of who he or she is, is secure, then you can build with the other skills.

I believe every student has potential. I make it my duty to be different than the majority of my teachers and help students find their purpose. Some stars are billions of miles away some are mere millions. Some of my students may not make it as for as others, but I believe every child can reach the stars and I will be there to lift them a little further.

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