Why Do Teachers Teach? Finally My Thoughts...

As I posed the question 'why do teachers teach?' last week on this blog and facebook, I knew I'd receive a variety of responses and I certainly did. Humurous answers ranging from "because we're all irrational and slightly insane" to "cause you get a check and you enjoy the pain". While both responses are quite humorous, the scary part is that there is a bit of truth in each of the statements. I also had a lot more serious offerings including "I have the ability to make or break a child's spirit every singl". day. I can either instill in them a passion for learning or a distrust of teachers" to "I love to see the look on a student's face when they have been struggling to understand something, and then you see the light bulb go off when something finally clicks and you know they now get it". Both very thoughtful insights into the ever elusive answer to the always difficult question of just why do teachers teach.

The reason this question is so hard to answer is because there is not really a correct answer. Every person that chooses to make teaching their profession does so for their own reasons. Unfortunately , I feel all of us in the profession can rule out money as a reason for choosing to teach. So why do we sacrifice so much of ourselves as educators when we're clearly underpaid and in most regards under appreciated. The reason(s) that each of us choose to teach is often quite personal, and done for purposes so powerful that the hours of personal sacrifice, emotional turmoil, and low wages do not factor into our career choice.

For years now I have pondered my own answer to this question, and I'm still not sure I know all the reasons why I chose to teach. What I do know is this, and though this will sound incredibly hokey, I think the profession actually chose me. As early as when I was in middle school I can recall thinking how cool it would be to be a teacher. I have always been very fascinated by the power that teachers have to change lives. Additionally, I chose the teaching profession as a way to help me right the wrongs of my youth by helping my students not to make the same mistakes I did. Validation is another reason I teach...validation for my existence on this planet. Why spend the short time we have on this earth doing anything other than helping others?

More reasons coming soon...