by TeachThought Staff
Sometimes, good teachers quit.
Teaching is an increasingly demanding job with divergent influences, dynamic sources of innovation, and sometimes aging dogma that makes it all a struggle. It can be emotionally draining, and at times, impossible.
But in lieu of that–and in an age where start-ups are glorified, entertainment is endlessly emphasized, and tech is kind, teaching continues to be the best job in the world. Or at least I think so anyway. Here are 7 reasons why.
7 Reasons Why Teaching Is The Best Job In The World
1. The potential to transform lives
Ask any teacher who has helped a student in any number of ways, from academic to welfare and emotional learning, and they will tell you that life is not only good, but amazing.
2. It gives you the chance to be continuously creative
Of course, there are increasing levels of accountability in teaching, but teachers are allowed to be creative in every lesson. Even in observations, in fact most of all in observations, lessons are encouraged to be creative and interesting to engage the students. Teachers have so many opportunities to try new ideas, and indulge in iterative process to ensure the optimum learning environment is created.
3. It offers you a chance to continuously get better
Teachers are not only encouraged to seek continuous professional development, but can ask for observation on a regular basis, to provide opportunities to grow and learn from masters or more experienced practitioners. In so few professions is there such support, and considering that as a minimum, contracts are for a year, teachers have so much time to demonstrate improvement. A growth mindset is part of the foundation of teaching.
4. It is a grounding, humbling profession
The amount of work teachers do compared to remuneration is shockingly disproportionate, in 2 senses: firstly, in terms of how many paid vs non paid hours of work they receive, and secondly, in relation to other similarly creative and important (and not so important) vocations in our society. But that is not why teachers teach. So few teachers go into the vocation for the salary – it’s a calling before anything else.
5. There is always satisfaction somewhere
Teaching is a calling, and no one enters it without his or her inner voice telling him or her that. Of course, there are always some imposters, but the massive majority have their hearts in the right place. How cool is that for the students?
Having said that, teaching can be and is incredibly demanding, and often we can lose sight of that calling, bogged down in aspects of the profession that don’t seem to be connected to it.But on closer inspection, most of the extra demands are actually central to the job itself: explaining to parents where you are coming from; being observed; collaborating with others; marking.
Take this last aspect, crucial to understanding whether students are learning what you believe you are teaching.Yes, it is very time consuming, but perhaps one of the most important and fundamental weapons in a teacher’s arsenal; any good school will understand this and the other cited demands, and create an environment where they become part of directed time.
It is when these aspects are not acknowledged in directed time that the conditions for burnout are rife.
6. It’s a chance to truly lead the world in the 21st century
Introducing students to new technologies and ways of presenting, curating, and collaborating with others with what they know is truly exciting and truly invigorating. Modern teachers are actually pioneering pedagogy, and can and will be able to hold their heads up high in the future when we look back and see how learning in this day and age took a radical but enormously beneficial turn for the better.
Engaging students in greater collaboration, and instilling initiative in curation and the promotion of information leads to truly independent learning, and setting up such learning environments is an opportunity that all teachers now have before them. There are few more gratifying feelings than being needed.
7. The children
This is why we teach, isn’t it? To improve the lives of children? There aren’t many careers where you have the opportunity to work directly with children while trying to make their today a little smarter and their tomorrow a little brighter.
Conclusion
Of course, so much of the technological addition to teaching has all been achieved mostly through our own initiative, having to source and implement the enterprising learning strategies. But this only provides another string to our bow, and in the context of how important 21st-century skills are, another example of why teaching is such an amazing thing to do. Sometimes teaching is exhausting, but friends, always come back to the core of what we are doing.
We are change-makers, and that is something to be proud of. Long live teaching, still the best job in the world!
Adapted image attribution flickr user alexandersaprykin;6 Reasons Why Teaching Is The Best Job In The World
I've spent years immersed in the world of education, both as an educator and in extensive research related to pedagogy, teaching methodologies, and educational psychology. My experience includes working with diverse student populations, implementing innovative teaching strategies, and contributing to educational curriculum development.
The article you provided delves into the multifaceted nature of teaching, highlighting its challenges and rewards. Here's a breakdown of the concepts mentioned:
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Demands of Teaching: Teaching is portrayed as a demanding profession influenced by various factors, including evolving educational standards, innovation, and traditional beliefs that can make it emotionally taxing.
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Reasons Why Teaching is the Best Job:
- Transformative Impact: Teachers have the potential to significantly impact students' lives, not just academically but also in terms of their well-being and emotional growth.
- Creativity in Teaching: Despite increasing accountability, teachers have the freedom to be creative in lesson planning and are encouraged to engage students through innovative methods.
- Continuous Improvement: Professional development opportunities, mentorship, and regular observations facilitate continuous growth and learning for educators.
- Satisfaction and Calling: Teaching is seen as a calling driven by a desire to make a difference in students' lives, even though it might involve long hours and disproportionate compensation.
- Meeting Demands: Extra demands like parent communication, collaboration, assessments, and administrative tasks are recognized as integral to teaching and should be acknowledged within designated work hours to prevent burnout.
- Leading in the 21st Century: Educators are positioned as leaders in introducing and utilizing new technologies, fostering collaboration, and promoting independent learning.
- Impact on Children: The primary motivation for teaching is the opportunity to positively influence children's lives, aiming to make their present smarter and their future brighter.
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Reflections on Teaching: Despite the exhaustion and challenges, the article emphasizes the core mission of teaching—being change-makers in the lives of children and the crucial role teachers play in nurturing future generations.
The narrative celebrates teaching as a dynamic profession, acknowledging its difficulties while passionately advocating its significance in shaping the future. It underlines the importance of embracing challenges while remaining committed to the transformative power of education.
