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To answer your question, I dont really believe in callings per say. However, I think that certain people know what they want to do early on in life. If you want to call that a calling then I guess it is.
That "per say" should be per se.
Main Entry:1per se Pronunciation: \(ˌ)pər-ˈsā also per-ˈsā or (ˌ)pər-ˈsē\ Function:adverb Etymology:LatinDate:1572 : by, of, or in itself or oneself or themselves : as such :intrinsically
I hope you don't mind me bringing that to your attention; it is one of the category of mistakes I might make. If you read a lot but don't look up every single thing, you get "per say" sometimes. If you get a Kindle (that Amazon reader), you can look up things and I find it very helpful.
BACK TO TOPIC:
Yes, I think teaching is a calling, also, though I am suspicious of the religious tinge associated with the phrase "having a calling." Setting that aside, I'm not a classroom teacher, but a private music teacher. It's something I started doing when I was 12, and I definitely return to it, despite sidesteps into law and computer science. I absolutely love it and was born to do it. I'm not really happy doing anything else.
I think people getting teaching certifications or other kinds of training as a "backup" to their real dreams, is a huge mistake. Teaching shouldn't be a backup, but the main thing you want, if that's what you want.
yes until i became a teacher and saw that it wasnt all the type it was made out to be. it should not be pumped up to be some other worldly profession, its just a job like any other.
NOT a calling, though i enjoyed teaching, i think it is a good job or career choice
You said it so well! Teaching SHOULD be a calling, but far too many teachers are not in it for the right reasons. (I feel the same way about nursing!)
I've worked with nurses who felt it was a calling. Sadly, it was no guarantee of competence. Personally, I'd rather the competence.
Same thing with motherhood.
I'd expect that it extends to teachers, as well.
I was raised in a family of teachers... one aunt taught her entire 40+ year career in the same classroom in the same school! My parents told me that they didn't care what I studied in college, just to do well and get my B.S.Ed. degree while I was doing it as well. I did it, not initially planning to teach. I got to student teaching and loved it so much, I dropped my other major ( history -- though I got certified to teach that as well). I taught almost 30 years; my husband never intended to teach but it was a dual degree with the one he was in and he wound up getting the B.S.Ed as well and taught for 35 years. Did we plan the careers? No. Did we enjoy them? Yes. Would we do it again? I think we both would.
When you get the commentaries on 'yes, teachers love the job for the vacations and benefits', consider this: the people who say that are generally people who either hated school or are annoyed that teachers get what they call 'vacations'. [Actually, if you were in construcion and there was a seasonal shutdown where I live, I would have gotten unemployment. Substitutes and temporary teachers don't even get that, not do hourly teacher aides.] It is a job which comes with a set time for work [no taking off for appts, doctor, etc.; you do the entire day as to not "confuse the children" -- that was in our contract!] -- . You don't get to pick and chose when in the year you 'vacation'. Benefits are different wherever you live -- my district (poor, urban) paid us a lot less than the suburbs but we got our health insurance -- when many burbs made teachers pay most of it. However, that was not why I went to teach, I went for the job. I put in a lot of hours after school or before school doing grading, making visuals, planning lessons... the 30 min I got daily for prep meant I got to the ladies room and got a drink!
Bottom line here? If you don't want a really structured work environment, if you don't really like kids, if you won't be willing to put a lot of extra work into the job... don't even consider the field. Lots of people want the jobs who will be willing to put up with the headaches as well as be delighted with the joys.
I honestly take exception to those who criticize public schools. Certainly within the profession no one denies that reform is needed. Those that moan and groan that teachers don't care and all of that obviously have their own issues. 'Some' teachers do not care and others literally lay their lives on the line for their kids every day.
I taught for a few years in the inner city in the south and still burn with a white hot rage over what I saw. They had been told they were 'Bad' for so long that they couldn't believe anything else.
Educators need and deserve the support and respect of the entire society and each and every institution in order to accomplish the goals that are critical to the future.
I won't climb back on my soapbox--did that a few times elsewhere online. Maybe it did some good but too many were enjoying the sound of their own voices. One mother would post pages about the inadequacies of her child's school--terrified that a wrong value would be taught. I finally said 'Why don't you go offline and teach your child these values?' Didn't phase her.
So there you have It. Children Learn What They Live.
Banging the gavel down.
Last edited by TakeAhike; 01-31-2009 at 02:40 AM..
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