The Hard Part of Teaching

I've seen a number of teachers post a link to this article online about the hard part of teaching.  I reference it here just so everyone knows what I'm talking about:

The Hard Part of Teaching

In the article, the writer goes into a lot of detail about their view of the hard part of teaching:  there is never enough.  I'll let you read the article for yourself rather than have me give the details.

As a teacher myself, I can't disagree with much of what was written in the article.  I, too, struggle with a lot of the same types of issues.  For me, I can definitely relate to the concerns that are more personal in nature - picking my battles, being flexible, always wanting to improve each year, etc.  I have worked in a number of professions in all my years in the workforce, and I definitely believe that teaching has been the most challenging and most rewarding at the same time.  I've put in more hours a week as a teacher than I have in any other job I've ever had.

But what the article lacks is one important thing - a positive reflection on the calling of a teacher.  The article is very negative overall.  It doesn't matter if it represents a lot of truth about teaching and its challenges.  What does matter is that a teacher who is called to the profession must have an anchor in what this role is really all about - preparing students to make a positive impact in the world.  If that anchor is in place, you will be able to rise above the challenges that try to get in the way.  They will not conquer you or completely derail your efforts in the classroom.

Now, I do realize the challenges are very real.  I see myself in much of what is discussed in the article.  There are days when I wonder how it will all get done - and done in the right way.  But this article looks to me like something I've done myself in other ways.  Sometimes when I get frustrated, when the work just piles up, or when I don't feel appreciated, I want others to know.  Maybe if they can appreciate what I'm going through, then either something will change or at least I'll feel better now that they know.  Any good feeling I gain from this type of thing is very short in duration.  Then I'm faced with the same situations, and I must continue to seek the right solutions.

As a teacher in a Christian school, I believe this sense of calling also has spiritual value.  I assure you that if I didn't know I had a calling from God to this school ministry, I'd be doing something else.  But God sees things differently than I do, and certainly differently than the world does.  In my case, I have a spiritual calling from God to be a teacher in a Christian school.  That gives me access to His strength to persevere through the types of issues in this article.  There are still challenges, but He gives me victory every time in what matters to Him.

I realize not every teacher has the awesome privilege of working in a Christian school.  So to all teachers, I say to remember why you became a teacher in the first place.  If, like the author of the article, all you can see are the problems you face and the struggles that get in the way, then it might be time to consider where you really want to be and what makes you happy.  But I can tell you from experience - the grass is not always greener in some other field.  But for the ones who can see past the difficulties and challenges, and remember why you do what you do, the opportunities to impact the lives of many students awaits you.

Mr. B.