The Hardest Job Everyone Thinks They Can Do

The Hardest Job Everyone Thinks They Can Do

By Dennis Hong                           Posted on weblog
musingsonlifeandlove.com             September 13, 2010

This piece was inspired by a heated discussion I had with a man who believes that teachers have an easy job. Please feel free to share it with others if you agree with the message.

I used to be a molecular biologist. I spent my days culturing viruses. Sometimes, my experiments would fail miserably, and I’d swear to myself in frustration. Acquaintances would ask how my work was going. I’d explain how I was having a difficult time cloning this one gene. I couldn’t seem to figure out the exact recipe to use for my cloning cocktail.

Acquaintances would sigh sympathetically. And they’d say, “I know you’ll figure it out. I have faith in you.”

And then, they’d tilt their heads in a show of respect for my skills….

Today, I’m a high school teacher. I spend my days culturing teenagers. Sometimes, my students get disruptive, and I swear to myself in frustration. Acquaintances ask me how my work is going. I explain how I’m having a difficult time with a certain kid. I can’t seem to get him to pay attention in class.

Acquaintances smirk knowingly. And they say, “well, have you tried making it fun for the kids? That’s how you get through to them, you know?”

And then, they explain to me how I should do my job….

I realize now how little respect teachers get. Teaching is the toughest job everyone who’s never done it thinks they can do. I admit, I was guilty of these delusions myself. When I decided to make the switch from “doing” science to “teaching” science, I found out that I had to go back to school to get a teaching credential.

“What?,” I screamed to any friends willing to put up with my griping. “I have a Ph.D.!  Why do I need to go back to get a lousy teaching credential?!?”

I was baffled. How could I, with my advanced degree in biology, not be qualified to teach biology?!

Well, those school administrators were a stubborn bunch. I simply couldn’t get a job without a credential. And so, I begrudgingly enrolled in a secondary teaching credential program.

And boy, were my eyes opened. I understand now.

Teaching isn’t just “making it fun” for the kids. Teaching isn’t just academic content.

Teaching is understanding how the human brain processes information and preparing lessons with this understanding in mind.

Teaching is simultaneously instilling in a child the belief that she can accomplish anything she wants while admonishing her for producing shoddy work.

Teaching is understanding the psychology and physiology behind the changes the adolescent mind goes through.

Teaching is convincing a defiant teenager that the work he sees no value in does serve a greater purpose in preparing him for the rest of his life.

Teaching is offering a sympathetic ear while maintaining a stern voice.

Teaching is being both a role model and a mentor to someone who may have neither at home, and may not be looking for either.

Teaching is not easy. Teaching is not intuitive. Teaching is not something that anyone can figure out on his own. Education researchers spend lifetimes developing effective new teaching methods. Teaching takes hard work and constant training. I understand now.

Have you ever watched professional athletes and gawked at how easy they make it look? Kobe Bryant weaves through five opposing players, sinking the ball into the basket without even glancing in its direction. Brett Favre spirals a football 100 feet through the air, landing it in the arms of a teammate running at full speed. Does anyone have any delusions that they can do what Kobe and Brett do?

Yet, people have delusions that anyone can do what the typical teacher does on a typical day.

Maybe the problem is tangibility. Shooting a basketball isn’t easy, but it’s easy to measure how good someone is at shooting a basketball. Throwing a football isn’t easy, but it’s easy to measure how good someone is at throwing a football. Similarly, diagnosing illnesses isn’t easy to do, but it’s easy to measure. Winning court cases isn’t easy to do, but it’s easy to measure. Creating and designing technology isn’t easy to do, but it’s easy to measure.

Inspiring kids? Inspiring kids can be downright damned near close to impossible sometimes. And… it’s downright damned near close to impossible to measure. You can’t measure inspiration by a child’s test scores. You can’t measure inspiration by a child’s grades. You measure inspiration 25 years later when that hot-shot doctor, or lawyer, or entrepreneur thanks her fourth-grade teacher for having faith in her and encouraging her to pursue her dreams.

Maybe that’s why teachers get so little respect. It’s hard to respect a skill that is so hard to quantify.

So, maybe you just have to take our word for it. The next time you walk into a classroom, and you see the teacher calmly presiding over a room full of kids, all actively engaged in the lesson, realize that it’s not because the job is easy. It’s because we make it look easy. And because we work our asses off to make it look easy.

And, yes, we make it fun, too.

Three Adjectives that Describe my Learning Style

Open-Minded
          I like to try new things and love suggestions from peers.  This year, I explored the math workshop model for teaching and will be expanding to include science workshops throughout the upcoming year.  I think that our peers sometimes have the best advice for how to improve classroom environments and teaching to best need the diverse needs of students.

Hands-On
          I am more likely to fully comprehend something if I try it, whether it be completing a math problem, reading a passage, researching a social studies topic, or conducting an experiment.  I have trouble wrapping my head around things that I cannot see or experience.

Inquisitive
          I love to ask questions.  The more questions that I ask, the better I understand.  I think it is important to challenge the students and have the students challenge me.  We work together in school to question the world around us through the exploration of current events.

Three Adjectives that Describe my Teaching Style

Understanding
          I like to show my kids that I understand not every day is easy and that there may be circumstances that make learning difficult for them on a given day.  This past year, I learned to be flexible to changes that may need to take place in the schedule.  I've also been working on changing lessons to demonstrate my understanding of the individual learning styles of my students.  My motto is that things can be fair within the classroom without being equal, and the students learn to adapt to that motto starting on day one.

Energetic
          The students love when I display high energy.  I try to find time throughout the day to help the students get refreshed and refocused.  There are many times throughout the day that the students laugh at me because I try to make the experiences they have while learning exciting.  I think it's good to shake things up a bit and help the students feed off of my energy.

Optimistic
          I like to think that students are capable of anything they put their mind to.  I try to maintain high expectations because I think it helps the students to push themselves to do their best.  Sometimes students become frustrated or negative and I try to bring them back to having a positive attitude.  I think that when students set high expectations for themselves, they are more likely to be internally motivated.

Teaching Philosophy

To teach…is to touch…a life…forever…

To teach…

            As a teacher, it is important to demonstrate to students that community can be formed among a diverse group of students, no matter what their similarities or differences.  In the classroom, I will provide students the opportunity to guide their own learning, based on their interests.  They will work as a collaborative group to ensure their needs are met and dreams and desires are investigated and pursued.  Just because learning must align with the standards does not mean that students cannot help to determine what methods they find most valuable in maintaining the information that they are provided by the teacher.  Sometimes, learning the material in an investigative manner rather than being lectured to can help students understand and be able to think critically and independently in the future.

is to touch…

            While teaching students, I myself will be touched by the students, and continue to learn from them in order to better my future students’ education.  It is just as important that the teacher learn new techniques through practice as it is for the students to learn new information.  Both teachers and students are touched by different events inside and outside of the classroom.  They develop a respect for one another, leading towards a more effective working environment.  The combination of support from teachers, parents, and administrators, will help lead to the success of the students.  It may seem difficult for one person to touch the lives of the students; however, working collaboratively can be an effective method for those involved.

a life…

            Each student is an individual and must be treated as such.  No two students will learn in exactly the same way or have exactly the same interests.  As a teacher, I would address different learning styles through carefully planned lessons.  These principles must be repeated by students using different techniques, including such things as visual lessons and hands-on experiences, in partners and in pairs or groups.  When students feel as though their personal preferences or abilities are being recognized, they feel a greater respect for the one teaching the guiding principles, and are more likely to be receptive to new information.  Monitoring the accomplishment of these goals throughout the school year will ensure that students are experiencing academic progress.

forever…

            Students are impacted by each and every adult that they look up to as they make their way through the school system.  This could be a positive or negative experience, depending on the interactions they have with their elders.  I hope to have a positive impact and provide resources and strategies for lifelong learning.  Additionally, students must acquire a love of learning throughout their early school years in order to build on their learning and enthusiastically continue to gather confidence and a greater skill set for later success.  Just one moment can have a great impact on a student who looks up to their teacher as a role model and mentor.  After having me as a teacher, my students will want to come back and visit a teacher who has left a lasting impact on their life.