“Teaching was the hardest work I had ever done, and it remains the hardest work I have done to date.”~Ann Richards
Considering the woman was the governor of Texas, a state bigger than a number of countries, this is saying something. And she’s absolutely right. Teaching is incredibly difficult, and I don’t even teach the little ones, so I don’t have to deal with parents. Sorry, but from what I hear, parents are often the worst part of teaching.
But it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. The best part of teaching is seeing former students go out and live happy, productive, useful lives. Today I had a joyful few hours with a former student I haven’t seen in 15 years. Before that, I just happened to run into a student from four years ago. Both made me so proud.
I do love teaching, and this blog is an extension of that. My writing is a form of teaching, one I hope to expand in the future.
But as the opening of school approaches in much of America, I just wanted to give a shout out to my fellow educators. We are not in it for the money (obviously) or the accolades (which are rare) but for the students. The old saw “to teach is to touch the future” is an old saw for a reason. But I prefer the alternate version (which I think I made up, but probably not): “To teach is to change the future.”
Blessings on all the teachers gearing up for another hard slog. May we remember that the future truly is in our hands, and may we wield that power with grace. Now let’s go kick some butt!
Patchouli Haze--New Age Insights for the Rest of Us 