After several weeks of teaching and learning, our mission to teach the young students at UAY is over. The experience was worthwhile for me. I learned different ways to handle students particular intricacies as well as new projects and plans for lessons.
Unfortunately, the most important lesson I will take from this little adventure leads me to question my dedication to teaching at the high school level. Experiences from this class coupled with information gained in others has me wondering if teaching is the best option for me. I continually read about how teaching in high schools is just plain awful. Teacher attrition rates are scary and the reasons why have made me question my motivation. I really don't want to be a babysitter. The idea of little funding and administrators that don't care for the opinion of teachers is disheartening. Bad facilities with busted air conditioning and inconsistent bathroom break opportunities seems like a ridiculous workplace for someone that has worked their way through a degree program at a nice university. It seems as if teachers deserve better conditions and certainly better pay.
Challenging students like the ones we encountered in UAY brought issues to the table that I honestly would turn my back on in a day to day situation. It's one thing to try to push someone once a week, it's entirely different to push them every day of the week. I have patience for certain things, laziness and complacency is not an area that is good for my patience. In the real world, with classrooms filled with 30 or more students, it is very likely that a teacher would have several challenging students every hour that just want to sit and veg out. I don't want to be the teacher that turns my back and says "forget it", but I know it would drive me nuts day after day to beg people to work like I experienced this semester.
The only real passion I have for teaching is brought upon by the prospect of having summers off. I want summers off so I can focus on my art for a couple months every year. Does that mean that I should just go for it and try to become a full time artist? My family thinks I should be a graphic designer. Teachers from my high school saw my work when I volunteered and said that I was stupid for wasting time trying to teach, saying that I should go all the way. It really is what I want to do, but is it the smart thing to do?
I would much rather stay in school, earn my masters, and then enter shows and applications until I could get a job at the college level where students major in art and don't just take your class because its "easy". That was the original plan before Sophia was born. Do I stick with the original plan and focus my time at IOWA in the Studio or in the classroom for a teaching certificate? I'm so confused, my heart says on thing while my head says another.
I feel like I've grown as an artist during my time here and I wish I could devote my time strictly to studio courses. I'm so close to graduating with a BFA but not that close with the TEP certificate. I wish the answers were easier to come by. I really wonder if I'm wasting my time training to be a teacher.
I am glad that you are reflecting on your decision to become a teacher. I think many teachers enter the field for the wrong reasons. I admire your ability to dissect your feelings about teaching and what this experience has taught you. That said, I think you would be an excellent teacher because you are so reflective. You are empathetic, caring, and hold high expectations. Those are all great personal qualities and professional dispositions.
ReplyDeleteI think you would be an amazing teacher-there are so many good things about it too. Wait until student teaching to make a final decision.
ReplyDeleteYou would be well suited to teach adults too.
I know you had some difficult situations this semester but teaching isn't always going to be that way. You would be a wonderful teacher, but ultimately you should follow your heart.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really brave of you to be so honest about your feelings toward teaching. You're an amazing artist and I know you would be so rewarded by making art nonstop. But I find you to be a really kind, nurturing person, too. That warm kind of disposition really makes for a good teaching foundation. I hope you stick with it! There's no reason you can't do both!
ReplyDeleteYour honesty and thoughtfulness dedicated to the subject is astonishing. I'm happy that somebody stepped up to the plate and really spilled their guts. Truthfully, I always wondered if teaching was right for me as well. It sounds like we have both had this artistic passion starting in high school (and maybe even before that). All the schools I applied to were for sports medicine and once I started getting the rejection letters, my college aspirations not only got bashed, but did an entire 180. It wasn't until I met Rachel that I wanted to become an art educator. Throughout high school, I was always cordial, but turned my head at many similar situations that the high school presented--the people, the teachers, the chaos...why would ANYBODY want to earn a menial salary and put their all toward that? Dereck, you're an incredible artist and you have a lot of heart, I think in the end you'll make the decision that is best for you. I do think that you'll make a great teacher, even after seeing your performance with the UAY students. If you could overcome that challenge pre-teaching, look at what you could do in high school...
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