Teaching and Learning IX

The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.

 - From John 10

Ineffective teachers were always a problem for me as a student. They're a problem for everybody. 

I was once berated by a veteran teacher, for mentioning something about people that have "the gift" of teaching. He said something like "there is no gift. You just learn the skill, practice it, and get good at it."

I marveled at this, because it was coming from a teacher that I thought definitely had "the gift."

What is it about teachers that are not good at it? I think there's a sense that this person is only doing this because it's her job. Or she really wants to coach, so she became a teacher. And I feel like kids can read through this. 

Teachers that always pine for the weekend, or snow days, send off a subtle but powerful message: I'd rather not be here with you kids. 

You have to be able to do it, because you feel you must do it. 

One of the Greek masters, maybe Socrates, said "The questions are: who is teaching the children, and what are they teaching them?" And then one of my own personal favorite originals of mine is:

The most important thing happening in any community, between 8AM and 3PM, is what's going on in the schools.

It's so important, that I don't know why we don't make an urgent priority out of getting who we want, who will teach what we want, who the kids want, and who really wants to be there . . . into the schools as teachers. 

And if we have them, we do not need them distracted by their bills. They should have the kind of trappings that will draw others to them, both during and after the school day. In other words, we need them to have $$$$$.

This will not make a hireling out of teachers that really should be in there. The Hebrews were instructed to take good care of the Scribes and priests, who spent all their time praying, studying, and teaching. It's that important. Teachers are our priority. 

But those that are doing it for the paycheck should just go ahead and retire.