Random thoughts on teaching

I remember sitting all of my stuffed animals and dolls in a line and pretending to teach them. All that I have ever considered doing is teaching.

I feel that I have many of the qualities my "better" teachers once had. I try to be honest and fair in all that I do and I show the students respect, because I expect them to treat me the way I treat them. Also, I am creative and try to teach the kids not only the content, but real life lessons along the way.

Did my teachers actually deal with all of this stress I am now encountering? Or has all of this stress just surfaced over the past ten or so years? Many of the older teachers I visit with say that it has changed so much and you can't just do your job anymore. This is very true.

Maybe I was brought up in a sheltered home. I can't seem to relate to the kids in my class and how their parents are raising them. America has changed so much and I fear that even Brody will be going to school with children whose parents don't teach them values and self-respect. Don't get me wrong...there are many well behaved kids in my classes, but we are doing all of them an injustice by having to cater to their every need. Where has responsibility gone? Kids have no organizational skills and I am finding that most 7th graders can't even spell basic words, like "where" or "was," much less use puncuation. Some of them don't know what a noun is.

Yes, I am venting. But how are these kids going to excel if we are failing them starting in kindergarten? Is it the teachers fault or the childs lack of effort? I never would have thought that I would be so negative about the profession I am in, but it is not just me. America already has a shortage of teachers and they are running off most of the good teachers and having to settle for those who aren't qualified.

My profession is not bringing me joy. I feel that over the past five years I have become more pessimistic about life in general and I suppose it is because I have seen how the "real world" really is. Lots of parents don't teach their children anything at home and its really difficult when we are responsible for teaching them what they need to learn, plus how to behave and how to be responsible.

I get so discouraged because I feel that I give, give, give and reap no benefits. I am thankful that I have such good parents and I appreciate the fact that we didn't have a cordless phone, tvs in our rooms, or mtv. When I tell kids this they can't fathom it. I know I wasn't a perfect child, but many times I was put down for trying to be perfect. After awhile my friends just accepted it and didn't pressure me anymore. I don't remember my parents ever really setting me down and telling me what they expected...I just kind of knew. Going to Bible class is another way you just absorb the right way to be and act. Too many kids just don't have any self-respect and do not know how to be strong and stand behind what theybelieve in. I guess that is the problem-they don't know what they believe in. And its okay. They are okay with working in the oil field or Wal-Mart and have no aspirations. I fear America is in trouble when this generation grows up.

For those of you that teach your children, you should be commended. For the household with a mother, father, and children is almost extinct. Our american lifestyle has made it okay to do whatever we want. You can't even watch shows on NBC anymore, because they are cussing or have nudity, or even homosexuality. So in a nutshell, I think it is the american lifestyle that is sending our kids in a downward spiral and I don't know how much longer I can deal with it as a teacher. If I change professions, I realize that job will have its own problems, but at least I won't have the insight into how this world really is.

For those who may read this who are liberal, I am sorry if you get offended. You never know who will pull up your blog on the internet. But I was raised with morals and believe in God, and I do honestly feel we are doing our kids an injustice by the way we are raising them. For they will be adults soon, doing our taxes, our hair, and becoming our scientists and presidents. I hope they can do math, measure the right amount of bleach, know how many legs a frog has, and actually have some problem solving skills. I don't know how education is across america, but I know that Texas has some issues.

Man, that was a good essay. :)