Column 80 for April 29, 2001

We teachers are a strange bunch sometimes. I know why I’m a teacher. First of all, I love working with young folks and being able to say or do something that results in an "Aha! I get it!" This, along with realizing the long-term success of your students is probably the best reward for teaching.

The second reason I’m a teacher is because of the schedule. I worked "regular" executive/management jobs until I turned 40. I liked the idea of changing professions so that I’d have a Christmas break, and time off during the summer to "renew." I accepted the fact that I wouldn’t be working all year, and that I would be taking quite a cut in pay. But I kept in mind that I wouldn’t be working 24/7, 52 weeks a year either. I knew I’d work 190 days a year and get paid for just those days. Teachers receive no paid holidays.

Many people teach for different reasons. For some, teaching becomes a drug, just as religion can. They may be good teachers, but they have no concept of time in the normal, professional sense. They will work nearly 24 hours a day, with never a thought of the value of their time. Akin to missionaries. I am not a missionary.

Some teach to escape their home life. I’ve seen several teachers over the years that were so "dedicated" that they spent predawn to sunset at the school, and the school became their life. More "quality time" was spent with co-workers than with family. I’m not trying to escape anything.

Administrators usually love this kind of teacher. No concept of time. They’ll accept additional "volunteer" assignments without protest. Anything for the cause. Considered "dedicated" like I said before. Anything less and you don’t care about the children…

Several of these types of teachers would love to teach year round. I think this is wrong. As a teacher, I need time for renewal, time to rejuvenate, explore, and practice what I teach. I need time to take a college course from time to time, without doing it at night. I need time to discover new things I can bring into my classroom. I want time to experience things which can’t be done in 2 or 3-week increments throughout the year.

I think that some of what is wrong with education today are teachers who have gone to high school, gone to college, and then right back into school again. You need time to experience life. How else can you relate anything properly to your students? How can a doctor go to college and then teach, without practicing medicine between times? How can an attorney teach law without practicing it first?

Teaching, like the legal and medical professions have already done, needs to take a major step to reach true "professionalism." Lawyers and doctors understand the value of what they do. They don’t give "free" advice after work hours. Neither should teachers. We should value our talents and expect compensation for any work or advice after normal business hours.

Teachers should be active, practicing professionals. Not just a flag on the wall, the same every year, waiting to be retired after years of faithful service. Which of your past teachers do you remember? The ones that were predictable, or the ones that seemed a little different?

Professionally yours. Shalom. tomiswho@mindspring.com