Teaching Jobs
I always wanted to be an English teacher. From my very first semester of college, my career goal was to teach literature. However, because of many obstacles - too many to recount here - that dream never came to fruition. Nevertheless, I was given many opportunities to teach in a number of situations. My very first job out of college was teaching machine tool vocabulary to refugees out of the Catholic Social Services office in Peoria.
I have taught everything from preschool to elementary school to middle school. I’ve also taught high school in California, and I’ve even taught a number of college classes. Every job required behavioral management and classroom management skills that were vital to getting the teaching curriculum successfully completed.
Everywhere I taught, I worked with many kinds of teachers, but there were basically two kinds. Those that loved their jobs and were always deeply committed to their students, and those who usually complained and had basically a bad attitude. A long time ago, teaching was at a crossroads between considering teaching as a profession or as a union. Although I understand how important unions have become, they also encourage an “us” versus “the administration” mentality that isn’t always good for students. Every time teachers go on strike, they state that it is for the students, but this isn’t always the case.
Since my wife, Donna, and I cannot have children I was still afforded countless opportunities to interact with students of all ages. However, it wasn’t exactly the same as having kids, because they all went home at night. Depending on their ages, student attitudes were very different. The 5th graders all wanted to sit in the front while the 8th graders all wanted to sit in the back! I guess that’s how it should be I suppose.
There were difficult situations, at times, especially with the parents, but I had many valuable experiences too. I remember a highly intelligent student with Asperger’s autism who lacked concentration skills. So, during the standardized Iowa tests, I would walk around the room for the entire tests; and when I went by the student’s desk, I would lightly tap him on the shoulder, so he would go back to work. He ended up doing surprisingly well on the exams.
Another time, while working at a sheltered workshop with my friend, Brenda, we were given the task of helping transition adults with mental illness and intelligence challenges who were in state institutions. Our job was to integrate them into the workshop as well as into group homes. This job was extremely challenging, but it was also very rewarding.
But sometimes I failed as a teacher. I was a miserable ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, and I once worked at a Priory where I became ill. Almost half of the brothers wanted me back, but I still was let go. I also sometimes quit jobs over things that I wouldn’t have quit for today. Looking back, I would have managed those problems differently.
Now, I ‘m no longer a formal teacher, but I still publish poems, write this newsletter, and I do a presentation once a month for adults transitioning out of a local mental hospital. So, I’m still able to reach people in different ways.
I have mostly fond memories of teaching and although my dream of teaching college English never came true, I was given ample chances to teach other things. I’d like to finish today with a short list of sayings from my book, Passing through the Dream. It addresses some ideas about children and students:
Education and Wisdom
Students have careers that offer good jobs.
Some also study and learn to trust God.
Some pupils like blue while others like gray.
The teacher has books that teach them the same.
Children are searching for love and respect.
Schools may provide it if they are the best.
Teachers want students to memorize rules.
Students should also be thinking themselves.
Grades are not people and records distort.
How many “losers” have transformed the world?
Some cities are poor and lack what they need.
Prosperity knocks for schools with the means.
Teachers and parents can clash over grades.
Students, however, are mostly to blame.
Excellent teachers can transform the mind.
The lessons they teach may help throughout life.
Science is sacred and studied in depth.
God is reserved for children not men.
Technical wonders can help students learn.
They also can do the worst kind of harm.
I hope you enjoyed my newsletter about my teaching experiences. It means a lot for me to share it. Have a great day and I’ll see you next week.
(Please remember these are my own ideas, and I’m not attempting to persuade anyone to change theirs.)
Quotes:
“I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think.” – Socrates
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”– John Dewey
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