Why This Teacher Has Not Ended Poverty Yet

This teacher admits that he has not ended poverty.

But that doesn’t mean that he has been lazy or had nothing to do.

This is what he does every day.

This is typical of a teacher’s life today. I didn’t know I was suppose to end poverty. My bad. I’m already overwhelmed here in DC. Sorry. I ‘ll add poverty abatement to the list. Thanks for reminding me. In addition, I ‘ll also be mentoring, counseling, teaching, motivating, tutoring, breaking up fights, cheering on and at times being a surrogate father to three-quarters of my students. I do a few other things at school. I also have a life and a wife. I also need to eat and sleep. Plan and grade. Take a college class. Update my website. Make a few phone calls, attend a few meetings, send out and respond to a few emails. So before I forget. When will you join me in this care-free and under-worked profession? My door is always open. By the way, DC Public Schools is always in need of subs. Come on. You can apply online. I’m waiting.

MOMwithAbrain says:

August 10, 2012 at 9:45 pm

The best thing you can give to a child in poverty if you are working in a school is a QUALITY education.
Illiteracy doesn’t help a child.

LikeLike

dianerav says:

August 10, 2012 at 9:58 pm

Obviously. What do you think teachers do every day?

LikeLike

Bridget says:

August 10, 2012 at 10:57 pm

I am constantly amazed that there is an attitude still out there that we spend our days in the classroom with the intention of providing anything less than a quality education. That we arrive early, stay late, bring work home, attend college classes and other professional development, tutor kids during our breaks, etc. etc. because we really don’t care about educating kids. Yeah, I became a teacher for that great pay…as I recall about less than 15 K twentyfove years ago when I started teaching. Those who are passionate enough to stick with it in spite of the obstacles do so because we believe we can makea difference. Our goal is to educate children…period.

Anndee says:

August 10, 2012 at 11:47 pm

I completely understand your amazement at this.

At the school I was at previously (continuation/alternative ed) and this past year with 10th graders ALL day, it was a very emotionally frustrating time. The students were driving me nuts with their attitudes and behavior. Many people outside of my profession would ask me why I just don’t quit and do something else.

“I care too much about the kids to walk away”, was my answer.

They would look at me, perplexed, and say something like, then how can they frustrate you so much,?

It’s because I do care that they can make me upset.

What so many people don’t understand is that despite students’ attitudes, and critics’ attitudes that bring us down, that these things wouldn’t effect and affect us so much if we didn’t care. People who don’t care are indifferent, not passionate about something.

LikeLike