Decades ago, when I was studying in high school, I was really scared of some of my teachers. The fear came to me, not because the teachers themselves were bad but because of the humiliation and punishment that I had to face if I failed to do home work or lacked attention in the class. Some of the rowdy students did not take the punishments too lightly and used to heckle the teachers. I used to feel sorry at the plight of teachers specially the timid ones.
Joining the college when I was 15 years old changed a lot of things. I felt like a grown-up adult and more independent. There was no home work, no punishments, and no rigid rules to follow. I had a sense of relief and was no longer scared of teachers. On the contrary, most teachers were scared of the students (not of me - I was a darling!). In the class room, there used to be terrifying cat calls, a volley of paper missiles at the teacher and all sorts of dangerous student pranks making the job of a teacher most difficult and highly challenging. The big impact it had in me was that I never ever wanted to become a teacher. When I graduated in engineering, I declined job offers for the post of lecturer.
Years later, I was invited to be a visiting faculty at some of the educational and training institutions. Deep in me, there was an inner urge to teach and I accepted those invitations. I did the right thing. The rewards were far too many - the satisfaction of sharing your knowledge with others, the thrill of meeting enthusiastic faces and making new contacts, the chance to earn a few chips honestly, and best of all, the great opportunity to learn from the students! For many years, I served as a visiting faculty and a learning programs coordinator at prominent institutions. Today, as I look back, I have a sense of fulfillment of having contributed something for the growth of the younger generation.
Many people do not realize how noble is the teaching profession. Let me share with you the following interesting anecdote that came into my e-mail in-box this morning. It is titled "WHAT TEACHERS MAKE?" and I have reproduced it here in italics.
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO (proud of being a professional and the money he makes), decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?' He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'
To stress his point he said to another guest, 'You're a teacher, Mary. Be honest. What do you make?'
Mary, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)
Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
Sir, do you want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in maths. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the National Flag, and sing the National Anthem, because we live in this great country.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'
Mary paused one last time and then continued, then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.....
Mr. CEO, You want to know what I really make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
Joining the college when I was 15 years old changed a lot of things. I felt like a grown-up adult and more independent. There was no home work, no punishments, and no rigid rules to follow. I had a sense of relief and was no longer scared of teachers. On the contrary, most teachers were scared of the students (not of me - I was a darling!). In the class room, there used to be terrifying cat calls, a volley of paper missiles at the teacher and all sorts of dangerous student pranks making the job of a teacher most difficult and highly challenging. The big impact it had in me was that I never ever wanted to become a teacher. When I graduated in engineering, I declined job offers for the post of lecturer.
Years later, I was invited to be a visiting faculty at some of the educational and training institutions. Deep in me, there was an inner urge to teach and I accepted those invitations. I did the right thing. The rewards were far too many - the satisfaction of sharing your knowledge with others, the thrill of meeting enthusiastic faces and making new contacts, the chance to earn a few chips honestly, and best of all, the great opportunity to learn from the students! For many years, I served as a visiting faculty and a learning programs coordinator at prominent institutions. Today, as I look back, I have a sense of fulfillment of having contributed something for the growth of the younger generation.
Many people do not realize how noble is the teaching profession. Let me share with you the following interesting anecdote that came into my e-mail in-box this morning. It is titled "WHAT TEACHERS MAKE?" and I have reproduced it here in italics.
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO (proud of being a professional and the money he makes), decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?' He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.'
To stress his point he said to another guest, 'You're a teacher, Mary. Be honest. What do you make?'
Mary, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)
Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
Sir, do you want to know what I make?' (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in maths. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
I make my students stand, to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the National Flag, and sing the National Anthem, because we live in this great country.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'
Mary paused one last time and then continued, then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.....
Mr. CEO, You want to know what I really make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
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