Why I teach
“…until one sees with one’s own eyes and comes to feel with one’s own heart, one will never understand other people.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” Eleanor Roosevelt
I’ve been watching, The Roosevelts, a Ken Burns documentary on PBS. Several years ago, I spent time in Hyde Park New York and toured their houses. In fact while we ventured the grounds of Val-Kill, we were asked to keep silent because Ken Burns was filming.
I learned of Eleanor Roosevelt’s commitment to helping others. I brought home a book of Eleanor’s quotes and a bookmark. Both sit on my desk as reminders that as I go through daily life I must be conscious of my responsibility to make this world a better place while I’m here. Whether it’s giving a compliment or thanking someone, taking care of abandoned animals, performing an act of random kindness, or donating time or money to charity, I feel a need to make a difference.
Soon I will spend the next two months teaching Language Arts to sixth graders. I’m exhilarated and terrified. Will I inspire them to learn, will I be able to reach all of them, there’s a lot! Will I be patient enough and will I have the stamina to keep up with the rigorous schedule while also balancing my writing? Oh and the one I’m most concerned about…will I have the organizational skills to keep track of so many grades?
People ask me why I still teach. It’s simple. Students inspire me. They make me want to work hard to create lessons that will teach them to love learning. They remind me what it’s like to look at the world with awe. They make me laugh, they make me worry, they make me experience life beyond my keyboard.
Eleanor Roosevelt often asked people what she could do to help them. When I’m in the classroom I’m able to do the same. Being with the students, listening to them, and hopefully inspiring them, fulfills the need within me to help others.
“Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy.” Shel Silverstein
Like the Giving Tree, taking what I’ve learned and sharing it with students makes me happy.
