Glennalicious

I did want to offer a response to the anonymous friend who in a prior response pointed out that teaching doesn't do any good and only gave G an axe to grind constantly. A core part of teaching, though, is loss: as a teacher, you pursue an end that never arrives, whether that be the expression (let alone expecting the successful communication) of an idea or concept to the class, or the occurance of a light brightening over a student's head. Some of my most frustrating moments have been coming into the classroom built up with excitment to discuss a piece of literature only to have the kids eye me suspicously or nodd off.

In fact, all that a teacher has the opportunity to do is to present ideas, hope some of them get through, and leave the kids a little better off than they were before. The real effect of good teaching is rarely seen by anyone, but lives on in your student's life. At some undefined point in the future, G, one of your kids will see her skills in math come together in a new way, a way that will make her sit up for a moment. You won't see this intense instant of recognition and the student might not even think of you, but without the foundation that you provide the insight likely would not have arrived. A faculty member in my department once wisely said that teaching is "the uncoersive re-arrangement of a student's desires". I think she means that we offer students knowledge, that that knowledge burrows its way into their minds, that it combines with other teacher's contributions (and life experience), and all of the exposure eventually leaves the students different from what they once were. And for the kids in the neighborhood you teach in, G, such a liberty to be different from what they once were might be the stage on which they change their lives. I think that is powerful. And you have the privilege to work on this everyday.

Eventually, you will see the end product of your teaching efforts. My parents are both retired teachers; my Mom worked in Special Ed. and my Dad taught K-6 (retired after 33-1/2 years, too). I think some of their best moments were at their repsective retirement parties, when former students -- many now teachers themselves -- showed up to thank them for getting them insterested in something and for being there to help and to guide them.

So you may not believe it now, but you are having a major impact on their lives and their futures. Keep at it!!

My teachers turned me gay. I think one of them taught me algebra too. I liked recess.