Time To Spread Our Wings

I just read this moving post at Daily Kos from a veteran teacher: "I Don't Want to Be a Teacher Anymore." I am sitting here stunned, visualizing, suddenly and involuntarily, the image of a cocoon, and the immense struggle that it must take a caterpillar to break out of that thing and become a butterfly. I know it's a hackneyed symbol, but it is a real life phenomenon.  

Somehow it seems that it's time for teachers to find a way to leave behind the dark cloud that controls our so much of our profession, and move into a new phase. In the new phase we become the vibrant professionals we truly should be. Like butterflies, we are admired, studied, and protected, but maintain our mobility and life force, as we do our most important work of pollinating the flowers.  

March begins butterfly season in most of the country. I don't know how, but it's time to break out and fly.

[howdididoit.com}

Comments

[Bill Ferriter]

Holy smokes, Ariel...

This is the best three paragraphs that I've read in months.

Really an amazing post. You've said so much in such a small space.

It touched me.

And that's cool.

Well done!
Bill

[Ariel Sacks]

Thanks, Bill! I was actually insecure to post this, for all the reasons one can feel insecure about sharing writing. But it seems to be resonating with teachers, which is interesting and validating.

[Judaic Learning]

This is such a positive post at a time where many teachers are disgusted and speaking out against the current terms. If this is the way things are going to be, we must as teachers carry on and touch as many lives as possible, implementing impactful deep learning techniques, and keeping our youth's love for learning at the top of our priority list.

[Ariel Sacks]

I'm glad you found this to be a positive message. I am trying to stay positive. However, it is with a broken heart that I read the veteran teacher's post. While I agree that teaching youth to love learning should remain a high, if not the highest, priority for teachers, I don't think we should simply accept the current terms of our work if they are hurting teachers and students. In spreading our wings, I think we need to to vote with our voices, ballots, and feet, and make the changes we know are needed.

[A Facebook User]

Isn't it our passion that makes us want to become a teacher?

Eric Bloom
http://www.whybecomeateacher.com