February 16th Assignment: Why Teach?

Why do we teach?
I think that the reasons people go into teaching are as varied and unique as teachers are. Some people go into it to change and have a positive impact on the world, some do it because they want to pass on something they are passionate about, and still others, sadly, go into it because of the three months of summer vacation. Sad, but true, I have been taught by some of them. Personally, I am going into teaching because I love children and I have a passion for music. I believe that each child can learn to appreciate and love all kinds of music and that a love of music should be fostered from an early age. This is why I'm going into elementary music education.

What is the difference between school "work" and student "learning"?
Just becuase a student is working quietly at their desk on their assignment does not ensure that the same student is actually learning. Many assignments given in schools are just a regurgitation of facts that the student forgets after the lesson is over. When this is the case, even though the student has done all the work, nothing was actually learned, except how to complete the assignment. I believe that for a student to actually learn a teacher must somehow connect the work with a student's life and have a concrete reason for doing so. Also, in order to actually learn I believe that a student must actually care about what they are learning so that they become emotionally invested in their education. This is not to say that each child should tailor-make their own education and only learn what they feel like because that does not make for well-rounded adults who can function in the global society. I think it is partly up to the teacher to create emotional investment in his or her students so that retains the knowledge that has been taught.

What makes for good teaching?
Above all, I believe that a good teacher must be passionate, knowledgeable and caring. Without one of these three characteristics I feel a teacher would be incomplete. Without passion for a subject a teacher cannot cultivate interest in students; without knowledge of the subject nothing can be taught, period; without caring the teacher cannot relate to the students and thus making the subject matter relate to their lives so it can be retained later is not a possibility. Every good teacher I have ever had has displayed these traits and I remember what I learned from them.