I usually write about what I'm doing in my classroom and show student examples when I'm proud. Today is a little different.
I've been quite reflective... okay... more reflective than usual as I tend to think too much... But as I consider my next professional step and the path I want to take, I have been considering truths that I have learned not only throughout my teaching career but life. I have always been a little too passionate about my beliefs some would say. I tend to go all in. I'm not really sure how else to do things. So as I ponder my next step in the education system, I have really been asking myself the following: Why am I in education? Is is because of my love of the content? Is it because if you can't do, teach? (I love to write) Is it for the kids? Of course the real answer to those questions is quite complicated.
The reality here is that I am reaching that point in my career as a teacher than I am becoming disappointed with the education system as a whole. I'm sure most reflective teachers reach this point in their careers. I realize how much helping kids is part of my reason for staying in the system I am becoming disheartened with, but I also start to wonder which path I should take as a result. Giving up is not really in my blood. I simply don't back down from a challenge. To me, this broken system is a challenge, but it is one that can be all consuming and I fear that I will allow it to change my core beliefs and just give in to acceptance that I can't change anything. That's not okay with me.
I had to speak to a harsh realization this week that I know but don't want to verbalize: we can't save them all. I know this. I know that this system, one teacher, one administrator can't save all children from their own, many times, unfair circumstances. But I still ask, WHY? Am I really that naive or just too idealistic? If the system can't save them all, do we just accept that as a reality or do we change the system?
It seems a simple answer. I realize the solution is not nearly that simple, but nothing that is worth doing ever is. Food for thought.
I would apologize for my ramblings of my opinion on this, but that's not really in my DNA either.
Maas Out!
