To Teach Is To Touch A Life

While in Philadelphia, the mayor came and spoke to all of us attending the seminar. He told us of a story involving his daughter. His daughter came to him one day and asked him, "Daddy, why is it that teachers get paid so much less than professional athletes?" He told us he didn't have a good answer for her, in fact he didn't have one at all, but he realized what a good point she had made. Those athletes are able to do what they are doing BECAUSE OF A TEACHER. They are able to read contracts, and use proper grammar when speaking to the press BECAUSE OF A TEACHER.

So why is it that people don't see how important teaching is? Why is it that teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals? Are teachers underpaid? YES, we are-- We do more than teach, we change lives, we impact lives, we mold lives. When one of my students is acting out, I do not yell and scream-- I find out the root of my student's frustration; Maybe he/she's acting out because of something at home? Maybe he/she doesn't understand what we're trying to learn? Who knows, but it's MY job to find out.

Yes, this takes time out of the plans I have. No, this is not found in my job description, I don't have to do this, I don't have to take my work home with me, and think of fun things to do with my students, BUT I DO. And why? Because I give MYSELF. I'm going to do whatever it takes to make that connection with my students.


- TEACHING IS NOT A LOST ART, BUT THE REGARD FOR IT IS A LOST TRADITION.

- ALL KIDS ARE GIFTED. SOME JUST OPEN THEIR PACKAGES EARLIER THAN OTHERS.

- TEACHING IS MORE THAN IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE, IT IS INSPIRING CHANGE.

- THE MEDIOCRE TEACHER TELLS. THE GOOD TEACHER EXPLAINS. THE SUPERIOR TEACHER DEMONSTRATES. THE GREAT TEACHER INSPIRES.

- GOOD TEACHING IS ONE-FOURTH PREPARATION, AND THREE-FOURTHS THEATER.

- I LIKE A TEACHER WHO GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME TO THINK ABOUT BESIDES HOMEWORK.

- REAL EDUCATION SHOULD EDUCATE US OUT OF SELF INTO SOMETHING FAR FINER; INTO A SELFLESSNESS WHICH LINKS US WITH ALL HUMANITY.

- YOU TEACH A STUDENT A LESSON FOR A DAY; BUT IF YOU CAN TEACH HIM TO LEARN BY CREATING CURIOSITY, HE WILL CONTINUE THE LEARNING PROCESS AS LONG AS HE LIVES.

- YOU DON'T TEACH TO MAKE MONEY. YOU TEACH TO CHANGE LIVES.