I stepped through the library doors at 1245pm today. I headed for the reference section, in search of the Encyclopedia of Human Rights. I stood awkwardly for a minute or two trying to read titles vertically and at the same time scanning for key words. And what to my wondering eyes did appear but a not so miniature Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education!!! 1pm, I descended to the floor to sit, as i love to, indian style. And when I had decided to continue my search of the Human Rights Encyclopedia, my lovely little silver-blue cellphone announced that it was 4:37. Further proof that I yearn to be an educator.
My trouble is that i really don't think a student straight out of college is prepared to educate. Especially if one is able to bisect their life into Pre and Post College. So I guess part of my "pedagogy" would be that an educator must have life experience, and if that experience be related to their specialty areas...all the better. You should have seen my eyes light up tonight as my anthropology professor described to me being at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th, 1963 as Dr. King delivered is speech. So where does this leave me? Well I'm afraid that if I wait too long to start teaching, my passion might dwindle. And there I'll be just another middle aged school junky: zestless, monotone, tired (there's my personal bit of ageism for ya). Or I fear that other more exciting occupations (anything involving traveling) would keep me from ever pursuing a career as a teacher. all of these thoughts are based on nothing. yep i love to talk out of my rear. there must be plenty wonderful teachers who began teaching right out of college. and who's to say you can't experience much in college? not me. and if i'm really passionate about teaching then the world couldn't keep me from it. and on and on and on. so what's a girl to do? Frankly i'm not stressed out about it. Yet that is.
2 comments:
Miss Sharon,
You could start teaching on a cruise boat and sail the world! Yop could teach knitting, public speaking, drama or yodeling. Or knitting and yodeling at the same time. Which you do very well. And let's not forget the fine art of sausage washing. Or theatre costuming in everyday life. Then there's underwater singing, and how to be a mermaid. The possibilities are endless!
Hi. I really like what you do. Reading random books in the library is right and true and beautiful. It's education qua education.
I think you'd be a perfect teacher. But I agree about the experience part. I've met teachers who are just teachers. They haven't lived long enough to do anything but go to college and teach. So, their whole persona is three words long: human, oxygen-consumer, teacher. How boring.
I've dealt with the "Oh I'm so passionate that I'd better do this right now, because hot fires burn out fastest." Then I realized that what I was passionate about, writing, is based on experience, just like teaching. I didn't have anything to say, cause I hadn't felt, met, heard, meant anything yet. I didn't believe anything enough to put it on paper. The more I experience, the more passion I gain. I don't think you need to worry about your passion dying out: I think it'll grow as you grow. And if it does die out, so be it: the passion will move for another passion, one that you'll be primed and ready for; and as for teaching, well, in pursuing that passion, you'll've seen the world on the way.
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