I am currently taking a class called Teacher Cadet in which the students intern at either a middle school or an elementary school to get a feel for what teaching truly entails. I've been with a 7th grade English teacher for the past week, and I must say that I have a new respect for teachers. In general, I don't think that teachers get nearly enough respect not only from their students, but from the general public. Many people assume that all teachers do is grade tests and hand out worksheets. I'm sure there are some teachers who do this because they don't have much pride in their profession, but if a teacher is truly a good teacher, he or she is making his mark on the students. The teacher that I am interning with told me that at a dinner party one time, she was asked why she degraded herself by becoming a teacher. The man who questioned her, a successful businessperson, assumed that only people who are not intelligent enough for a "real job" teach. After all, teachers have to deal with kids all day, and they aren't exactly paid well. She responded by saying that she wanted to make a difference in the future of our world. Teachers are the ones who lay down the foundation for our future. Without a firm foundation, a house will fall. In the same way, our society will fall apart if intelligent people don't enter the teaching field. This internship has affirmed for me that teaching is what I am meant to do. Yes, I could make a lot more money if I worked in business or marketing, but my heart is in teaching, and I want to make a difference in the lives of future generations. No, teaching isn't for everyone, but I think that everyone should have a better appreciation for educators. I know that I do.
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