by Stuart Singer, The Teacher Leader

In 1999 I was asked by the Future Teachers of America club at my school to speak at a monthly meeting.  Recently, I looked at a copy of my remarks that day and realized that in the ensuing twelve years few of the good or bad aspects of education have changed.  Here is a transcript of those comments:

“It is a great pleasure for me to speak to this group today.  When I was a sophomore in high school I made the decision to become a mathematics teacher.   That opinion formed at age fifteen never changed.  When I was in college my goal was to graduate and obtain a teaching job in Northern Virginia.  By December of my senior year I was offered a position at JEB Stuart High School.  That was 32 years ago.

“Last year I had the opportunity to retire.  I declined that option choosing to continue my career because after more than three decades of teaching I still love this job.  And this afternoon I would like to explain why.

“Whenever I make a decision I try to list the pros and cons.  I can do the same about the profession of teaching.  The cons would go like this:

 - You will never get rich.  You will not be poor but the opportunity for great wealth will never be available.

 - If you do a good job as a teacher you will by necessity be working very hard.  Teaching is not an easy job and it is only getting harder.

 - You will constantly be under scrutiny.  Hundreds of eyes are watching your every move.  Any mistake will be quickly noted and remembered.  The spotlight is never off.

“As you can see, teaching like any job is not perfect.  But when one considers the pros the negatives seem to grow a whole lot smaller.

 - Every year, every day, every hour is a unique experience.  The word monotonous is never appropriate in teaching.  Creativity is rewarded; boring is a dirty word.  In addition you have the added bonus of starting your career anew every September.  Most professions do not have the luxury of having such a start and finish.

 - You make a difference.   As a teacher you will touch lives, enrich lives and change lives.  You can actually make the world a better place.  One of the most satisfying experiences an educator can have is to have a successful adult come back to tell you that you helped make them what they are today.  How many people by simply doing their job can positively affect the future of so many individuals?  And these stories refer to anyone whose life has been made better by your teaching not just the lawyers or doctors.  I am constantly surprised by the people who have come back to thank me.

 - You are a very important person.  Let me share two stories with you.  I received a phone call from a physician about his son who was a student of mine.  When I returned the call his nurse gave me the standard response.  ‘I’m sorry but the doctor is with a patient.  I will have to take a message and have him call you back.’  When I told her who I was the response was instantaneous, ‘One moment please’ and I was immediately put through to the doctor.  I had a similar experience when calling a high ranking individual at the Pentagon.  What was the reason for such amazing access?  Even for “important” people teachers are among the most significant individuals in the life of their child.

 - You get to stay young and energized.  Youth is contagious.  Working with young people like you keeps one young.

 - Finally, remember the old saying that it is better to give than to receive?  What a job.  In teaching every day is an opportunity to give; to give knowledge, to give inspiration, to give advice, to give hope.

“Future teachers, as you move forward keep the role of the teacher in mind.  It is a great job!”

Looking at this speech years later I realize there is little need to edit any of the content.