Why do people choose to teach?

Why do people choose to teach? The answer to this question may be far more complicated then what one may originally assume. People choose to becaome teachers for hundreds of different reasons, may it be enjoying childrens company, having summers off or wanting to make a difference in the community. Some people teach because they are trying to right a wrong that was done to them in school such as racism as stated in Kohl's artical. I think all of these reasons are good reasons to want to teach but there must be more to a person then just the perks of being a teacher. I believe all teachers must come to terms with the fact that they are a role model from the second they first step foot in a classroom untill the day they retire. They are a very important influence in a childs life "teachers mold the future each day in class, in fact, it is a sad fact that you will see some of these students more consistantly day-to-day then their parents will"(kelly). teaching is one of the only careers that allows you to virtually do something different every day and have the ability to start fresh every year " not many jobs provide an individual with so much room to be creative and autonomous each day "(Kelly). Each year gives the teacher the oppertunity to feel as though "when i walk into a new classroom, it is as if i am starting over. my problems are perennial" (Palmer 10). These are both reasons i want to teach. I want to be a role model for young kids and have a positive effect in their lives. I am a person who does not do well at a desk job, i know that i need oportunities to try new things every day and be creative. being a teacher will allow me to do both. I believe i have a passion for teaching because i have had so many wonderful teachers in my life. my favorite quote comes from Palmers book The Courage to teach "the connections made by good teachers are held not in their methods but in their hearts" (palmer page 11).

Sources:

Why teach? pages 12-31) Herbert Kohl. Educational foundations second edition

Http://712educators.about.com/od/teacherresources/tp/teachergood.com Top ten reasons to become a teacher. Melissa Kelly

Http://www.wou.edu/~girodm/library/palmer.pdf the courage to teach. Parker A Palmer