My Reasons Why I Would Not Have Made a Successful Teacher

Special Dedication: This piece is loving-dedicated to one of my cherished-followers: teaches12345, and other followers whom I didn't know was a teacher. And two dedicated teachers from my hometown of Hamilton, AL.: Karin Cayson Holliday, who teaches 8th grade Algebra and Student Math, and Teresa Shewbart, who graduated with me in 1972 from Hamilton High School. I not only admire you three, but all who stand or sit each day for 9 or more hours to just "reach one" mind. To me, you three and all teachers no matter the subject being taught, are to be held in high-esteem for all that you do. Thank you, teachers, for every mind you have molded. Kenneth

When we are in a younger mindset, everything's new, exciting and fun to explore. I was no different. When I was in my junior year of high school (at Hamilton High School, Hamilton, AL.), I caught myself looking out the window when I wasn't looking ahead past my graduation from high school and what occupation I was to do for as long as my interest and heart were in it.

Around my hometown that doesn't leave much by way of jobs. I mean you got your meat cutters, who have to be trained, stock boys and girls, cashiers, car dealers and salesmen, traveling salesman selling everything from machine oil to ladies' shoes. Then you got the fast-food restaurants, jobs for the city or county and lastly, the job of truck driving.

Some of my friends dove right in after graduation night and to my knowledge are still doing the first job they went for. I mean that if a person is happy cleaning ditches of rocks by hand, then be it far from me to point a finger at him or her if that job makes them happy.

I really couldn't see myself doing any of these jobs, and the job that I didn't list above was that of being a teacher. I did know that this was one job that I was going to stay as far away from as I would an angry bull behind a barbwire fence.

Not for the danger especially, but for a lot of other things that accompanies the field of teaching that would have set me on a direct-course with disaster. And who wuld want that not just in teaching, but any occupation?

In my student days, I did see the hidden-strain and frustration in my teachers' eyes and wrinkled foreheads as "I" would sit struggling with a question they had asked hoping that this time, I would get my answer right.

Teaching is one of the toughest jobs in the country. Don't believe me? Try presenting your lesson outline to a room of teenagers with everything on their minds but what you are saying. Unless you are "teacher material," it will not be long until stress, anger and frustration will set-in and you will begin to feel as you are losing your focus and control of your class.

Now imagine doing this five days a week for 10 months. If you get sick, you have to give a substitute your lesson plan and hope that the "sub" gets it right. So all in all, your headaches never end. But if everything works and everyone cooperates, the pay-off for being a teacher never ends.

There is a certain, non-categorized feeling a teacher gets way down inside when they see a student who has learned what the teacher taught and now walks to the podium to receive his or her diploma. And that is what teaching is about. Or should be about instead of so much red tape and bureau-accuracy when it comes to conditions where teachers have to work and the pay scale that somehow is lower than other teachers in parts of the country.

It's a tough job, friends. Very tough.

So with that being said, here are

My Reasons Why I Would Not Have Made a Successful Teacher

PATIENCE -- is a key ingredient to be a successful teacher. In my case, I do not have a lot of patience. Example: When I am talking directly to a student and all I get in return is a glazed-look and a mouth open managing to say . . ."uhhh, errrr," then I am ready to head home.

STAMINA -- another ingredient that helps to make a successful teacher. I would honestly state that after one or two classes (a day), that would be enough for me. I do not have what it takes to do this job from 8 a.m. until 2:55 p.m. Sorry.

CROWD CONTROL -- I learned this about myself when I taught a teen class in Sunday School in my church. I noticed when one student would blurt-out something funny, every student would blurt-out more funny lines and before long, chaos. The same principle would apply to my classroom and I just got to tell you. unless the school issued riot gear, do not look for my application to be a teacher.

RESPECT -- is something all teachers deserve. When students who do not know what "respect" mean, then disrespect will breed in the classroom. And if I am teaching a subject, then I need respect. If I do not get respect, I grow irritated. And that shouldn't be.

ATTENTION -- I would need every student's attention. I shouldn't have to continually reprimand students for talking out of turn, throwing chewing gum and other juvenile acts, when they should be giving me the attention I deserve. Again, while I taught the teens in church, I had this easy way to "weed-out" the students who could care less about learning. I would start the class by saying, "Be honest with me. If you are just going to sit here for 45 minutes and not participate, you may open the door and sit with your parents. I am not going to waste my time or yours teaching God's word to people whose minds are on other things." No student took me up on my offer. I guess that's a good thing.

OTHER THINGS I HAVE NO USE FOR IN TEACHING:

• Napping in class
• Asking asinine questions to just "kill time."
• Making noises by fake coughing, dropping books on the floor and other useless things.
• Inappropriate clothing--half midriff tee's for boys and girls, skimpy skirts for girls and boys with shirts open.
• Eating in class.
• Using cell phones while in class.

STUBBORN -- students to me, are more frustrating than the "class bully." For in time, the "bully" can change his or her ways where a child with a stubborn brand will end-up wasting my time and theirs, so I know this would make my decision of leaving or staying all the more easier.

And you already know what my decision would be.