Is Being a Teacher Worth It?

John Martinez is one of our favorite guests on The Crossman Conversation. He’s talked candidly about his own struggles with mental health as well as how Christianity and the church deal with that sensitive topic. On one show, he turned the tables and interviewed me, giving me a chance to talk about my passion for supporting HBCUs.

By popular demand, we brought John back, this time to talk about being a teacher. John’s life and career has taken many interesting turns, not the least of which was when he left a successful business career and became an elementary school teacher.

Today, John teaches third grade in a school in which low-income students make up at least 40 percent of the enrollment. He had some eye-opening things to share about what it’s like to teach in the public school system.

After noting that public schools are often the target of intense criticism and even derision, he pointed out, “It’s where the vast majority of our students and future leaders are going to be educated.”

Let that sink in. And then think about what you can do to support public schools, whether or not you have children attending them.

It’s not uncommon for children to spend more of their waking hours with their teachers than they do with their parents. For many youngsters, their teacher is the most stable, emotionally healthy adult in their lives. This is a huge responsibility that requires skill, creativity, and compassion.

John shared a beautiful story of how he was able to help a little girl from Venezuela who was having trouble adjusting to her new home. He talked about how proud he was to be part of a school system (Orange County Public Schools) that consistently goes above and beyond to meet the needs of students and their families.

Yet public schools have become a political battleground, which adds another level of stress to an already challenging job.

So, is being a teacher worth it? Worth the challenges, the long days, the stress, the times when nothing seems to work? John says absolutely. Those difficult times are more than balanced by the rewards, the lives teachers can touch and change, the impact they can have on generations to come. But teachers need support.

“On a very human level, just encouraging a teacher would be appreciated,” John said. “Get them a cup of coffee, put your arm around them, recognize that they’re doing phenomenal work through difficult days with difficult students.”

And if you can, volunteer. There are so many ways parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens can make a difference in the lives of children who are the future of our society. “It’s critically important that we all figure out how to work together to support our teachers, our administration, and our public schools,” John said.

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To hear this podcast and get some ideas of what you can do to help, go to:

https://www.theshepherdradio.com/podcasts/the-crossman-conversation/episode/s1e35-john-martinez-a-third-grade-school-teacher-returns-for-another-visit-and-talks-about-the-prevailing-climate-in-education/

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To hear John Martinez interview John Crossman about HBCUs, go to:

https://www.theshepherdradio.com/podcasts/the-crossman-conversation/episode/s1e29-special-guest-john-martinez-reverses-the-shows-typical-roles-and-interviews-john-crossman/

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To hear John Martinez and John Crossman talk about Christianity, the church, and mental health, go to:

https://www.theshepherdradio.com/podcasts/the-crossman-conversation/episode/s1e01-business-leader-john-crossman-presents-the-pilot-episode-of-his-new-radio-show-highlighting-mental-health/

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John Crossman is the founder of Crossman Career Builders, the host of The Crossman Conversation, and the author of Career Killers Career Builders. Check out Crossman Career Builders on YouTube. Connect with John on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.