The Burden of Being a Teacher

The title says it all. But does it? Those of you in the profession of teaching understand exactly what I mean by this. It is like that unspoken pain have all experienced at one point and continue to relish the job. I will go even further and say those dedicated to the profession know exactly what I mean. Somewhat akin to football players (The real football. The one with the Lions, Bengals and Bears, oh my!). You go out day after day, hit after hit, you win some, lose some but you don't quit. Unlike the NFL we aren't making that bank.

So why do we do it? That is question that will vary from teacher to teacher. I think there is a somewhat mystic answer to the question: It is a gift from GOD. A calling. Either HE blessed you with it or he didn't. It is something deep within that keeps a person pushing forward and dragging that classroom with you. Like Moses delivering his people from the grips of Pharoah to the Promised Land. Like that general who knows he needs to get his men over the hill to victory. Like the pilot that pushes his mind to the limit to figure out how to land this damaged plane and save the lives of his passengers. You get the picture. We are the Churchills. The George Washingtons. The Braveharts.

The burden of being a teacher is the burden of helping raise a generation or two of viable, reliable citizens. To contribute to making society better. To make the world a better place than we left. At least that is what is in our hearts. Until bureaucracy sets in and derails the train. Ministries and boards of education. Politicians looking for scapegoats. Incompetent parents doing the same. Poorly hometrained children coming to school and running amuck. It all falls on our heads. And we take it stride, smiling all the way.

We smile not because we are oblivious to the abuse being dished out. Definitely not because we are stupid. We smile because of the children. We put on our smiley faces to give the children hope. To spread positivity. To show them how to persevere. As they get older, they will realize the raw deal their teachers got. Some will even apologize for the hell they put their teachers through. Some will just plod on become yet another peg in the wheel that makes teaching more difficult.

Though it is a burden, it is also a pleasure. To know you have contributed in some minor way in so many lives is the reward we reap. When you receive a message from that student whose life changed because of something you said (and forgot you said). Or the doctor or engineer that said it was because of your input in his or her life. That's that spiritual reward. Now take that to the bank.