Teachers as Superheroes

This creative writing blog puts teachers on a pedestal, making the case for more appreciation all round.

Of Major Importance

Teaching children is of paramount importance. Who shapes the minds of the leaders of tomorrow? The teachers, that’s who. Giving youngsters a solid education will put them in good stead for the next stage of their lives, preparing them for what’s to come. Parents can teach them the difference between right and wrong and pass down positive values, though teachers have an even greater responsibility, as they are entrusted by parents to spend years educating their children, preparing them for the future. Paradoxically, teachers are usually paid far less than those who work in financial services, for example, and, are increasingly unappreciated and often undervalued.

Save the Day

Teaching adults is certainly an honourable profession. Students often come asking for help as they feel insecure, for example, lacking confidence, after not having received praise, or giving themselves an unrealistic assessment of their own ability. Psychologically, teachers can motivate their pupils, be positive and give praise wherever its due. Crucially, the process of helping students to be autonomous, to be proud of their own achievements and to give them self-belief, will make a huge difference to their mental well-being. Thus, the job that these educators do should never be taken for granted, but must be actively applauded, literally lauded, and, please excuse the alliteration and rhyming, rewarded.

Superhuman Powers

Part of the job is to give people hope filling a void, where figuratively speaking, a deep abyss, which acts like a barrier, had previously blocked the way. Incredibly, now and again, the modus operandi calls for the odd poor soul in distress to be rescued. Usually, we can be spotted in civilian clothes, but, suddenly, we may need to spring to action and help someone in need. Luckily, we do not have to worry about kryptonite. Possessed with incredible strength, school teachers, for example, have been known to put up with big classes full of teens undergoing puberty no less! Amazingly, never-ending piles of marking can be reduced to ashes, metaphorically speaking of course. Finally, teachers of literature, are brilliant bookworms; they’re perfectly able to read many novels in order to keep up with curricula.

Heroes & Villains

The villains are not called the Joker, Lex Luther, or the Hobgoblin, but politicians with their own agendas, and, in some cases, parents, schools and intermediaries who disrespect the role of the hard-working teacher and do not give credit where its due. In fact, they do great injustice to those who, at the very least, deserve to be treated fairly. A Prime Minister/ President who doesn’t put enough money into education should be made accountable. While the Minister of Education acts on the orders issued by the powers that be. A school may need to interpret directives from the Ministry. For example, in the Netherlands, schools are given the freedom to decide how many teachers may be given the highest salary scale. Moreover, during a dispute, parents may believe their child and side against a teacher. Further, the Principal may side with the parents, so as not to lose business, even if it's at the expense of the teacher.

Peter Parker Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers

Teachers are tough. After all, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Don’t despair, as heroism doesn’t always go unrewarded. When a student tells you that you have inspired him/ her, then it is hard to describe how much this means to you; a lot more than if it came from a Manager type, for example. By seeing the results of your hard work unfold in front of you and, to give an example, to witness real progress at the end of a course can give you a wonderfully warm feeling inside. Forming bonds with students means that you get to know them, cheering them on along the way, and if they fulfil their potential, for example, the accomplishment is felt more on a personal level. 

More Power to You

Teaching empowers individuals to be the best version of themselves they can possibly be. Teaching invigorates; allowing you to be stimulated, i.e. whether it’s through adrenaline-fuelled energisers or idyllic ice-breakers. Teaching gives you a sense of purpose; it enables you to follow the right path and stick to it. Teaching gives structure and stability in what can be described as a wayward world. Teaching, above all, is a calling; pure destiny, if you will, where, if you believe it, it’s down to fate as to what we are pre-destined to do in life. Teaching, as a final thought, is an occupation, which we choose and then, once smitten, we soldier on, and, intrinsically, due to feeling fulfilled, we end up loving what we do.

Selected Reading by the Author

The Many roles of the teacher

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/why-do-teachers-make-worse-students-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Students

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-experts-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Experts

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-psychologists-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Psychologists

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-police-agents-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Police Agents

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-actors-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Actors

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-learners-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Learners

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-heroes-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Heroes

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/teachers-humans-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title – Teachers as Humans

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/motivator-daniel-israel?trk=portfolio_article-card_title - Teachers as Motivators

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The following blogs, articles & resources are only available in the following books:

Down and Out in Tokyo in The EFL Teacher's Handbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521069719/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_MkyRCb4Y62Q2G

The Principles of ELT, Crazy about Collocations, I love Idioms, Paraphrase This!, The Creative Writer 2, Lexical Chunking, Teachers' Stories: In-Company Veteran, The Luck of the Draw, Teach and Travel with a Twist, What Might Have Been and Three Scoundrels, Limericks for Life and Haikus (poetry) and TTT (Teacher Talking Time) are all in The EFL Teacher's Companion: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982927488/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_.myRCbVBMWV60

EFL Resources: 20 Writing Assignments: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1790204542/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_1ryRCb3VDRRG4