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President’s
Message Dr.
David Ross Reflections
from a Teacher at the End of a School Year This
morning I was reflecting on the CEC Convention in
As much as I like to visit and play on beautiful
golf courses, I like to visit and play in beautiful schools more.
There is nothing like a 280 yard drive over water to the center of a
fairway, except the view of children jumping out of a mini van or off the steps
of a big yellow bus in front of a school; or a child using a cane to
independently walk into the building and to the classroom with other excited
children. I
so enjoy being a teacher. Recently
someone asked what I liked about being a professor and I said being a teacher.
One of the best things about being a professor is the opportunity to see
children learning and to see many wonderful teachers as I venture away from
campus to supervise student teachers. I
am fortunate that I still have the opportunity to work with students, although
they are older, and now I get to see these students working with children.
A
few weeks ago I visited with a high school senior.
I first met her as a second grader and now she is preparing for college.
It’s almost like she was one of my students.
I have been privileged to witness her and her teacher through my student
teachers as she learned to read using Braille; now she is an avid reader. I
have seen her O&M instructor teaching her stairs; how see travels
independently anyplace she wishes to go. I
watched as her teacher requested new pieces of technology; now she uses the
newest equipment with ease. I
watched as she made friends and went to football games; now I will see her
graduate second in a class of 600 students.
I
recently read statistics pointing out that 50% of teachers leave the field
within five years, that is not new, but what surprised me the most was that 40%
of the teachers said they would pick another career if they could go back and
start over. They are still teaching
because after being a teacher for more than five years, it’s hard to start
over in a new career. Something
happened to these teachers along the education pathway.
Teaching can be wonderful, but it does have its dark side too, I guess
I’m not smart enough to stop in the dark, but just keep walking and bumping
along until it becomes light again. I
was thinking back to why I became a teacher (and yes every now and then I think
it would be a lot easier to be flipping hamburgers someplace – but that passes
quickly). It’s good to stop and
remember the good things; the successful students, the happy parents, the
feeling that comes from doing a job well. Sometimes
the negative things standout, I remember a professor years ago telling my class
that the negative is more powerful than the positive in our memory – so we
better do something about that he said. He
was right. Yes,
I see more beauty in schools than on a dew covered golf course as the sun rises
over the first green; to be a teacher is, well, there are no adjectives that can
describe it. I hope you feel the
same way, too. If you enjoy teaching
email me at dross@kutztown.edu – if you are not enjoying teaching email me
too. There is no prize for emailing,
and no wonderful hidden reward, I just would like to hear from you.
Read the wonderful articles DVI has in this edition of the Q.
Have a wonderful summer. Back to 2004 DVIQ Articles |