This I Believe...

This Is I Believe…

I believe that (to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson), “the secret of education lies in respecting the pupil.” The most important part of being an effective teacher is respecting the students as people first, and above all else. Along with respect comes consistency. It is imperative that we allow our students to feel safe and to make sure they always know what is expected of them. I don’t want my students to ever feel anxious or alone in our classroom – our classroom will be a safe space where the students feel encouraged to be themselves and to make and learn from mistakes. In order to achieve this, I will have certain expectations about how we will treat each other and what we will do in our classroom, and will make sure that the students know what to expect and that that does not change day to day, or student to student. I will be fair and kind, but also in control, because children rely on adults to be in control, and discipline is essential, but must be properly executed.

            I believe that the best way to change the world is to positively influence those around us, and that when those people are children, the effect is even greater. Children are impressionable, and we teachers have the ability to wield our power for good. With most children, we only have one year to help them grow. So we should not waste a minute. I believe the most important job of a teacher is to instill good values in our students – we should not teach them what to believe, by any means, but our character will be closely examined by them, so we must be our best selves and encourage them to do the same.

            I believe that teachers must always do what is best for their students. The opinions of others (like parents or administrators) are important, but not nearly as important as putting the child first. We must constantly work to make ourselves better teachers, and to make the best decisions for our class in every situation we are put in. We must arrive to school every day with the attitude that we will make a difference. We must put aside any personal struggles or daily moods, and focus on the children. It is essential that we start over each day, and don’t hold anything against a difficult child from the day before, even if every day thus far has brought the same trials. We must have open hearts and open minds, and love each child for their own unique set of strengths and difficulties. My favorite quote, (by Haim G. Ginott) reads as follows: “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.” I believe that this is a quote every teacher should live by. I believe that teaching is a noble profession and a profession that requires a degree of selflessness and patience. The reason we teach must be solely for the children, and we must make sure we are doing what’s best for them every single day. I believe that teaching is both challenging and rewarding and that the challenges are so, so worth the rewards.