3 Reasons for . . .

I saw this sign a couple weeks ago, when my sis was here visiting and the two of us were out shopping. It made me laugh. I looked at her and said, "If I were real naughty, I'd buy this and hang it in my office!" She double dared me to be naughty and to get it and . . . and I did.

If the statement on that sign were true, I'd never last in the world of teaching.

Today the spring semester started. The sea of humanity standing at the door to my classroom as I strolled into the Humanities Building was startling. I had a full enrollment--30 students--and a full waitlist--30 students! I think all 60 had arrived. I knew I could add about 5 people to my roster before I would jeopardize the quality of the class.

I think "3 Reasons for Teaching" might be autumn, winter, and spring . . . because teaching brings me a tremendous feeling of hope and of accomplishment. The classroom has shown me my weaknesses and my strengths and that both must be tempered with balance. I've had to learn to guide smart-mouth teens and very frightened adults. Because I dropped out of school as a 15 year old and returned as a 35 year old, I think I relate in some fashion to both groups and hopefully I can relate a little to everything in between those two.

When I was a 30-something college student I was fortunate enough to have an instructor/mentor who always coached her students to "know your own nature." I had to think about who am I in my heart of hearts and what I am most comfortable doing. Another one of my instructors who was about to dismiss class one late morning with volumes of reading before meeting again, reminded us of an old Jesuit saying, "Do what you are doing." That statement continues to this day to help me to focus even in the midst of chaos. Those are two concepts I try to pass on to my students.

June, July, and August are not the reasons I teach. I am an instructor because I believe in education; because I believe not that education is expensive, but that not getting an education is the most expensive thing a person may do. When I came to the classroom as a 35 year old student, I was tired of not being who I knew I could be. I think lots of my students feel the same way.

The toughest aspect of being an instructor is knowing what to do with the ones who come to the classroom thinking that just sitting there makes them students. I have to explain (sometimes way too often) to some of them that sitting all day in McDonalds will not magically turn them into a Big Mac. I also remind them that "we are what we eat." If we eat lots of sugars and fats, we'll probably be obese. If they want to be students they'll probably need to "consume" their textbooks. Over the course of a semester I am fascinated by the transformation of some and the stubbornness of others.

Today, this week, I am at the starting gate of a new semester. I am encouraged by the potential and fully aware that the journey will need my keen attention. I hope that I can assist my students in becoming a community that pulls each other through the tough places and applauds each others' victories.

Well, I guess that I'll be telling semester stories occasionally from now till June, and I'm confident that I'll be finding many more "3 Reasons for Teaching." So they'll probably get deposited here.

We had a high of 82 degrees today!
It was just an all around high day!
Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol

P.S. Today was Tristan's 3rd Birthday! We're hoping to get photos tomorrow of him with his new fire truck!