I think it’s pretentious because it isn’t true of the vast majority of teachers I have known in the UK and abroad. Fine practitioners, most of them, but they entered and stayed in teaching because they needed work, not because of some higher calling. Teachers don’t have the best public image in the world; part of this, I suspect, is due to the twaddle some of them spout about how much of a difference they can make, how “it’s the most important job in the world” and so on. Equally, I suspect most doctors are in it because of splendid remuneration and an interest in sciencey things. Nurses aren’t “angels” - just normal folks doing a normal job.
Take as an example the firefighters in the UK who threatened to strike not long after 9/11, when their heroic status couldn’t have been much higher. They were essentially portrayed as animals, betraying their calling, putting innocent peole’s lives at risk etc. Much better to be treated like any other worker with an industrial grievance rather than accepting patronising epithets like “hero” and “angel”.
Oh dear - I appear to be wittering on. Are you from Dublin, by the way? Belfast boy here!
I wonder if it’s different across the pond…
teachers here aren’t paid wonderfully, and for most that I’ve met, the dedication to their students and to education itself is their motivating factor. Heck, I think that in some places garbagemen make more than teachers.
But, isn’t that partially true?
I know I’ve had my life changed by a few teachers…
Maybe not all teachers, but certainly some really do make a difference in the lives of their students.
I’m sure this too is true, but I’m also sure that there are doctors and nurses who do look at healing as a Higher Calling ™.
As I see it, that’s an attitude to be encouraged.
~ponders~
Hrmm…
Of course teachers should be paid well for their efforts.
We’re educators, not serfs.
But I still think we fulfill a vital function.
So maybe the nomenclature is off a bit, but I think that a term which, ideally, should imply respect and admiration for teaching would be good…
You’ve brought up interesting points though, I need to mull this over.
Born and raised in the 'burbs of Manhattan.
I did like Dublin when I visited though… and is it me, or is the Guinness y’all save for yourselves simply better than the stuff you export? Every pint I had in Ireland was better than those I had in England.
Strange, that.
Well, I admire your altruism and enthusiasm. Yes, the Irish keep the best Guinness (in fact, the bloody Dubliners keep it.) Guinness in barbarian England is simply not to be attempted.Thought you were Irish because of the “Howthe Castle” location.
when we grew up and went to school, there were certain teachers
who would hurt the children any way they could
by pouring their derision upon everything we did
exposing every weakness, however carefully hidden by the kid
Ridicule has exactly one place in the classroom: as a tool to take control back from a class clown. Let’s say Alice is giving a report, and Bob is goofing off. A quick snipe like
“Excuse me, Alice. Bob, your presentation wasn’t even good enough to be called a draft. So either take the hint and try to learn something from Alice, or get out of my classroom. You know where to go.”
If you really wanted to turn them off, you should go to the club and read poetry that you think is good in a tight-fitting Coca-cola or John Deere t-shirt and feathered pink hair.