The Future of Teaching
How aspiring and veteran teachers alike, navigate the trials and tribulations of doing what they love
Teaching is a profession that holds a special place in society, often regarded as a noble calling rather than just a job. While the reasons individuals become teachers vary, there are several common threads that weave through their motivations. At the heart of it lies a passion for imparting knowledge, nurturing young minds, and making a positive impact on future generations. There is a shortage of them especially after the pandemic, according to Devlin Peck, there are 500,000+ fewer educators in the American public school systems post-pandemic due to the rise in teaching anxiety.
But for many educators, the decision to pursue teaching stems from a deep-seated desire to make a difference. They see education as a transformative force, capable of empowering individuals and shaping the course of their lives. This belief in the power of education fuels their commitment to the profession, driving them to overcome the various challenges that come with teaching.
Motivation is Key
Teachers are drawn to the opportunity to inspire and motivate their students, instilling in them a sense of learning that extends far beyond normal avenues of the classroom. They look for the chance to create a love of learning and spark creativity. Seeing understanding light up in a student's eyes is a source of immense satisfaction and validation for teachers, reaffirming their choice to pursue a career in education.
Teachers derive fulfillment from the relationships they build with their students. They take pride in being mentors, role models, and confidants, guiding their students through both academic and personal challenges. The bond between teacher and student is often one of mutual respect and trust, built on a foundation of shared experiences and mutual growth.
Teachers also find fulfillment in the opportunity to contribute to the greater good. They recognize the vital role education plays in shaping society and view their work as a means of fostering positive social change. By equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed, teachers believe they are helping to build a brighter future for all.
Additionally, teaching offers a sense of autonomy and creativity that appeals to many educators. While there are curriculum standards and guidelines to follow, teachers have the flexibility to tailor their lessons to the unique needs and interests of their students. This creative freedom allows them to experiment with different teaching methods, incorporate innovative technologies, and explore diverse perspectives, keeping their work dynamic and engaging.
Creating Growth
Teaching provides a platform for continuous learning and personal growth. Educators are lifelong learners themselves, constantly seeking out new knowledge and skills to enhance their teaching practice. Whether through professional development workshops, graduate courses, or collaboration with colleagues, teachers are committed to honing their craft and staying abreast of the latest research and best practices in education.
Despite the many rewards of teaching, it is not without its challenges. Educators often contend with limited resources, overcrowded classrooms, and societal pressures that can detract from their ability to effectively teach. However, it is precisely in the face of these challenges that teachers demonstrate their resilience, resourcefulness, and unwavering dedication to their students' success.
The Current Generation
To grasp at the perspective shown by our current generation of educators, I sat down with one of Bradley’s lead motivators and instructors, the Director of Bradley’s Communication Department, Doctor Joshua Dickhaus.
Dickhaus, a graduate of the University of Alabama, came to Bradley University in the spring of 2011 as a professor and now has worked his way up to the Director of Bradley's Communication Department. He did tell me how he got his start before he ended up at Bradley, He told me “I had to send some tapes back and back then you had to do real tape, a resume tape and send it to companies that's all you got a job and I had some job offers that were going to take me out west like to Montana, Wyoming and places like that which is where you're going to start in a job such as this as boring as it might be”
“I’ve always had the mindset that I want to be remembered because of the amount that I spent to care about my students - Dr. Joshua Dickhaus
Getting his perspective on something especially in particular to what's he started out to do resonators with me as well because it's exactly what I'm trying to get myself into so he provided a lot of insight into that as well as providing Future Insights on the future generation of teachers and how he runs a lot of his classes, He went ahead and told me this about the way he conducts himself in a classroom “It takes a lot of preparation so you should never walk into a classroom unprepared. Lesson planning, knowing it, looking it up, fine. Making it as interesting as possible, it's just very important having command of the room. It's important I think for a teacher to be very approachable and very understanding. Nevertheless, there is somebody in charge of that room and you've got to be that person who's in charge and above all always be fair.”
The Future Generation
To get the perspective of an aspiring education student I also sat down with an education major Natalia Lopez. You can hear bits of my interview with her as well as from my interview with Dr. Dickhaus here:
Lopez, a junior, is currently studying Elementary Education and we discussed what kind of teacher she would like to be in the future and how she would run a classroom, she told me this “I would say to make sure you always have their attention. From what I've learned in my classes, it's important to not be not be the student's friend, but you kind of be on their level in a way. Like, have them know that you're the boss in the room, especially creating rules together, for example, having classroom rules. If you create a community with your students and if you respect them, then they respect you. That's a good way to meet eye to eye which builds a sense of respect.”
The Teaching Carousel
Gathering both experiences together, it's very important to see it in both of their lights because the world is constantly changing and things are definitely different than they were 5-10 years ago. Already, because of our ever-evolving world and the standards that we have. But in the end our educators are our finest people that we could put out there in order to provide a standard of education for the future generation. To be able to evolve our communities is essential because it's their job to instruct them as well as guide them down the right paths so we can all evolve together and create the next generation of doctors, scientists and lawyers and all of our essential jobs. Without them, we would certainly be at a loss, they are the biggest influence in a child’s life, other than their parents. So it is in my humble opinion, that teachers and instructors are the most vital jobs in our country and they certainly get less respect than they deserve and hopefully down the line, in the future, they will get paid like it too.