Reflections of a fantastic teacher

The vision I have of myself as a fantastic teacher is very idealistic but is mostly achievable.  Every school day I would efficiently address the content in a way that is understandable, relatable and multiculturally sensitive.  I would also be a teacher who understands the individual needs of my students and has a good idea of what I can personally do to make them successful.

I want to be a teacher to make a difference in the lives of young people.  Making a difference is really important to me.  I understand that I can't possibly make a difference in the lives of all my students but I can make some connections that will makes students think about their human potential.  I want to help make a world that is better then the one I am living in today.  The students we are teaching today are going to be the leaders and inventors of tomorrow and I want them to be successful at making positive change.  This is a very selfish reason for becoming a teacher but it is completely honest.  I want the next generation to make our world better to live in.  I want the next generation to be concerned about the perils our world is facing and have the knowledge that offers real solutions.  Making a difference and wanting a better world will sustain me as long as I am seeing some type of progress in the world, but it won't sustain me if things really begin to regress.  It will be tough to keep going if I don't see positive direction in the way our world is heading.

I think Darling-Hammond said it much better then I did but I did pick up on some similar ideas.  The main aspect I need to focus on sustaining myself is understanding my individual role.  My reflection was more focused on the what the student is doing and not what I can do to enrich my self as a person. 

Sojourner Truth's new interpretation is one of a strong, powerful black woman.  The words she uses in her speech are typically ones that would have been used in masculine speech.  With her philosophy of power she is pulling herself out of that submissive role that society put women in but still says, "ain't I a woman?"  Very empowering.

The main purpose of schools is to prepare students for the future as positive contributors to our society.  The students we will be teaching are the future leaders of our society and as leaders they should positively contribute.  The purpose I mentioned above does not guaranty that it will serve a "diverse" society but in my mind it has to.  In order to serve a diverse society the whole process has to have that idea at the forefront of process.  If the idea of appreciating diversity is inter-mixed from the beginning the positive contributions that are made will be directed towards a diverse society.  At the same time the purpose I described could just as easily serve a socially stratified society if we are not thinking about the process with diversity and multiculturalism in mind  The work of a teacher is so crucial to all of this.  While in school the teacher has an opportunity to promote diversity throughout the educational process.  The teachers work can be to fight against social stratification at all times.

I really haven't made to many changes to my general outlook but I do want to add the strong role society will play in my educational beliefs.  I believe I am a very open and excepting person but I am afraid our society as a whole may not have my similar ideals.  I think it is important to recognize and help my students understand where our society is and how we can all promote diversity even if it goes against some of the social norms.