School Teachers

The People v/s the Profession

This piece of article has no intention of lessening your appreciation for the people who teach school. On one hand, I want to acknowledge the wonderful qualities teachers have, and to explain a few difficult and ironic aspects of their profession. In general, it is not teachers' faults that School Is Bad, although if they all quit there would be no more school. On the other hand, I want to point out some less healthy aspects of common teacher personalities, to help you understand some of the guilt you may feel at school, and to help you give yourself permission to leave.

Most teachers are generous, intelligent, beautiful people. Some are very talented or knowledgeable in their fields and would make great mentors or tutors outside the constraints of school. Many have given up chances to make lots of money because they believe in teaching even though it pays poorly. Especially if they are men, they sometimes endure years of being hassled by their families, "Why don't you find a real career?" In any grip-on-reality contest, your average schoolteacher would win four times as many trophies as your average Gillette or Exxon executive. Most teachers and other people in schools believe they are doing the Right Thing. They are not preventing democracy, freedom, and education on purpose.

When they do purposely prevent freedom, they think it is in your best interest, so that you'll be ready to work hard and "succeed" in your afterlife. Respect their good intentions. A few teachers are amazing enough to conquer. In their classes, something strong and beautiful happens, despite all the unpleasant forces of the opposition. The classic example is Elliot Wigginton, who started an oral history program in Georgia. His students write the famous Foxfire books and magazines. These books enlighten the whole world both about the richness of Appalachian culture and the capabilities of teenage journalists.

Jerry Vevig, my own high school choir director, is not so famous but was also an extraordinary teacher before he got promoted. Whenever I entered his room for 6:30 A.M. practice, jazz choir, or concert choir, I forgot I was a high school student and instead became a serious artist in a likeminded company. He wasn't always nice, and usually made us sing fifteen minutes into our lunch break, but he treated us like musicians, not kiddies, and he knew his stuff. I especially remember once when our jazz choir performed for a huge business Christmas banquet at The Red Lion, one of our twenty performances that month. The adult audience ignored us while we set up microphones. But when Carl rolled the first lush chords over the piano, all the talking hushed, and when Ronelle sang the first ripe note of the opening solo, a man dropped his fork. We were for real. Mr. V. brought out our best, and we loved him for it. I don't want to deny that some teachers can make wonderful things happen in school. I just know that the odds are way against them.

Also, just because someone teaches doesn't mean they're mentally "in league" with the school system. Many teachers start teaching in the first place because they think school is a bad place and they hope to make it better.
By: Francis David