A Passion for Teaching?
The Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf argues that Christians have a duty to God to find work that fulfils them. This means finding a match between the things we are passionate about and the things that are required of us within our working life. Does teaching scratch where you itch? Are you the sort of person that will make a good teacher? Find out some answers here.
Do I have a Love of Learning?
Do I Believe that Every Child Matters?
Is the Way of Life of a Teacher for Me?
Is Teaching for Me?
Do I have a Love of Learning?
To be a disciple, is literally, to be a learner. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus gathered around himself a group of key people and, for three years, laboured at the task of helping them to learn about God's Kingdom. By the time of the Ascension, Jesus had prepared them to disciple others. Perhaps one of Jesus' main goals was to leave a network of 'Kingdom learners'?
If you think you might have a vocation to teach perhaps one of the most important questions to ask yourself is: 'Am I passionate about helping people to learn?' Do you love having the opportunity to explain an idea to someone? Do you get a buzz when you help someone understand something new? If you answer yes to these questions then you should certainly be pursuing the idea of becoming a teacher.
Do I Believe that Every Child Matters?
Sometimes learning is confused with getting good test results. Of course doing well in exams is important and teachers should always aspire for the very best for their pupils. But learning is more than this. Jesus cared about forming disciples - whole people who were rounded in their approach to life and who developed positive values and attitudes.One significant development in government policy has been to emphasise the importance of promoting the spiritual development of pupils. Another has been the implementation of the Every Child Matters initiative. The aim of this is that the development of the child as a person should be the focus of all professionals working with children; teachers, doctors, police, social workers, etc. There are five core aspirations, which are that children should:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being
If you want to be a teacher, you certainly need to care about the academic achievement of your pupils, but you also need to be passionate about seeing them grow up as developed and rounded people. Teaching will not satisfy you if all you really care about is the subject that you teach. In the end it is the contribution that both you and the subject content make to the development of your pupils as human beings that matters. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child flourish as a result of your work with them as a teacher. This is a really important aspect of the Christian ministry of teaching.
Is the Way of Life of a Teacher for Me?
Teaching is not a 9 to 5 job. Most teachers have to work hard at achieving an appropriate work/life balance.
A typical day for a teacher in the early years of their career looks something like this:
7.45 am - Arrive in school, prepare lessons, organise resources, etc.
8.45 am - Assembly
9.10 am - Lessons
10.45 am - Break - grab a coffee and prepare room for next lesson
12.30 pm - Lunch - sandwiches in the classroom preparing for afternoon lessons
1.30 pm - Lessons
2.30 pm - Short break - quick cuppa
3.15 pm - School ends. Tidy classroom for next day, prepare resources, marking, a meeting or after-school club
5.00 pm - Leave school
7.00 pm - Preparation and marking
9.00 pm - Finish work
What conclusions can you make from this?
- Teaching is surprisingly hard work. You will be tired.
- You won't be bored! Teaching is about managing hundreds of interactions with pupils, staff, parents, etc.
- Teaching is demanding. There will be occasions when you have to handle difficult situations and occasional confrontations. It can be an emotional roller-coaster.
- Teaching is one of those jobs that never seem to end. You will always have it in the back of your mind. Most teachers don't stop thinking school at 5pm - you have to learn to switch off.
- You will get a longer summer holiday - but you will need it, and will find yourself working for part of it.
If you are going to teach you must enjoy challenge. It is like joining the Army; you have to want a way of life that will stretch you.
Is Teaching for Me?
Ultimately there is only one way to answer this question. Try it and see. There are many ways to gain some experience:- Do some teaching in children's church or a youth group.
- Ask a teacher if you can shadow them so you can see what a working day is like.
- Join a government taster scheme
- Watch Teachers TV
When observing teachers at work, three important questions to ask yourself are:
- Do I love helping people to learn?
- Am I passionate about contributing to the development of pupils as whole people?
- Do I get excited about living the way of life of a teacher?
Subscribe here!
Christians have a duty to God to find work that fulfils them.
Am I passionate about helping people to learn?
Jesus cared about forming disciples - whole people who were rounded in their approach to life and who developed positive values and attitudes.