The Courage to Teach

My student teaching mentor gave me a book once called "The Courage To Teach."

I read the introduction page.

The truth is, I'm not so sure that courage is the main component in what I do so it didn't seem applicable. But as I sit here at my computer with another Last Chance Show behind me, I realize that maybe it does take more courage than I thought. And maybe not courage in the way that I was thinking of it. I think the real courage comes from "raising" these kids, knowing that you have no tangible connection to them other than being their teacher. Pouring yourself into their activities, working hours and hours to make things happen for them and then, poof! In the blink of an eye they are 18 and graduate, many of whom you will never see again. I know that's what I signed up for, but it doesn't make it less difficult.

I have a group of seniors this year that I have become overly attached to. We are just bonded in a way that doesn't always happen with kids. After watching all their spotlights and knowing how hard they've worked this year, and I couldn't help but be in tears multiple times. Many of them are going on into music, which makes me so happy. That's why we teach in the first place, hoping that the things we give them live on with them for a lifetime.

So, it is with weary eyes (from lack of sleep) and heavy heart (from the looming sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance") that I close this blog post with a line from one of my kiddos spotlights last night, a song that Ben just starting singing at the table with me:

"Tonight, we are young. So let's set the world on fire, we can burn brighter than the sun."

Courage, indeed.