it's all about the money -- or not

One of the monthly columns of the blog is dedicated to present to you what kind of career paths strong English language skills can bring you. So far we have focused on teaching jobs, from high school positions to university professorship, and from private employment to public institutions. We have not dealt with teaching in general, though. After half a year of interviews, I thought to dedicate this article to a more general consideration of being a teacher.

 

Today I brought you some short excerpts from interviews with (public school) teachers, who reflect not only on what they feel about their job but also on what materialistic matters like finances mean for them. I have picked professionals from a wide variety of countries, so to give you a more objective and extensive picture about what it really means to work in education. You will see that many of them address the issue of money, not only because capitalism made money our god but also because the profession of teaching is often linked, typically negatively, to capital. Let us see whether and how much they support the general claim that teachers are underpaid.

 

 

“I am happy with my income and think I earn a fair wage. I am unhappy with the public’s perception in Canada that teachers are overpaid. I’ve never met anyone that teaches for money. It’s never about the paycheck; it’s about loving the work we do. However, I do feel that our politicians, media, and therefore the general public feel that we are overpaid and lazy because we get more vacation time than many other professionals.” (Canada)

 

 

“I feel like I am providing a valuable service — and I do love my job at times. But teaching also has unfortunate downsides such as the money and administrative load, which can significantly detract from my core job as a teacher. While my income could be worse, I would argue it still is not fair for the qualifications I hold and my job performance. Often it’s hard work with little thanks.” (South Africa)

 

 

“I’m content with my income, but that’s because I don’t have a family to support or bills to pay. As a teacher, I do more administrative work than teaching. Sometimes the children are unsatisfied with our performance, but there’s only so much I can do with all the administrative work I have.” (Macedonia)

 

 

“Sometimes I wonder if the stress I put myself through is worth it, but then one of the kids or parents will tell me a story about how I’ve made a difference and it all seems worthwhile.” (England)

 

 

“I’m worried my income won’t be enough as my daughter gets older. I really like being a teacher — I just wish I was recognized for it every now and then, whether in pay or just a pat on the back. But it beats being a lawyer.” (US) 

 

 

“I am happy but financially strapped. I don’t eat at restaurants; I can’t afford it. I am not a demanding guy, so my income seems sufficient for now, but I can’t sustain my life on it.” (Nepal)

 

 

“Teaching is like volunteer work that nobody recognizes as such. I’m deeply dissatisfied, and I think the great victims of our system of education are the pupils.” (Romania)

 

In short, teachers consider their job as a profession and a calling, to which they dedicate their entire body and mind. But the dreadful financial issues the majority has to live with make it godd@mn difficult to persist. It is not for the faint-hearted..

Read the whole article on TED's page.

 

see me

I've been teaching and analyzing presentations for years. Part of my routine is that I watch (and make my students watch) TED talks. Of course I have my favorites but I also test them with my students. A lot of people found Sir Ken Robinson hilarious and inspirational. Some, however, felt it was too much of a stand-up comedy. Also a large number of people gave positive feedback about Steve Jobs's Stanford Commencement Speech, or in more popular terms, on his How to Live Before You Die talk. Nevertheless, some critiqued that he was not being authentic and seems just like selling something. Simon Sinek's talk on the Golden Circle also received applause, but to the European ear his style seemed too manipulative in a number of cases. 

There was one speech only -- which by chance has been my favorite from the start -- that gained appreciation from everyone. And that was a presentation from a (for me) unknown Indian guy who charmed his audience not only with his simple, clear, and adorable message but also with his personality which he allowed to shine through every second of the talk (or rather, story-telling).

 

"Within infinite myths lie the truth. Who sees it all? Varuna has but a 1,000 eyes. Indra a 100. 

You and I only 2."

2013

Girls and guys, 

ladies and gentlemen,

The year is just about to end, so a new one can begin. But before it does, let us stop for a moment. Instead of making resolutions for the coming year, I usually prefer to ask (myself and others) about the one that is to close. Interestingly (but perhaps not surprisingly), people tend to feel uncomfortable about reckoning. Funnily, however, if you take the lead and share, they do join and find the words. And very often we realize how much our experiences are connected -- and we are, contrary to our fear, not lost and alone.

Like with hard conversations. We all have issues that need to be shared but we fear them. We all like to postpone the discussion, so we can ignore the consequences. We all tend to imagine how the other would react, and often times it is dreadful, which justifies our passivity. But while we are waiting, the frustration is eating us up. 

For me 2013 was about these hard conversations. I got fed up with what I thought was acceptance but in reality was just silence, and I decided to take the risk of being active, thus fallible and vulnerable. 

I confronted my employers and I became independent. I confronted my family and I found support. 

I confronted myself and the world stood by me.

Hard conversations are the hardest while within the closet of our heads. Let us come out.

Best wishes, of courage and trust, for 2014,

Anna

we all need a champion

Here's some inspiration for us all. Even on a rainy day she makes me believe that it is worth to go out and fight that battle. And we have quite a few rainy days, and not just now in the autumn. Teachers face a great amount of difficulties these days (probably just like before). It takes a lot of energy to be with people, may they be children or adults; beginners or professionals; you need to be present all the time and give the best of you, so they can find the best of themselves. At the same time, educators are far from being respected and/or compensated. Our job is not a constant success story. It is not a rapid victory. It is the hard work and close interaction of months and years, filled with moments of failure and success, ups and downs. But we need to be persistent and believe that at the end of the day it will be -- it is -- worth the investment, for them and for ourselves.

Rita Pierson is an inspiring teacher and speaker. She makes the battles of teaching so tangible that your heart starts to beat faster, uncovers the complexities of the profession so vividly that you almost feel like being there in the classroom, and convinces us all that education is still the best thing. Because it is.

We can do it. We are born to make a difference. We are educators.