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Teaching Is…Impossible to sum up in a little book, but that is not to say this author didn’t do a bang-up job!
A sweet coffee table book, it is filled with the author Marjan Glavac’s personal experiences and parables of his own 30 year teaching career. This is a quick read, meant to inspire teachers as well as explain to non-educators why teachers teach- for reasons such as “Having a student come up with a better way to solve a problem- even though you have taught the same lesson for five years.”
I have been having a rough go of it lately. My house has been badly damaged by Irene and flooding, my dog has cancer, and my job is killing me. I LOVE being a teacher, however- lately there are aspects of this particular job that are getting harder and harder to swallow. With all that is going on, I was recently sorting through a pile of things hastily thrown into a box while we were trying to salvage things from the flood. That is when I saw this book- it must have come right before I got home from Ohio to meet the storm, because I had not seen it.
As I sat there and flipped though it, it made me laugh, and made me think. Being a teacher is a unique kind of job- it is a huge responsibility, yet so many parents and politicians want to place the burdens of the world on our shoulders, while reducing resources, materials, benefits, paychecks, and classroom aids- of course all the while INCREASING class size and requirements and expectations.
However- there are some of us that are still foolish enough to want to teach. It is a big job to help mold children who will one day be the adults that run this country, and it amazes me every day that teachers are often the political and parental “whipping boy” so to speak.
It’s not about money- it’s the love of watching a kid UNDERSTAND what you are trying to tell them, keeping your class quiet because they WANT to hear you, and having a parent tell you (years later) that little Jimmy still talks about you. No one does this job to get rich or become powerful, they only do it because they feel the need. Are there bad apples? Sure, everyplace has them. But don’t let a few bad apples spoil the profession! I had a few lousy teachers as well- but I had way more great ones.
Here’s looking at you, Marjan Glavac, for telling it like it is, so clearly and so simply!
Great gift for any teacher, keep this on your radar for end of year or Christmas gifts for sure 🙂
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Thanks for turning me on to such a great book. It sounds cliche but several teachers have been very important to me, from first grade (Mrs. Chenault) to college (Dr. Arthur McArthur Miller — and no, I didn’t make that name up).
cheers,
Jim
Melissa and Doug Blog
Hello All,
Marjan Glavac here, author of Teaching Is… Thank you Samantha for your wonderful review of my book. I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
sounds like a nifty book
I think you received this book at a good time since it made you laugh – you needed that! You also needed a reminder about how important your job is.
that is a good teacher gift idea
So sorry to hear that your home has been damaged by flooding.
This book sounds like something that would be enjoyed as a gift by any teacher.
I love things like this that help us to remember why we were inspired to be teachers in the first place <3
I’m doing my education practicum right now in special education and will student teach/graduate in the spring. I know what you mean. Not all of the teachers are encouraging me to go into the profession. However, they can’t change the fact that I LOVE being there and teaching those kids.
Spot on!
Thanks for sharing this! I totally agree with the philosophy. Can’t wait to read!