A lot of people still have an idealistic view of teaching and
teaching has more than a few career-changers in the profession
- I'm kind of one myself.
What you're saying here though is a bit of a red flag - you're
talking about the 'importance of science education'. If you
believe that, go and teach at the college level and at a very
reputable college with small classes. Teach graduate school.
Open a foundation and fund science education.
For if you teach children or teenagers, they have far more to
learn than just science and a far piece to go before they're
ready and able to buckle down and appreciate 'the importance
of science education'.
To teach well, you should fee strongly about the importance of
children and teenagers and their well-being. The best
teachers are those who build strong relationships with
students - whatever subject they teach. Kids need role
models. Kids need caring people.
You're putting the emphasis on the 'profound truth' you have
to share rather than those with whom you are sharing it. You
sound like a science evangelist. The stuff of schools and of
teaching is kids.
Do you like kids? Do you find anything profound about kids?
> . T that the world around us is knowable
> through careful observation and reason.
And the truth of science is that many discoveries have been
haphazardly.
>
> If you're looking for captive audiences to share your truth
with, a profound truth or not, schools aren't the places to
find such an audience unless it's grad school - those are
students who've committed themselves to the study of science.
> Obviously I have a lot - probably more like everything - to
> learn about being a teacher, but my initial optimism and
> enthusiasm about making the world a better place has been
> somewhat dampened.
Wonderful lofty goal - go and develop vaccines - science has
certainly made the world better through vaccines. Most people
forget what they learned in high school quickly regardless of
how profound the truth or the teaching. What they remember
are the people.
I need to apply to the master's program
> soon, though, and I don't need this crisis compounding my
> natural tendency to procrastinate.
I kindly and gently think you're in for some more
disappointment if you enter the teaching profession with
profound truths in hand. But good luck whatever you decide
and whatever you do.
>
> I'm not sure what my question is. Maybe someone can suggest
> one.
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