teaching is a constant stream of decisions.
Children in your classroom aren't just boys and girls. Every one is a unique individual who
has never been before and will never again exist. If you like people, you will love teaching. To be a
good teacher you must be genuinely interested in what you are doing.
The most important things in the world are awareness and learning — wanting to know every
day of your life more and more and more. Because every time you learn something new you become
something new. An ignorant teacher teaches ignorance, a fearful teacher teaches fear, a bored teacher
teaches boredom. But a good teacher catalyzes in his pupils the burning desire to know and love for
the truth and beauty.
John Steinbeck, writing about his school days said, "I've come to believe that a great teacher
is a great artist and you know how few great artists there are in the world. Teaching might even be
the greatest of the arts since its medium is the human mind and the human spirit." What an incredible
responsibility to be the guardians of the human spirit and the human mind! I think, that is the reason
why humanity has the deepest respect for teachers.
I would never stop teaching and I'm sure that you, having chosen it for your career, feel the
same way. If you don't feel that way then, please, for all our sakes, get out! The human mind and the
human spirit are too wondrous to destroy. But if you are prepared to accept the responsibility, I wish
you all the luck in the world.
A Teacher
TEXT B. CHOOSING IS NOT SO EASY AS IT LOOKS
J a n e : Hallo, Bob!
B o b : Hallo!
J a n e : Oh, you've just left college, haven't you?
B o b : Yes.
J a n e : What are you going to do?
B o b : Er... well, it looks like a choice between teaching or going into an office and... I
think I'd much prefer to go in for teaching, because... well you get long holidays.
J a n e : But, Bob, wouldn't you get bored with the same routine year after year teaching...
teaching the same material to the children. And... a sense o! responsibility you need — all those
children, all those parents.
В o b : Oh, look, it wouldn't be as boring as... as working in an office. Teaching is terribly
stimulating. It's ... new every day — I'm sure I'd enjoy it.
J a n e : But I mean, there's so much variety in office work! Look at my job: I'm dealing
with people and their problems, there're new situations to cope with all the time.
B o b : Yes, that's quite true, but I think there's a number of differences between teaching
and office work and, well, I think I'll go in for teaching because... it really attracts me.