If I were a teacher, I would teach...

Teachers make a difference. I look back on the many teachers I had during my elementary and secondary education, I have numerous examples of men and women who had an impact on me and still has an impact today. Because of them, I always considered teaching as a career. I began college with the goal of becoming a teacher. Sometimes I wished I had stayed on that course. Regardless, if I could be a teacher now, I would love to teach of one of these subjects: history, literature or a subject I’ll call life hacks.

The subject I would love to reach is history in particular US or European history. I love history. To me, it’s more than just dates and important events. It’s the stories of the everyday people who lived through these events. It’s learning about these ordinary people who stood up and did extraordinary things to better their future and our world. It is also a lesson of what not to do. To learn from the mistakes of others and the grievous injustices done to others because of someone in power. My junior year US history teacher, Mr. Beck, was the one who helped me see past the dates. To understand, as much as I could, what they were thinking, their reasons for doing what they did and why what they did was wrong or right. It is one of the reasons I enjoy a well written historical novel. A story which can transport you to another time and place and give you a glimpse of a time long gone and maybe show us what we are still doing wrong. It is in high school and college history classes that I learned that many facts I learned as a child about US history or even world history were lies, fabrications to boost a figure’s reputation or other motives. To learn the truth about history and past that on to others is a great task, one I think I would enjoy.

Another subject I would love to teach, and probably comes as no surprise to those who know me, is literature. I love reading. I love analyzing the stories for its possible symbolisms and morals. Literature changes the reader who sees a world from another’s perspective. A well written story will impact a reader for the rest of his or her life. Although I’ve been reading since I was a child, I didn’t really become the avid reader that I am today until middle school when my seventh grade English class read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. A book that is required reading for many American students, it is a book that I still remember the impact of the events. It is a book which inspired me to read Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and I did. My teacher was so impressed that I read the book on my own that with gave me an award for that quarter, an award I still have. Literature is also ties in with history and I can see the two subjects being used together in conjunction. I also love that literature can speak to one reader in one way and speak to another reader in another. It can be an interesting discussion when you find evidence for both perspectives. Is one right? Is the other wrong? Or can both perspectives be correct?

A third subject I would love to teach is life hacks. I remember as a freshman I took a class which taught me how to balance a checkbook, write a check and create a budget. However, it did not teach me the basics and importance of credit. I learned the lesson too late. I would advocate this class be taught to juniors and seniors who would be using the skills a lot sooner than freshmen. I would also teach how to write a grocery list, to shop smart by comparing prices per unit rather than falling for the marketing ploys that stores use to entice shoppers to buy what they don’t necessarily need or really aren’t saving them money. For example, Target often has items on sale in which when you buy a certain amount, you can receive a $5 gift card and the majority of the time a $5 gift card isn’t a deal. Essentially, teaching young adults to be informed and attentive consumer. Other topics would include simple home repairs that would save a call to a repairman or plumber. Some are thinking would this be a home economics class. Sure topics like cooking and sewing would be included. I find it amazing how much we don’t know as enter adulthood and we’re expected to know. We’re expected to know how to balance our checkbook, be responsibly use credit and take care of our homes. How much time and money could we save when we have ways to do certain tasks ourselves?

In conclusion, teachers are very important. It is why I was curious who my daughter’s teacher would be in kindergarten for she would be another layer of the foundation for my daughter’s education and love of learning. Teachers are passionate about their subjects pass on that passion to their students. Even though I cannot be in the classroom sharing my passion for these subjects, I can pass them on to my daughter. To the teachers out there, you are important to your students, I hope you take your task serious as so many future generations are counting on you.