WHY WE TEACH (AND HOW WE WANT TO USHER IN THE NEW YEAR)

WHY WE TEACH

Teaching is not for the selfish
nor those who have a jealous streak.
Teachers are not bullies
nor are they anger and flame.

We teach because it is our calling.
We teach because it fills us with song.
We teach because it is our passion

like collecting stamps,
listening to music,
a long walk in the park with someone we love.

We teach because it makes us dance,
fills us with joy, makes us whole.
(Have you ever seen a smile on the face of a child?)

Why do we teach?
We teach because we are selfish--
we teach because we must.

To offer the gift of knowledge,
assist someone in finding an opportunity for every possibility,
to show a tree and discover a forest,

to find a butterfly, a rainbow,
a prism of color, a prism to self,
the human experience over and over and over again

and bring it to life
and help it develop
and watch it grow--

this is why I teach.


Michael H. Brownstein
@12/2006