Different teachers are here for different things.
One history teacher was there to tear you down, so she could rebuild you better.
One teacher was there to see how far you could go, and push you just as hard as he could.
One teacher was there to make you feel better about yourself.
One teacher was there to say, you’ll never succeed at that.
One teacher was there to entertain, and piggyback a year’s worth of biology knowledge on his antics.
One teacher was there to show you that you didn’t need her – you’d better learn how to teach yourself precalculus.
I learned from all of them.
We all need all kinds of teachers. I personally am here to pour skills and self-confidence into my students, so that they can face the next steps on their journey with both a full heart and a full bag of tricks. I respect other approaches to teaching, even if I can never be that kind of teacher.
The most important question you can ask yourself as a teacher is, “What are you here for?” What kind of teacher are you here to be?