Reflection on American Teacher Documentary

          After viewing the documentary, American Teacher, I reflected on why I decided to major in Early Childhood and Special Education.  This documentary addresses the many difficult challenges teachers face.  Such challenges include earning a low salary, working long hours inside and outside the classroom, and, most importantly, not receiving professional respect.  American Teacher also mentions that such challenges result in burnout.  Consequently, several teachers leave the profession and pursue a different career path due to the stressful educational challenges. 

          Despite the struggles and challenges in the field of education, teaching truly is a rewarding profession.  I believe this documentary  provides the viewer with a vague insight of the positive reasons why one should pursue a career in education.  The teachers in this documentary express that they love the profession because every day is different.  Thus, teaching children to become productive and effective citizens is an exciting learning journey.  I agree with this idea about teaching.  I regularly look forward to going to my placements because each visit is a new adventure in which both the students and I learn something new together. 

Another important positive aspect in regards to the teaching profession is that teachers are a source of inspiration to students.  American Teacher suggests that effective teachers inspire students to have a thirst for learning by making the instructional material developmentally relatable and interesting.  Additionally, teachers help all students discover their talents and achieve their goals.  This idea relates to Piaget’s outlook regarding the goal of teaching, “The primary goal of education is to create people who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – people who are creative, inventive, and discoverers.”

Overall, I decided to become a teacher because it is a rewarding profession.  John F. Kennedy said, “Children are the world’s most value resource and its best hope for the future.”  I believe it is a primary necessity to effectively educate our nation’s youth.  We need to nuture children's minds and hearts.  Thus, I strive to become a teacher who creates a socially acceptable classroom.  By achieving a welcoming classroom climate, I wish for my students to recognize their unique gifts and to achieve their goals.