- “What Is It About 20-Somethings?”

My elementary students recently had their first day of school, and I was chatting with one of the parents before class started. She was surprised to hear I had gone to graduate school to get my teaching credential. “You mean, this is real for you then,” she said. “It’s not just something to do?”

I had to summon all my energy to just smile and nod, because, WHAT??!?

One of my top complaints about Teach for America is that while the organization does a lot to glorify its program, it does nothing to encourage respect for teaching as a profession. Instead, it fosters the attitude that teaching is a cool thing for smart people to do as an in-between thing. Thus, the New York Times referring to the decision to teach in urban public schools as “forestalling the beginning of adult life,” in the same category as “avoiding commitments” and staying “untethered.” Just FYI, world, teaching requires a nearly inhuman commitment, and nothing can tether you like 30 nine-year-old kids counting on your instruction. Kthnxbai.

This disrespect of course gets along well with our best friend the patriarchy because of the historical undervaluing of traditionally female-dominated professions. Teachers, nurses, and secretaries are not taken seriously – if men take one of these jobs, which all require education and expertise, it’s a punch line. THANKS PATRIARCHY for treating my passion like a joke.

In case you are still confused, my choice to become a teacher was NOT about: settling, sacrifice, sainthood, or stupidity. I teach because I find it challenging, invigorating, rewarding, hilarious, and important.

No Ma’am, it is not just something to do.