Why You Should Come to Mississippi

Mr. Guest has asked us to write about the pros and cons of joining the Mississippi Teacher Corps so the next generation of teachers has something to consider. This has prompted me to really think about why I became a teacher and whether others should follow down this path I am almost halfway down. Before I comment on that question, I should share my mental state so that you all will know where I am coming from.

I can say with certainty that February was less than optimal. It sucked. It was better than October (the month I was ready to quit and go home) only because I had enough perspective and rationality to slug it out. I am slightly at odds with my administration and feel strongly that I will leave my school at the end of the year. So I'm not in a great mood right now. That having been said, I am going to attempt to step back and talk about the MTC.

A little over a year ago (February 15, 2006 to be exact) I aggreed to join the MTC after thinking about it for about three months. I did it for a lot of reasons. I was looking for something to do before I went to law school. I was looking to make a difference. I was looking to go back to the South. I was looking to interact with people that I woudl never otherwise get to meet. I was looking to understand how public schools worked in America and how we can fix them. To be honest, the master's degree was of little interest to me. For the most part they were good reasons and my heart was in the right place.

There are only a few possible bad reasons to join. Don't join because you need a job--being unemployed or moving back home is far less stressful than teaching. Don't join if you don't like kids. Don't join because others want you to. You need to want this.

Other than that, I don't think there are that many bad reasons to join MTC. Even if you are killing time before grad school or something along those lines, you can find yourself enjoying teaching and making a positive impact. There is nothing wrong with teaching for two years and then deciding whether you want to continue in the field or continue on some other path. You will be a far better person for having done it and should you enter public policy will be able to be a knowledgeable voice for the children without one.

If you have a good heart, a good work ethic, and a good sense of humor, then you will find a way to become a good teacher. If you are not afraid of failing, so much the better. Being a first-year teacher, you will fail all the time in big and little ways. The question is what you will do after failure. If you are going to get up and try it again, then this is for you. If you are one to give up easily, there is probably a consulting job waiting for you.

For every amazing lesson (my lesson on irony is still talked about months later) there are a few flops. For every child that you get through to, there is another that breaks your heart. For example, one of my best students just got off probation on Monday and then got into fight in the hallway on Tuesday on the way to my class. For every child that wants to learn, there are several that came to school for the lunch. This past week I have been cussed out during class by four different students. It stings. I have also developed great relationships with students that I feared were lost causes in September and October. That is pretty sweet. You come to work each day to endure the bitter in pursuit of that sweetness.

So even though I am having a bit of hard time right now, I know that it will pass when I finally get a bit of rest and get everything together. I know that I can't imagine myself being anywhere else right now. I know that I will finish the program because I would hate myself if I didn't.