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Let me use a little story to demonstrate what happens
to a lot of good young teachers.
Once
upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a lumber
company, and he got it.
The pay was really good and so were the work
conditions.
For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.
His boss gave him an ax and showed him the area where he was supposed to
work.
The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.
"Congratulations," the boss said. "Continue what you were
doing!" Very motivated by
the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only
could bring 15 trees.
The third day he tried even harder, but he only
could bring 10 trees.
Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.
"I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought.
He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand
what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your
ax?" the boss asked. "Sharpen?
I had no time to sharpen my ax. I have been too busy trying to cut
trees..."
The
message today is very short and sweet.
Don't
get so caught up in your enthusiasm for teaching that you forget to do
sharpen your own ax by getting to know your students and their parents.
Remember that you are a university graduate. You did well in school. You
had high marks. You had an excellent attitude towards learning. Your
family was very likely very supportive and encouraged learning in every
way.
YOU
ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MOST OF THE CHILDREN IN YOUR CLASS...
Most
of the children in your class will never even set foot on the property of
a university campus let alone get a university degree. For many of your
children, education is boring and is something they are "forced to
do". They do not share your enthusiasm.
So
if you find that the harder you work, the less you seem to be getting
through to your children, ask yourself if perhaps it is time to
"sharpen your ax" and take a day or two to get to know your
children a little better. Find out who they are and what is important to
them in their life right now. Discover the barriers that are preventing
you from "getting through to them". Get down to their level and
see the world through their eyes.
Only
then will you be able to maintain your "strength" and be able to
do your best for your students.
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