What do I produce?

[Michelle]

The conservative pundit looked directly into the camera and responded to the question of funds going to public sector jobs with a condescending: “What do they produce?” I wanted to reach through the television and strangle him.

As a teacher, I am one of these “public sector” employees; my on and off work days consist of planning lectures, reading to enhance my own knowledge, reviewing students’ assignments with notes on how to improve, motivating, responding to emails, being available for discussion, and creating a safe environment that fosters intellectual growth.

I imagined the pundit’s own teachers seeing him on TV and initially thinking with pride “he was one of my students” only to collapse their posture under the weight of his disparaging assertion.

What do I produce?  The next generation of thinkers and problem solvers, you mindless [expletive] twit!

[Michelle]

Thank you everyone for the comments. 

@Abhi, I absolutely enjoy teaching and I do recommend the profession.  The cultural attitude is frustrating at times.  For example, if someone studies in the Humanities, a question posed is: "What are you going to do with that?  Teach?" Almost as though teaching were the worst case scenario.  I don't know how we got to this point.  I do know that it is an extremely rewarding job.  I learn from my students and (the goal is) they grow intellectually.  

I think the concept of "produce" needs re-evaluation.  Is it simply material?  What about firefighters and police officers?  Couldn't peace and safety be a product?  As for teaching, well the "producers" of material goods needed the mind development in the first place, right?  Can't thinking be a product?  

You're a great group, 6ers!  

[Kristine_ES]

i can tell you, from working closely with the chief operating officer of both companies i work for, that the bottom line is and always will be "what did you produce?"  how much money did they make today?  if the output isn't seen in dollar signs, then you're not outputting enough and they definitely can't afford to hire another "you."   it's the awful truth.  

so.  teachers not only have to teach to the test (no test left behind), but how can you motivate a child to know that real success and happiness is not what they produce?  

oh man.. 

[Mike Handley]

Amen.

[Gita]

Did he really mean teachers? I mean, did he say teachers? I am not defending this nameless twit, believe me. But could he have been referring to the swollen government agencies with layers of middle managers and paper pushers?  Plenty of that in the military. Great raant, Michelle.

[Abhi Kantamneni]

I am trying to get a PhD in Physics, but I really want to teach in a high school. I am from India originally, and the culture in schools there is a lot different from what I have noticed here in America.

I participated in an outreach program once, and I was demonstrating a lab experiment to a bunch of high school students. One kid was asking the most interesting questions, and every time she did, all the others rolled up their eyes and were very hostile towards her. I could not understand the peer pressure she had to go through, in order to simply nurture her natural curiosity.

Schools in India are bad, dont get me wrong we are a third world country after all, and our educational system is geared towards getting the best grades possible, not much room for critical thinking or imagination, but your peers always respected you if you were intelligent, or tried to be better at school. In fact, we had the inverted peer pressure in India, where if you were not good at school, you would not be very 'popular'.

I was always very lucky to have great teacher, especially one teacher that always encouraged me to chase my dreams, and here I am, at age 26 in Grad school, while my peers in India are making more money in a few months than my my dad does in a year (even being that he is a doctor). 

My heart went out to that kid, and I really want to go teach in schools,not universities where people have already picked majors, and try to reach out to people who want to learn more about the world, to think and solve problems. I dont know if I will be over qualified by the time I graduate, or if a school would ever take me? I wish the culture of negativity around teachers changes.

(Sorry if this was too long, i love your 6S)

[Teresa]

Insane.  Is it something in our drinking water?  Jeez.  Can you write a letter to this guy?  A "conservative", eh?  Big on family values and such, but not the teachers that lead the children for more than a decade?  This six is a blood pressure elevator.

[Joey Delgado]

Well-said, Michelle! Your teachers must be proud and your students are very lucky. :) Great writing.

[Jenny Darlington]

Both of my parents were teachers and many of the "aunts" I grew up with were also. There are not many more noble and sacrificial professions than that of a teacher. I would not be the person I am today - and would certainly not be a writer and avid reader! - if it were not for my parents and wonderful teachers through the years. Thanks for all that you do everyday! Some of us really do appreciate it :)

[Zane Riley Douthit]

It does make you think about what you want to reproduce in others.

[Ron. Lavalette]

This idiot is living proof that teachers are not always successful.

This former teacher appreciates your work...and your writing.  Well done.