Money is Not The Payoff

When I told my mother I was going to be a teacher she exclaimed, "Ay Dios! Voy a quedarme pobre por el resto de mi vida!" Translation: Oh God!  I will be poor for the rest of my life!  

I was not surprised at her reaction to my news.  I have cousins in the profession in my mother's native country of Ecuador.  From her point of view teachers are not respected because they are poorly paid.  The average salary of a novice teacher in Ecuador today ranges from $300 - $500 dollars a month.  You can make more if you teach English and work in a private school.  Surely, my mother's sentiments originated from having seen family members struggle and did not want the same for me.

The notion that the teaching profession must be filled with attractive money and salaries to lure the best talent won't work.  No incentive program with deep pockets can instill that innate desire for service, that passion to learn from and with others, that love to be with children, and take on (and rise above) the many daily challenges of teaching.  Money will not make people enter and, more importantly, stay in the profession.

College students will be more likely to enter the teaching profession because they had a significant learning experience that propelled them to choose even when that profession may not be very welcoming to newcomers today.  Something touched them to want to help children learn.  That something was probably a teacher.

I say this because this is what motivated me to choose a career in education.  I had one adult (outside of my family) in my life that believed that I can do it.  Her words, her every action showed me that I could learn, I could create, I could accomplish my goals, and that I was special.  She also corrected me over and over again when I made mistakes.  She instilled in me a deep belief of self-confidence and resiliency.  And when things got bad at home, she noticed, and took me aside and counseled me.  She listened and demonstrated care.

The author with his favorite teacher Nancy Myers-Alvarez. 

Ask a teacher today why they wanted to become a teacher and not one will tell you it was solely because of money.  Not one.  Because money does not move us to the profession.  It may provide comfort and security but that's not the real payoff.

Its incredible that teachers are not valued for their efforts and that this discussion of incentive programs has to be had again and again.  I wouldn't be surprised if there is a presidential candidate devising a plan that includes incentives for a new generation of teachers and address this recent high demand for teachers.

School districts will always scramble to hire the best prepared and grant them their own incentives based on experience and skill. Teachers can add to their salaries by taking on additional duties as after school tutors, athletic coaches, extra curricular activities and club advisors.  There is always something extra that needs to be done.  I dare say that taking on all these extra jobs, if granted, will help.  Teachers, and I know I did when I taught, still struggle.  That's a fact they all live with.  Yet, they show up everyday and pull through and do their job.  They do their job and then some because money is not the payoff.

The payoff is:

1.Knowing you helped a student learn something they did not know before.  Their reaction to this new awareness is pure happiness.  One is privileged to be a witness to this life event.

2. Creating a safe place; an environment where children can think, share ideas, create, question, and make mistakes.

3. Shaping the future.  That's what your students are.

4. Growing and learning with students.  The energy that students give off is infectious and makes you want more and more. People say working with children keeps you young.  I say it keeps you alive!

5. Working and learning with other like-minded educators.  Teachers need community like everyone else.

6. Overcoming challenges on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.  A special payoff is when you overcome a big challenge, especially when it will benefit children.

As I stand in the hallways of my school in the morning while parents/guardians drop off their children, I wonder how many of my students will choose to be teachers.  Then I wonder how many will announce their decision to their parents,who only want the best and wish that they will struggle less than they have to.  Then I wonder about those who will not be deterred and will forge ahead with their decision.  Wondering about these few who will make this decision to teach is my payoff.

What's your payoff?

Please share!