This question comes up many times in many different forms in every school around the world. Surprisingly enough, the answer varies from region to region, school to school, and sometimes even educator to educator. We are all, hopefully, in education because we want to make a positive difference in others' lives in one way or another. This may look different for each of us, but at the root of it, we are all looking to achieve the same goal.
Yes, as a mathematics teacher I want my students to remember and be able to apply the Pythagorean Theorem, know all of the characteristics and applications of quadratics and how to use the Chain Rule to find the derivative of a function. In a perfect world, my students would learn this, show their learning on some high stakes assessment, and go on to study mathematics at university. In reality, I am happy to know that my students remember my name and horrible dad jokes after they leave my class. Don't get me wrong, mathematics is important and vital to many careers but getting an "A" in mathematics, or any subject for that matter, is no determination of success and happiness in life.
Making a connection with our students on a level that is not content based is so much more meaningful. Showing them that someone outside of their family is in their corner to pick them up no matter how many times they struggle or fall down is what they will remember. Students carry around so much pressure to "do better" or "get an A" on every assessment that they cannot stop and value what surrounds them everyday. As teachers, we get wrapped up in this pressure as well. We constantly refer to highest marks possible on a test or in a course. We only put comments on report cards for those students achieving below a certain level. What about those students that are doing their best but are not getting those highest marks? What are we indirectly telling them? Why do we pull students from free time to sit and do homework that they were not able to do in the first place? Not to mention that the homework assignment was not collected and feedback was not given, but just because they didn't do the assignment more value was put on the action and not the result. What does this tell the students? Nothing positive.
We as educators have to constantly evaluate ourselves and our positions and how these directly, or indirectly, effect our students. We forget that in many cases, we spend more time per day/week with our students than their parents. We are responsible for many of their actions, their beliefs, their choices but sadly this does not get acknowledged most of the time by many of us. Some teachers complain about duties, running clubs, being an advisor/mentor, doing pretty much anything outside of teaching. Why? This is what is important to our students. This is the time they will remember 5, 10, 30 years from now. Being that caring adult that is in their corner to build them up, pick them up when they fall, be their advocate, give them feedback (both positive and critical) on their performances, and maybe teach them a little content along the way. This is why we are educators. This is why we get up in the morning and come to work everyday. This is our role as educators.
