A teacher must really love their job to be successful. I was a student teacher for a year and I think it was the most stressful thing I had to do. Obviously I was not cut out for the job and declined any further role in the teaching field. However, I think those few who do go on to teach try their best to give 100% with what tools they have available to them.

I taught at 4 different schools over the year of my training. It was so sad to see the limited amount of supplies and the great number of students each teacher had to contend with. All children need special attention, whether it be because they are gifted or have a disability. It is too much to ask a teacher to spend an equal amount of time with each child in their class per day. If they are lucky, by the end of the year a teacher will feel satisfied with what they could accomplish in such a short amount of time with so much curriculum to follow.

When it comes down to behaviour problems (lack of respect for authority is a real issue these days) I think the main concern is how the child is being raised and what type of family relationships s/he is involved in. If a parent has no control over their children, then I don't think a teacher will have much luck in that area as well. It seems that there is an abundance of juvenile delinquents running at large. I don't think it is the teachers who deserve to have accusing fingers pointed at them. Finding a child with manners is rare these days, but when you do, you can believe that they were taught those manners from their parents and not their teachers. A good education has to start in the home. If you fail your child before they even step through a schools door, you are failing as a parent.

Teachers are the most under paid professionals in North America.

Learn more about this author, Katharine Urquhart.
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