Chapter 2: Today's Students

Authors Gene E. Hall, Linda F. Quinn and Donna M. Gollnick, writers of The Joy of Teaching, state that values, lifestyle, and socialization are affected by the religion of students. The writers explain that more than 85 percent of the population belong to a religion, and because of this large percentage religion is going to be seen and dealt with in schools. Throughout the section "What are the Religions of Students?" many religions are brought up including: Christian, Agnostic, Evangelical, Amish, Hutterites, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Buddhism. Each religion has holidays and traditions that are solely their own, and schools, as well as teachers, should try to accommodate each appropriately. Hall, Quinn, and Gollnick make it clear that teachers should not allow their personal religious beliefs and practices to be shown in their classrooms to allow for and equal education for all students.

Chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher

Joyful

~ Teachers see students complete simple and complex tasks, learn new concepts, win a competition, and graduate.

This is joyful because it shows that you are getting through in a way that is new for the student involved. Seeing a kid graduate who would not have graduated without you could give a feeling that you helped change that students life in a way that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

~When you see a student making progress in your classroom.
When you see a student making progress it means that you are helping things click, helping them understand. For some students learning certain concepts is really difficult, or if you have a learning disabled kid in your class that has a tough time learning certain subjects it is very fullfilling to see them making progress.

~When you really make a difference in a students life.
I consider this joyful because every person remembers that one teacher that made a difference in their life. To be that teacher, the teacher that made a difference, would make me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.


Not Joyful

~Teaching is demanding, requires leaders who can make multiple decisions during a school day, manage 20-40 students hour after hour.
This is not joyful because it can cause so much stress. It is also not good when you are trying to have a family or move or do anything that takes extended amounts of time.

~Have relatively little control over their work.
This is bad because you have no say in what goes on, even though it is directly related to you. Most schools have guidelines and criteria that they must follow which gives teachers little say in what they teach.

~Underpaid considering the talent and hard work.
This is not joyful because most of the teachers that I’ve known have put their hearts into their jobs and spent many long nights doing correcting and things. I understand that this is part of the job, but most jobs that are demanding in one way of another are paid well to cover the stress of the job.