As a middle childhood education major, it saddens me to see the negative portrayals of education majors as of late. Teach for America has a goal of working to close the achievement gap, and that goal is one I have as well as the College of Education.
We all have had experiences with teachers; some might have changed your life, and others might have made fifth period the worst time of your life.
But we, regardless of major, profession or life experience, need to start celebrating the learning process and respecting teachers.
When I hear that my major is devalued, it reflects on our society as a whole. If earning a high salary is the indication of value, then we are missing out on what is most important: our children.
Regardless of how someone ends up becoming a teacher, if his or her heart and full passion are truly dedicated to seeing a child succeed, watching a child move up three reading levels and knowing that you contributed to that, we need to value that.
The division between the goals of Teach for America and education majors is nonexistent; both work hard to provide the best educational experiences for children.
We need to stop arguing amongst ourselves and realize that, while we are trying to figure it out, another child is losing an opportunity someone could have given them.
To me, teaching is, and will always be, a noble profession. It is selfless work that no one goes into with the goal of becoming wealthy.
My experience here at Ohio University has been an incredible, reflective process that continues everyday; I only hope to be able to give my future students the same lifelong dedication for learning that my teachers have instilled in me.
“I touch the future, I teach.” — Christa McAuliffe
Samantha Brigotti is a junior studying middle childhood education.
