There is not a single 'rewarding' career which does not have challenges.
In response, to your question: SUCCESS is its own reward.
If money is high on your value scale, then you should not be a teacher ... the poor pay is a well known fact ... nobody is trying to hide the low pay from the public ... people don't get into teaching FOR the pay, they become teachers in SPITE of the pay ... :) :) :)
If teachers were rewarded like CEO's and entrepreneurs, North America would indeed have higher calibre people teaching because the best and brightest often go for the bigger money. Our society, in general, has become over taken by media and people believe that monetary wealth and material possessions are more important than our felllow human beings, their health, their education, etc.
English was always my worst subject and I live in an area of Canada where the English language is butchered for sport ... what I meant to convey was that GREAT teachers should keep doing what they are doing, and GOOD teachers should step up thier game by becoming more intereted in doing everything they can to become a GREAT teacher or do something they are more suited to do.
Here is a list of some of my all time favorite teachers: Pythagoras, Socrates, Diogenes, Confucius, Jesus and Tesla. These are the GREATEST of the great ... they all taught what they knew, what they discovered and were focused on TRUTH ... they all loved to teach ... they all shunned money and saw the silver linings in living a life in relative financial poverty.
Teaching was never about money, it shouldn't be today and it certainly won't be in the future.
I taught math, physics and calculus in high school for 5 years before leaving to pursue business interests. I left because of many of the reasons you outlined, however, I did manage to make a difference for the students I did teach and they taught me a great deal as well.
I hope you find my words at least somewhat useful.
Jul 2 2011: In response to the 'original' question of, "What is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher?", while adhering to the adage that 'brevity is the soul of wit', I will answer::
One should either step up their game, or be doing something else for a living ... :) :) :)
Eintein once said, "Every child is born a genius." I would agree with this statement, however, adults, parents, teachers, family members and peers are the root cause of stealing 'genius' from 99% of people who grow up to become non-geniuses ... remember, Einstein said every child is born gifted, he did not state that all humans develop that way or achieve thier full potential --- in fact, many of his quotes about humanity would certainly indicate that he did not hold all adults and their activities in very high esteem.
In summing up my thoughts ... geniuses are being born on this planet every minute, but society is set up to crush these people's genius and spirit, and it is the duty of GREAT teachers to save as many as we can.
Jul 1 2011: As a former math, physics and calculus teacher who is now a 41 yrs. old entrepreneur, my experience is that you can 'teach' children, but you have to mildly 'suggest' things to adults --- if you can be creative and have adults think the idea is their own, all the better ... :) :) :)
Jul 1 2011: In answer to your question:Tesla Technologies are 'appropriate', however, they mess with capitalism.
Power is a key component to farming, from irrigation to machine use.
Presently the amount of use of unnecessary fossil fuels is incredible and hard to account for.
Clean electric power has been kept from society for far too long with too many phony excuses.
Any technology that is disruptive to established commercial interests by the BIG BOYS, never see the light of day.Here in Nova Scotia, Canada we have some places in the Bay Of Funday which have 54ft tidal differential, however, the business elite are too invested and entrenched in contracts involving coal fire electric generators, for GREEN technologies to ever make it through the bureaucratic mind field. They put up a few wind mills to appease a few people, but COAL is KING in Nova Scotia (Canada's most backwards province)
I hope this comment was not too 'politically incorrect' for your discussion.
Jun 8 2011: Odd that you mention Socrates ... he was on my mind when I wrote my quick note, however, I never mentioned him by name or illuded to the concept of Philosopher Kings ... I am a huge fan of the man and perhaps he has infected me with his thinking ...
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A reply on Conversation: What is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher?
There is not a single 'rewarding' career which does not have challenges.
In response, to your question: SUCCESS is its own reward.
If money is high on your value scale, then you should not be a teacher ... the poor pay is a well known fact ... nobody is trying to hide the low pay from the public ... people don't get into teaching FOR the pay, they become teachers in SPITE of the pay ... :) :) :)
If teachers were rewarded like CEO's and entrepreneurs, North America would indeed have higher calibre people teaching because the best and brightest often go for the bigger money. Our society, in general, has become over taken by media and people believe that monetary wealth and material possessions are more important than our felllow human beings, their health, their education, etc.
English was always my worst subject and I live in an area of Canada where the English language is butchered for sport ... what I meant to convey was that GREAT teachers should keep doing what they are doing, and GOOD teachers should step up thier game by becoming more intereted in doing everything they can to become a GREAT teacher or do something they are more suited to do.
Here is a list of some of my all time favorite teachers: Pythagoras, Socrates, Diogenes, Confucius, Jesus and Tesla. These are the GREATEST of the great ... they all taught what they knew, what they discovered and were focused on TRUTH ... they all loved to teach ... they all shunned money and saw the silver linings in living a life in relative financial poverty.
Teaching was never about money, it shouldn't be today and it certainly won't be in the future.
I taught math, physics and calculus in high school for 5 years before leaving to pursue business interests. I left because of many of the reasons you outlined, however, I did manage to make a difference for the students I did teach and they taught me a great deal as well.
I hope you find my words at least somewhat useful.
Lux et Veritas!
A comment on Conversation: What is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher?
One should either step up their game, or be doing something else for a living ... :) :) :)
Eintein once said, "Every child is born a genius." I would agree with this statement, however, adults, parents, teachers, family members and peers are the root cause of stealing 'genius' from 99% of people who grow up to become non-geniuses ... remember, Einstein said every child is born gifted, he did not state that all humans develop that way or achieve thier full potential --- in fact, many of his quotes about humanity would certainly indicate that he did not hold all adults and their activities in very high esteem.
In summing up my thoughts ... geniuses are being born on this planet every minute, but society is set up to crush these people's genius and spirit, and it is the duty of GREAT teachers to save as many as we can.
Lux et Veritas!
A reply on Conversation: LIVE TED Convo: Join TED Fellow Viraj Puri: What innovative development solutions are most appropriate for your city, region or country?
A comment on Conversation: LIVE TED Convo: Join TED Fellow Viraj Puri: What innovative development solutions are most appropriate for your city, region or country?
Power is a key component to farming, from irrigation to machine use.
Presently the amount of use of unnecessary fossil fuels is incredible and hard to account for.
Clean electric power has been kept from society for far too long with too many phony excuses.
Any technology that is disruptive to established commercial interests by the BIG BOYS, never see the light of day.Here in Nova Scotia, Canada we have some places in the Bay Of Funday which have 54ft tidal differential, however, the business elite are too invested and entrenched in contracts involving coal fire electric generators, for GREEN technologies to ever make it through the bureaucratic mind field. They put up a few wind mills to appease a few people, but COAL is KING in Nova Scotia (Canada's most backwards province)
I hope this comment was not too 'politically incorrect' for your discussion.
Lux et Veritas!
A reply on Conversation: LIVE CHAT With Damon Horowitz: When have you realized that you were wrong about what you once thought was right? June 8, 2011, 5-6PM EDT
Cheers!
A comment on Conversation: LIVE CHAT With Damon Horowitz: When have you realized that you were wrong about what you once thought was right? June 8, 2011, 5-6PM EDT
In our intentionally adversarial societal systems people debate with the aim of winning, rather than getting to the TRUTH.
Human nature is horrible to behold and morality is dying.
I say, "Lux et Veritas" to though who walk a different path; most of us who truly seek TRUTH are AUTISTIC ... :) :) :)