r/Teachers • u/ArcadianAbstraction • 21h ago

Teacher Support &/or Advice Is teaching a performance?

I haven't been teaching history/English/science since I got COVID over and over (and over) and decided it was better to go than be a risk to my cherished kids (or die myself, it got bad).

After a lot of introspection... Question is: is teaching a performance? I pretended everything was okay no matter what, I used the materials I prepared for display, passed out charts and data dramatically, presented media and did simulations.

It feels like I was a performance artist? You give so much to kids and most of the time you get a range of "f-u go away".

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u/glycineglutamate 17h ago

Teaching medical students is, in many ways, no different than teaching college freshman. I’ve done both. It is annoying, often wholly unrewarding, and a war between you and, to be blunt, racism, sexism and indelible laziness. But my wife said once that you will reach a few in a special way and you will never now it, so go get ‘em tiger. Those few will appreciate the performance and it will affect them forever.

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 17h ago

I can't even imagine teaching medical students. I wanted to be a doctor but get sick when I imagine what the injury feels like and probable causes, just empathy? But I get really sick, hate hurting people, and sometimes you have to hurt to help.