The specific purpose of this blog is to serve not only as a means of education for those who are passionate about the natural world, ecco friendly living, environmental issues, and assorted types of wildlife, but as a resource for educators. A resource for teaching strategies, philosophies, and accurate information on issues concerning wildlife conservation. I've always felt it a great shame when truly knowledgable individuals lack the means of sharing what they know in a way that is fun, engaging, and inspiring. It was this issue on my mind that convinced me that the first post on this blog should be for the educators. I wrote this some time ago and I feel it is a perfect beginning for this blog.
My self chosen purpose is to be a teacher. No matter what I do, through that endeavor, I will be a teacher. This does not mean going to school for a teaching degree or spending twenty plus years in a classroom, although some great teachers do just that. This means I am able to use a subject or endeavor as a medium to reach, inspire, and to ignite the inner spark and life in individuals who I would call students. Teaching is a scientific art, meaning it is both subjective and based largely upon personal style, as well as being dictated by intricate strategic principles that have measurable results. In my opinion, nothing is harder and at the same time more rewarding. I have never sucomed to the old saying that those who can't do, teach. I would imagine whoever said that was the victim of what is one of the single most dangerous enemies of inspired learning: a half hearted, uninspired teacher. I believe there are two kinds of teachers: those who are teachers because they have a piece of paper that says so, and those who are teachers because they posses a rare quality that allows them to inspire others. Of the hundreds and hundreds of teachers I have seen and worked with, ninety-nine percent of them fall into the first catagory. The individuals in the second catagory that I have had the amazing priveledge to witness, I can count on my hands. This note is a tribute to those individuals as well as a scientific and artistic break down of what, in my opinion, makes a great teacher.
I once heard it said, or read rather, that the most important facet of art is emotional content. I believe this to be true, especially in light of the fact that art is rather subjective. I also believe emotional content to be the most important aspect of any endeavor, be it artistic, scientific, or other. When someone puts their very heart and soul, their most powerful emotional and mental conviction behind an act or practice, they tend to be on the greater end of the spectrum of individuals in that field. People I could name that put complete emotional content into their endeavors would form quite a familiar list: Mozart, Muhammad Ali, Sir Isaac Newton, John Lennon, Nichola Tesla, etc. When you cut through all the conventional reasons listed for the greatness of these and similar individuals, I believe it ultimately comes down to who reaches down into their soul and takes that driving force that makes them tick, that need for the realization of a concept or idea so strong that it becomes necessary for their very existance, and applies it to the application of their chosen endeavor. And that's how greatness is born. I believe this is the first and most important step in becoming a great teacher. A great teacher must be of this line of thinking. They must truly need to be powerfuly effective in helping to improve the lives of others through their work and they must need this so badly that it becomes necessary for their very existance. It must be a desire strong enough that is rises up along side our very instincts of survival. To me, teaching is not a question of what you do, but rather who you are.
When it comes down to the teacher and student, what is it that we strive to impart? Grades, knowledge, experience? The burning desire to be a great and effective teacher I wrote about above still does not answer the question as to what a truly great teacher does. To me, the answer is simple. Teaching is not about credentials, degrees, or grades. the most important thing a teacher can impart to a student is the inspiration to explore their own potential and the confidence needed to carry that out. I have said before that I do not believe in motivation because motivation wares off. But inspiration lasts a lifetime. Motivation emplores people to pursue something because of a goal which is external, whereas inspiration emplores people to reach something because of that which is internal. As a great teacher once explained to me, it's not what you do that makes you great, it's what you are made of. In other words, helping students to find the passion and courage to explore what they are capable of accomplishing is the single most important job a teacher can strive to accomplish themselves. Some teachers teach style, knowledge, or facts, but the truly great teachers teach "substance". They help students find the ability to put substance behind that which they do. I decided to become a teacher when I was fifteen when I realized that which holds most people back from the actualization of their true potential is the simple mistaken belief that their are limmits to one's potential and that they lacked the courage needed to challenge this idea within themselves. I do not see myself as a giver of truth, but rather as one who can point you in the right direction to finding the truth about your own remarkable, limitless abilities. To me, these two things are not merely important, necessary, or helpful. They are sacred. The responsibility one holds as the potential key to unlocking the barrier within an individual's understanding of unlimmited potential and pursuit of greatness, is daunting. It is the most prestigious and honorable task I can set myself to and it is why I do it. I take pride in being a teacher, not because it is my occupation but because it is who I am as a human being.
This note is dedicated to the following people: Joe Lewis, Bruce Lee, Jeff Corwin, Bill Wallace, My mother Jill, The Houston Zoo Overnight Education Team, DeAndra Ramsey, Bill Nye The Science Guy, Brandon Beaver, Joel Puryear, Benny Urquidez, and Jennifer Reed.
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