I caught the comment in a movie-- again; "those who can't...Teach." Being rather random in nature, it made me think, "I teach. So, what is it that I "can't" do?"
The quote, as I believe it to be meant, eludes to the fact that many professionals, who aren't good at their craft, teach others to become excellent at said craft. Meanwhile, they pine away the days, hoping for what once was, longing to be as good as their students, striving for perfection and never quite measuring up. They are able to teach others well, because they have always desperately wished perfection for themselves. They are those elicit pity from others-- "that poor woman, she tries so hard, but just doesn't have it..." so on and so forth. Yuck.
So, where does that leave me? I teach 3rd grade. This does not bode well for me. Of course my lower grade colleagues have it much worse. I mean, we are surely in trouble if the adage proves true, "Those who can't...Teach." Would the mean to imply that I cannot master the third grade? Crap! And, where does that leave our children? You cannot simply fire all the teachers and rehire a new, shiny, competent staff; Beacuse as said before, "those who can't...Teach." By definition, that sparkly new staff would also have the dissappointment of "can't." Bummer.
Of course, the reader is certainly thinking that it is a simple, innocent phrase that implies no such thing. The reader would be correct, I did, in fact, master the third grade. I did it well. I was a good student, and I think I am a rather competent teacher as a result of being good at school. School is a definite "can" for me.
Good thing common sense prevails, and most of us all know better. I say "most" because there are those sorts who think that all teachers are just that because they "can't" something. For elementary teachers what the something is that they "can't" remains a mystery. But, I digress...
So, that leads us to what exactly is it that I can't do? I would have the say that the short answer would be, well, nothing. There are many things that I have not tried, but given the opportunity I am sure there are very few things that I cannot do. If I were highly motivated, and, above all, willing, I could do absolutely anything! I believe that anyone could! And, those things that I won't do? I still COULD do them, but I choose not to. What's the fun in accomplishing something that has absolutely no appeal? You all know I'm only in it for the fun. *wink, wink*
So, "those who can't...Teach?" Nah, those who "can't" give up, crawl in a corner, and blame their teachers because they did not have enough ambition to make themselves "can." They are those bitter ones, who believe that everythhing should have been handed to them, and are distraught because it did not happen that way. It's sad. Someone should tell these people that they are responsible for their own fate. I can only make my own choices, I have no control over your lost dreams... but that is another random thought all together. And that is how I feel about that!
