Review Of Cindy's 'This Is Why I Teach'

In the movie Dead Poets Society, John Keating says, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” Cindy, the author of “This Is Why I Teach,” believes in the same idea. Through her experiences, she suggests that what one student says can make all the difference to a teacher.

After a particularly rough school year, Cindy was questioning herself as a teacher. Claudia, an exchange student, became her sign the next fall. While explaining a simple American colloquialism that was unfamiliar, Cindy transformed into a light for Claudia. She conveys the idea that the way most literature is taught in schools fails to capture the true purpose. Most of the time, the lessons fall to the unappealing and bland side of the scale. Even for a student who loves the topic, a

In her article, Cindy begins with saying she never thought she would become a teacher. To me, however, that’s where the great teachers are born from. The world of education is a tough path, and one that often goes without recognition. Teachers work tirelessly day in and day out, hoping to make a lasting impact on even one student. Throughout high school, I had strong relations with several of my teachers, which allowed me insight into what they are really thinking. Many of them who kept me inspired and made me want to become someone great, were the same ones who thought they should give it all up and do something different. It was then that I realized that teachers need to be reassured that they are making a difference in the lives of their students. For Cindy, all it took was for Claudia, just one student, to remind her why she belongs in a classroom. One bad year does not deem an educator unfit for the profession, it just means they need a morsel of encouragement to push them to the next phase. Even if it is a single student that expresses his or her appreciation, it is