I'm not scared...honest i'm not.

I’ve discovered that I have many fears associated with being an educator. Of course, I over analyze and I’m probably psyching myself out, but I’m still concerned. I think my major fears are definitely my connectivity, with students and also safety issues.

I’m a very energetic person, and I always have been. I guess I’m afraid that things I say or things I assign will offend the students, even though I definitely will not mean to. For Example, I had this amazing teacher at my high school who taught religion. We read Malcolm X and many students disagreed with the book and seemed to be offended by it. That’s acceptable. Well my teacher was the kind of man who tried to push students so they could form their own opinions better. So he would say things that opposed what the students believed. When I went back to my school the next year, he had been fired, because the students had complained to their parents so much. It was because the teacher was actually making the students work for what they believe in, and he was the first in my high school to do that. I was very sad to see him go, because he honestly helped me grow, and it’s a shame to see that the other students could not see that.

So, long story short. I want to push my students to be better writers and great analytic thinkers, but I don’t want them to think that I am pushing my own beliefs or thoughts on them.
Another fear of mine are the issues regarding students and fighting. It sounds silly to mention, but it’s a legitimate fear of mine. Jessica has told me of a special class that teaches educators on how to disable a student without hurting them or touching them inappropriately. I’ve always been taught to defend myself in anyway necessary, which is why I have taken self defense classes. So I just really need to take that class I think.

I guess I feel like being an educator is a scary business when you think of all the laws, all the guidelines, the parents, the rules. One false move and you may lose your job! I am, however, looking forward to the task. It sounds like a great challenge.