In a recent edition of his newsletter, author James Clear wrote the following:
“Over long time frames, simply staying in the game is impressive.
– Health and fitness: Can you stay injury free and not miss workouts?
– Wealth and finance: Can you avoid debt and continue to save?
– Business: Can you maintain cash flow and stay in business?
Longevity is its own form of greatness.“
That got me thinking.
On the one hand, I've long thought that what Clear is observing is true about teaching. Longevity in this profession is an exceptional kind of greatness. If you let me choose between one Erin Gruwell (whose four-year teaching career — yes, four years — was the highlight of the memoir and film Freedom Writers) and one Doug Stark or Diane Wanamaker or Jackie Berndt or Tracy Franklin (folks who worked in education or are still working in education after full careers)… well, that's like choosing between a grain of sugar or a pair of Reese's peanut butter cups.
Gimme that PB and chocolate.
Gimme those thirty+ years of dedication over those four.
But on the other hand, there are at least two ways to remain an educator your whole career, aren't there?
- Way One: Do your time. Avoid getting fired. Deal with the kids you teach. Deal with their parents. Count each day as one day closer to retirement when you get to do what you want to do.
- Way Two: Invest your time, month by month becoming better. Engage your heart and mind and strength in the kids that you teach, for the duration of each working hour. Engage your heart and mind and strength with their parents, with your colleagues, with your community. Count each day as one distinct gift, as one chance to invest your working labors into the lives of other people.
Way One can get you to the finish line of a career, but it's surely not greatness.
It's better than making your living selling cocaine, I guess.
But not much of a life.
Way Two, however — Longevity in that work? I can think of no career that will leave one as grateful for having had the chance to do the work, so long as you're able to conduct it with moderation, with an eye toward your whole life and not just your job, with a sense that there are things beyond the school and classroom that you are uniquely responsible for, folks who depend on you like no student ever will.
All to say, dear colleague, on this fine fall Thursday morning: cheers to that second kind of longevity.
Best,
DSJR
Brennan says
Dave, BRILLIANT, and poetic, as always. Thank you for your insight, and inspiration.
Dave Stuart Jr. says
Much love, Brennan!
Chris C. says
Thanks, Dave. I needed that today.
Dave Stuart Jr. says
Absolutely, Chris. Best to ya’ll there Berry Middle.
Zachary says
Reinvigorating!
And I’ll add one to your list that I personally feel to be one of the most worthy aspirations for longevity: marriage! My wife’s great grandparents managed over 80 years of it. Amazing.
And one more relevant to the topic: I worked with an elementary teacher who taught almost 60 years before she died. Yes, nearly 60 years in the classroom! I’ll never forget what she said when I first met her at the start of year 54: “I don’t know much about all this technology, but learning new things is just part of what we do.” Now THAT’s an educator to emulate!
Dave Stuart Jr. says
Zach — 🤯
Tracy Franklin says
Gosh, Dave, thanks so much for including me! It’s an honor.
Dave Stuart Jr. says
Tracy I’m so glad you saw it! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Tracy Franklin says
Passed it on to our new Principal, who spoke to the Superintendent. She wants to have a meeting to see if we can bring you to AZ. Persistence is, after all, key to longevity!😉
Dave Stuart Jr. says
Tracy, when we meet in person someday it will be the result of years of nudging 🙂
Justin Crull says
Amen, Dave! Thanks for your good thoughts, as always. Your words are a great encouragement to me on a regular basis. (And I share them a lot with my colleagues!)
One thing about the Freedom Writers story that has always troubled me is that her good work in the classroom ultimately destroyed her marriage. In real life, I don’t know how much her work actually interfered with her personal life (some cursory research suggests that it may indeed be true, just as it happened in the film), but I vividly remember watching the film and feeling conflicted about the demise of her marriage in pursuit of the work in her classroom. To be clear, I don’t want to disparage her and the good things she’s done to inspire and bring hope to students–that would not be fair of me, given how little I know about her and her story. BUT, we should take a moment to consider the implications that the Freedom Writers story (and I’m thinking specifically the Hollywoodified version we get in the flim) brings with it: being a great teacher means you must be a martyr! Sacrifice yourself for the glory of the children (and maybe for your own glory, just a little bit).
Let’s push back against that narrative (as you’ve been doing so well for some time, Dave) and redefine what great teaching looks like. Let’s dismantle the false dichotomy that either you’re a great teacher who’s burning the candle at both ends for your students, or you’re just in for the summer holiday. Let’s be educators who inspire and ignite a deep passion for universal flourishing, but not at the expense of our own. I can attest that my students flourish when I am flourishing too. Life is just better this way–it’s how we were made to live.
Keep up the great work, Dave. I am honored to work alongside teachers like you, even if I’m halfway around the world (greetings from China, by the way).
Dave Stuart Jr. says
Woooooooow — Justin, this is so cool!
Where in China are you? Would love to visit some day.
Justin Crull says
We’d love to have you! I’m in Qingdao, China. It’s in Shandong Province, which is a coastal province about halfway between Beijing and Shanghai. I teach at an international school there. (And while I’ve got your attention, let me give a quick shout out for Michigan, a place dear to my heart. I didn’t grow there, but I went to school in Grand Rapids (Calvin) and loved every minute of it. I hope to live there again if/when my family moves back to the States.)