My Journey in My Profession

Did you understand what that symbol is? Did you know where that symbol start or propound? I think
you can’t understand and you don’t know where that symbol start or propound. That symbol represents
me when choosing teaching profession. It is quietly critical to think and considering the fact

Are teachers like doctors? Do we save lives? Well, medically, no we don’t save lives. However, a good
teacher should have the ability to turn lives round and ensure that children achieve the best they
possibly can. How can they do this? What makes a teacher who can make that difference?

Reflecting on this video sparked several ideas within me on what it really takes to be that teacher who
makes a difference. Would it be fair to say that teaching is a calling? I know that teaching has always
been the career (excluding when I was a little girl who wanted to be a singer) that I wanted to pursue
and so perhaps for me it is my calling. However I have recently received a message from a girl two years
younger than me panicking because she has changed her mind from wanting to do chemical engineering
to being a teacher. Is this going to make her any less of a teacher than someone like myself who has
never really considered anything else? My answer to that would be no. At any stage in your life you
could change your mind on where you would like to go next and so long as you have the passion, drive
and determination to follow it through and be the best you can be then this shouldn’t put you at any
less advantage.

As it is clearly identified by the South African teachers there are numerous aspects which make a good
teacher; someone who is willing to be part of a team and is willing to take time to understand other
professionals opinions; who ensures that everyone is able to communicate with them; who is dedicated
to their work and ensures that they take their learning out with the classroom and is continuously
expanding and reflecting on their own knowledge and practice; who incorporates other professionals
and the surrounding community within their teaching. Lastly and- in my opinion – most importantly as
one gentleman stated in the video, a good teacher should love their work. I believe that if a teacher has
that passion and love towards their work then all of the above will naturally become a part of them and
their practice.

Video 2

Do you agree with what these teachers call professionalism?

The main point of agreement from this video is that teachers are professionals in the sense that children
see them as their role model. We should be professional in our practice in terms of: our appearance, the
way we communicate, our actions and our responses. One lady also speaks about having the ability as a
professional to work cooperatively with others, including parents and staff. I agree with what they have
to say in this video. However, I feel that professionalism is much more than this. A professional should
have a deep understanding of their profession and should possess all of the skills that were discussed in
the reflection of video clip one.

Video 3

What is the message being conveyed?

This video brings to attention the question of there being difference between being a professional and
being a worker. Chris Christie makes clear that he believes teachers should be admired by everyone
around them and deserve more credit than what they are given for looking after and caring about our
children.

In opposed to this Karen Lewis claims that she is an ‘educational worker’. The phrase “punch a clock”
suggesting that he just clocks in and out of work would suggest that there is no care or passion for the
work. This would suggest that Lewis believes that teacher just simply turn up for work and are therefore
no more than “workers”.
Personally I would agree to a certain extent with Lewis. However I would be inclined to turn this around
and say that if you are simply just ‘turning up for work’ then you are not being professional. Every
teacher is different and I am almost certain that some teachers put in a lot more extra time to their
lesson plans and development than others; thus making them more professional in their practice.