Balancing Superman and SuperTeacher

This post has been inspired by the post found here. 

Too often I can get overwhelmed by the myth of the SuperTeacher. See epic examples given to us by Mr. Holland's Opus, The Freedom Writers, ad naseum... I too aspire to be that amazing teacher which movies are made, books are written, Oprah appearances are booked: Why? Because I too believe in making a huge difference in the world (and thus celebrated).

I need to go further in explaining myself. I don't teach for the movie offers. I teach because I love to teach. I teach because I get to celebrate daily how amazing my students are. The Oprah Show would simply be a cool perk.

However, what these movies and legends fail to share with the rest of us is how much of yourself you need to sacrifice to attain this greatness. 

I am a whole person - not just a teacher. I am a husband, father, friend, cat-owner, runner, reader, writer, tech-enthusiast,... If I am to give all that I am to teaching, what is left for me?

Balance is always a tricky notion in teaching. We need to spend more time in making links among educators. We need to share the load. I need to spend more time on my whole self. 

Perhaps this is why, day 4 into my break, I have yet to do any school work!

M.