1. Susan M. Scheurer
Teaching is leaving a vestige of oneself in the development of another. And surely the student is a
bank where you can deposit your most precious treasures.
Eugene P. Bertin
A child’s learning starts with his/her parents. Parents teach their child about character and
personality through their example of daily living. The teacher’s responsibility is to pick up where the
parent left off, to further educate their children, and then to return them to their parents who continue
the learning process at home. I believe in parent involvement – students constantly talk about their
parents and family, and with parents continuing learning at home, combined with my teaching during
the day, the student will be so blessed with knowledge beyond degree.
There is a short story about a 5th grade teacher who had a little boy in her class who did not try
at all and failed every test, and she took delight in this. When Christmas came around, all the children
in her class gave her beautiful gifts, but the little boy gave her a bottle of perfume that was nearly
empty and a bracelet that was missing stones. She dabbed the perfume on her arm and put the bracelet
on. After school, the little boy said that she smelled like his mom used to. The teacher cried after that
and looked up the file on the child. In first grade the boy was the star of the class, earning good grades
and having a pleasant personality. Then in third grade his mother died and in fourth grade his father
paid little attention to the boy, resulting in poor grades. Years later, the boy, now a doctor, asked this
teacher to be in his wedding – to stand where his mother would have been. He said he never forgot his
5th grade teacher’s kindness in making him feel special when she wore his presents. As a teacher, I
have learned that each child has a story, one I must unlock and discover to understand how my student
feels, learns and what he/she needs most from me. More important to me than testing and teaching
academic subjects is finding the heart of each child and growing his/her character and confidence in
his/her ability to succeed.
I believe every single child is amazingly unique due to his/her difference in character,
personality, background, physical abilities, and learning capacity. Wherever the child is academically,
is great – I will take him/her where he/she is and grow him/her to where he/she needs to be. I believe
every child deserves a fresh start in my class – regardless of last year’s grades and behaviors, I will
expect children to do their very best and follow the rules clearly set forth from day one. I will have
structure in my classroom that provides stability for students. My classroom will be a safe place where
questions are encouraged, even if I do not know the answer, and where we are a family. I believe in
teaching children manners, how to be a good friend, how to be a leader and how to grow their
character. I believe that each child has something to teach me, whether it is to laugh more often, to be
more compassionate, to grow my patience or to be more reflective in my teaching process. I am an
eternal learner and will encourage my students to be so, as well. Each child has a gift to give to the
world. I believe my gift is teaching children to love learning.
February, 2012