Does having a second or third teacher in a classroom make students wonder who they should report to? Sure. “Who’s the boss?” A kid asked me once. They’re clearly testing how much they can get away with and who the “highest authority” on the floor ultimately is. These questions are of no surprise to anyone in a Montessori or private school environment, I believe, where there can be more than one teacher per class.
The last time one of my students expressed her inquisitiveness she did so in a very direct manner. “Miss Marcia, are you a real teacher?”
It triggered a belly laugh from me because no one has ever asked me that. I think I stopped laughing once I noticed she was stone cold serious. Picture Garfield staring at you while you’re laughing — she had that look on her face.
“So, are you?” she asked.
Oh, she’s for real, I thought. “Of course I am,” I said. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know,” she said, a big shrug.
But I knew. Kids her age don’t just randomly ask those sort of questions. I have a feeling she must’ve heard her parents talking about which one of her teachers held the command.
“Well, I think that’s a very specific question,” I said.
“You are, though? You are real, right?”
I wanted to laugh again but I wasn’t laughing anymore. At that point, I was intrigued. Why was she so adamant about it? What could make a child question an educator’s credibility and qualifications?
“As real as it gets,” I replied. And we put the topic to rest.
But obviously, the conversation stuck with me. I thought of all the years I’ve worked in education and it made wonder what is perceived as a real “qualified” teacher these days. Then, I mentally revisited my work history and realized that I’ve mostly been two things, and two things only in my somewhat short life: a writer and a teacher.
And I’ve worn many hats while at it because there’s so much more to teaching that people don’t realize. I’ve said it before, but once you become an elementary teacher, you’re also accepting the following (unpaid) roles:
Mom/dad
Therapist
Babysitter
Entertainer
Paramedic
The police
So, yes, highly qualified if you asked me.
Elementary education is not for everyone. Though I love kids, I landed here by chance, not choice, and I happened to be a great fit. Do I still consider myself a real teacher even though I didn’t intentionally pursue a career in education? One hundred percent.