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Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:53 am
by Mawkish1983
Billymac29 wrote:
Mawkish1983 wrote: In my - admittedly short - career so far, I've never had significant behaviour problems even though my colleagues have. Why?
Wait a minute.. Have you only been teaching for 4 months???? Please get some experience before making outlandish remarks..
Much more than four months.

Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:03 am
by Mawkish1983
Billymac29, are you aware that my sweeping generalisations are just that, and as such are not directed at you?

All I've said I believe to be true. The original question was about whether teaching was a compatible career with Buddhist lay practice, and I said it certainly was, stating the reasons. My assessment of why I believe some teachers do not have as positive an experience as me are based on my interactions with other teachers who are happy to tell the world how stressful and difficult the job is. I just don't see it. Please do not take my rhetoric as a personal or professional attack on you. (Not that you said you do, but I am under that impression).

Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:43 am
by badscooter
Mawkish1983 wrote:Billymac29, are you aware that my sweeping generalisations are just that, and as such are not directed at you?

All I've said I believe to be true. The original question was about whether teaching was a compatible career with Buddhist lay practice, and I said it certainly was, stating the reasons. My assessment of why I believe some teachers do not have as positive an experience as me are based on my interactions with other teachers who are happy to tell the world how stressful and difficult the job is. I just don't see it. Please do not take my rhetoric as a personal or professional attack on you. (Not that you said you do, but I am under that impression).
no one has said teaching is wrong livelihood... You said it yourself:
My assessment of why I believe some teachers do not have as positive an experience as me are based on my interactions

You do not know the teaching profession of all subjects or in all cities let alone states and countries. There are many levels of teaching that a 1 or 2 year teacher has yet to experience. There are many areas in the world with different kinds of societies and behaviors.

Have you dealt with guns and shootings in your school? Have you had bomb threats?... Have you dealt with students beating teachers into hospitalization??? Have you ever taught in Compton LA, CA? Camden, NJ? Detroit, MI? Newark, NJ? Or any city that is over polluted with severe gang violence?


have a good school day

with metta

Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:41 pm
by Mawkish1983
So be it.

Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 7:04 am
by marc108
pascal wrote:Hi,

do you think becoming a school teacher would be a good career choice for a lay Buddhist practitioner? I'm currently considering this (even though the option to ordain as a monk is also on my table), and I'd like to know if there are any serious downsides to it, from your perspective.

pascal

i think its a great career, especially for lay person. i've never done it, but most people i know who do it seem to like it. also theres lots of time off for retreat.

Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:08 pm
by nonik
pascal wrote:Hi,

do you think becoming a school teacher would be a good career choice for a lay Buddhist practitioner? I'm currently considering this (even though the option to ordain as a monk is also on my table), and I'd like to know if there are any serious downsides to it, from your perspective.

pascal
Hi Pascal :

I'm not sure if it's already been recommended but there's an apropos section on education in Ajahn Sumedho's book The Mind and the Way (Chapter #17 -- Education for Life). My personal favorite quote:

"Teachers don’t need to be like monks or nuns, but their purpose should be one of generosity. Their intention should be to make themselves worthy of leading; they should try to be the kind of people who arouse respect and trust."

And one more:

"Right education is that which leads children, adults, monks, nuns, Christians, Hindus, Muslims—the whole lot—toward what we have in common, rather than emphasizing what separates us."

With warmth :
Nik

Re: School teacher -- a good career choice for a layperson?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:18 pm
by Anagarika
Teaching: what a great way to illustrate for a new generation what it means to be on this path. To practice day to day as a would be bodhisatta in a classroom, and without any proselytizing, represent in your actions before a large group of young people what the Eightfold Path looks like in action, i not in words. A very nice opportunity, and one that might not be gained in a cubicle in a large insurance company.