Do You Like Kids?

Have you ever wanted to ask this question of a teacher you’ve had, or maybe a teacher you work with?  It’s a very simple question, and should be obvious for anyone who works in education, but it seems in almost every school there is that person who you’re not quite sure whether they understand the simple principle that in order to work in a school you must like kids.  In my career I’ve seen a number of adults for whom you’d be forgiven for thinking they tolerate the children, but are more passionate about their content area.  Which, of course, is a funny concept, because how can you be passionate about middle school language arts, social studies, etc and dislike the most important component…the students.  It’s like being passionate about paintbrushes, but not painting, or passionate about the flute, but dislike hearing flute music.

Yesterday, I had a chance to join a group of students for a class day trip to the beach (it’s a rough life, I know).  You learn a lot about teachers at a beach day.  Are they more concerned about their make up and hair, or what they look like in a swimsuit, more than they care about playing with their students?  I’m happy to say everyone was in the water, playing in the waves, goofing around, and showing the kids they can leave their books behind and let loose.  As a teacher and administrator, seeing everybody have fun is so good for the heart.  In fact in the future this might be a good recruitment test for prospective teachers, do they like kids enough to put their inhibitions aside and get in the water?