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The Educator Motivator

It’s Not About Us

If we ever have the pleasure of meeting each other, whether at an education conference, a teacher workshop, or in a classroom, you’ll notice that I am adorned with two bright red bracelets -- one on each wrist. I never take them off.

Both are bands I specifically created for a pre-determined purpose: to keep me focused on what’s most important when it comes to building my character as a teacher. One band reads “Integrity” and the other reads “It’s Not About Me.

I started wearing these bands about two years ago, and I haven’t taken them off since. They serve as a constant reminder that 1) no matter how difficult my job as a teacher becomes, I must always be a man of my word; do the right thing when no one’s looking; and do things for God’s approval, not for the approval of other people; and 2) I must always remember that I became a teacher to serve others, not myself, and always do what’s in the best interest of my students.

Why do I refuse to take off my bands, even in the shower (that’s probably too much information)? Because I think it’s so easy to compromise when things around us get a little uncomfortable. Personally, I believe a little compromise in character invites a little corrosion in character; and I believe a little corrosion of character leads to the corruption of character. And in our profession, I don’t believe we can afford either corrosion or corruption of character; therefore, I try not to compromise my integrity.

I am well aware of the countless number of challenges we face as new and veteran teachers. Each year, I get dozens of requests to visit, speak, train, and consult with school districts all over the country; sometimes the professional challenges of our job seem insurmountable.

But as I once told a good friend, I’ve never faced a problem in which humbling myself and honoring others has gotten me into trouble. I believe that attitude begins with teaching and working with integrity (at all cost), and with taking the focus off our problems and refocusing our attention on the future of our students. I know that’s easier said than done in a school system that’s plagued with bureaucratic red tape, little or no support, sometimes incompetent leadership, and often apathetic parents.

However, when we face our Creator when our time on Earth is done, and He asks, “What did you do with the children I placed under your care?” I don’t believe God will accept any of the “logical” excuses we use to justify less than a 100 percent commitment to excellence in our jobs and in the lives of our students.

So, I want you to ask yourself some of the same tough questions I ask myself when it comes to my commitment to teaching:

1. Am I part of the problem or part of the solution?
2. Do I focus on the obstacles of my job or on the opportunities?
3. Do I make excuses or do I set a positive example for others?
4. Do colleagues and students see me as being full of enthusiasm or full of something else?
5. Do I brighten up my school when I enter it or when I leave it?

If we’re honest with ourselves, we know the true answers to those questions. That means we either can keep doing what we’re doing and keep getting the same results, or we can choose to change our school by changing our approach and our attitude toward our job. The choice is ours.

Teach with passion, and remember to practice what you teach.

Article by Joe Martin
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