One day in my class we were talking about what we wanted to be when we grew up. My Kindergarten class used all the strength that they could muster to try and imagine a life after school. Many of them said that they wanted to become doctors, teachers (to my delight), writers and even a chef. One of the professions, however, stood out to me more than the others: “I want to run a race on Mars,” piped up the child in the back row.
My first thought was the obligatory “that’s nice,” then I paused. I realised that my first reaction was to discount the suggestion on terms of ‘being unrealistic.’ I decided not that instead of being realistic, I’d chose to support the wonderful imagination and naivety of this bold student – you know what, they just might be the first person to run on mars.
What happens when we become realistic? We stop imagining impossible things; we start to accept ‘good enough’ or ‘close enough’ as acceptable. We start living within the boundaries of what is expected and what is safe. What a terrible thing it is when we decided to enforce conservatism and support complacency in schools.
It’s incredible how quickly naivety can be lost and how quickly ‘being realistic’ and conformity can settle in. I’m sure that you’ve had those wonderful moments when your class is listening, attentive and hanging on your every word – these are wonderful and powerful moments in the day. Many of the students that you teach will come from backgrounds that you will never understand, or even be able to imagine. Classrooms and schools should be the most innovative, creative and, in many ways, ‘non-realistic’ places in our society. As a teacher, you have the wonderful privilege of helping to shape the minds of future bosses, business owners, workers, inventors and leaders.
You also have the ability to reduce their innovation and creativity. Your criticism and even your ‘realism’ can encourage conformity rather than creative thinking. In your hands is the ability to either expand or constrict the minds of tomorrow’s movers and shakers.
As a new teacher you are positioned to make a difference in the lives of those you teach. Never lose your sense of wonder, idealism and naivety for the profession. The more you keep your mind open to the possibilities the more you’ll encourage your students to do the same.
Enjoy the journey.
Mathew