why do you do what you do?

The question was asked today at a summer conference,"Why do you do what you do?"... then I went on one of my fave blogs thefrizzinfirstgrade.blogspot.com

 and the question was asked again, "Why do you teach?" Today.. when I look back at this last school year and think about all that happened around our nation and in my own classroom... why do I teach?

I teach because  I want children to feel independent...  I want children to know a sense of trust... in themselves.. 

I teach because I want six and seven year olds to be children  

I teach because I want my first graders to look back on first grade and smile

I teach because I want to instill faith, hope, and trust....

I teach for those who taught... for those who were treated as babysitters and formed unions and gave me the right to fight for what is right

 I teach for those who no longer teach and taught me how to teach and how to learn

I teach for those who gave their lives to their students

I teach because I see the future and the future in a first graders face looks very nice...