Young teacher enters profession with hope
by B. C. LeDoux, Outpost staff
Britta
Sorensen
After teaching elementary school for three years,
Britta Sorensen acknowledges the glaringly negative aspects
of being a teacher in our society. But she said there is
nothing she would rather do than lead the children of this
area into the next millennium.
OCCUPATION: School teacher, Spanish Spring
Elementary School
RENO RESIDENT SINCE: 1972
"I can't imagine myself being anything else," she said. "I like it too much. I don't know what kind of job is as rewarding as being a teacher."
But Sorensen said it is hard to stay positive in light of the recent shooting at Columbine High School, in Littleton, Colo., and other school violence that has swept across the country. She had to deal with a situation in her classroom during the aftermath of the recent shooting. Sorensen had to punish some students for drawing pictures of children shooting their classmates and teacher.
"Lately, I have become discouraged," she said. "It's hard to stay positive when a lot of negative things go on."
Sorensen said the attitudes of children have changed since she was in school. She attributes this to diminishing parent involvement. She sees increasing pressure on teachers to make up for the lack of attention and discipline some children receive at home.
"Some kids these days have total disrespect for teachers and elders," she said. "They don't say please. They don't say thank you. And they will only do something if they get something in return.
"It starts at home, I really believe that. If people don't start paying attention to their kids, I can only see it getting worse."
Sorensen said society, without even realizing it, puts a large amount of pressure on teachers to raise children and attend to all of their problems. She said it is "really, really hard" to don all the hats she is expected to wear.
However, despite any negativity that has swirled around the profession recently, Sorensen said generally a lot more positive activities are going on in schools. This, she said, is the reason she often thinks she will be teaching for the next 30 years.
"The kids seem to amaze me every day," she said. "They just crack me up. They're so funny."
"I like it when a kid comes into my classroom not knowing a whole lot. And then they go out of my classroom, and I see I made some kind of a difference in their life."
As she looks to the future, Sorensen said she hopes the negativity will subside and she can focus on her educational goals. She sees herself as a step for children to take on the path to becoming educated adults, and her goal is to make an impact on them.
"I want kids to be able to look back and say, 'You know, I really liked school, because I had really great teachers,'" she said. "That's my goal, to make school a worthwhile experience for kids."
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Posted Dec. 16,
1999
Copyright 1999, Nevada Outpost
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