{"id":16344,"date":"2019-11-12T17:15:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T22:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/english\/?p=16344"},"modified":"2019-12-08T12:44:02","modified_gmt":"2019-12-08T17:44:02","slug":"susanna-benko-teaching-is-a-way-to-make-a-living-its-also-a-way-to-make-a-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bsu.edu\/english\/blog\/2019\/11\/12\/susanna-benko-teaching-is-a-way-to-make-a-living-its-also-a-way-to-make-a-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Susanna Benko: Teaching is a way to make a living. It\u2019s also a way to make a life."},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Susanna Benko works as Director of the English Education program at Ball State. As a professor and researcher, she is interested in the teaching of writing\u2014in practice and in policy\u2014at the middle and secondary level. Read more about Dr. Benko and her work on her faculty page.<\/em><\/p>\n

To close out the #WeFly #WeTeach campaign, Dr. Benko wanted to provide a few closing thoughts. In this letter, she discusses why now’s the time to be an English teacher, why Ball State is the perfect place to venture down that path, and how to support those pursuing a profession in education.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Susanna Benko: Director of English Education and Associate Professor of English<\/p><\/div>\n

We were not even six weeks into my Introduction to English Education class when one of my students came to office hours and asked the question that I knew would come from someone, at some point in the semester. \u201cI always have thought I wanted to be a teacher,\u201d she said, \u201cbut, now I\u2019m not so sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the director of our English Education major, I have this conversation often. This fall, partially in response to this question, the English department worked to feature the good work of our BSU English Ed alums and current students. Through their stories, we\u2019ve collected many reasons why now is the time to be an English teacher, and why BSU English is the place to start this journey.<\/p>\n

Now<\/strong> is<\/strong> the<\/strong> Time<\/strong> to<\/strong> Be<\/strong> an<\/strong> English<\/strong> Teacher<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

As an undergraduate, I was a double major in English and education. My parents (much like parents today) were especially concerned about two things: Could I get a job? Could I pay off my loans? For me, the answer was yes. My dad, out of genuine concern for my well-being, was focused on whether I could make a living. Neither he nor I were prepared for the impact that teaching would have on my life.<\/p>\n

When I think back on my middle\/high school teaching days, the ones I remember best were when I taught mostly sophomore English at a small high school on the west side of Evansville, IN. My strongest memories of that school are mostly of the community, where faculty, students, and their families welcomed me and made me feel like I had grown up there. The band director (who became one of my closest friends) brought the tiny marching band to play \u201chappy birthday\u201d outside my classroom window when I turned 25; a family invited us to their home to watch the Colts play in the Super Bowl when they found out we didn\u2019t have anyone to watch the game with; my students would surround me at football games. I thought it was because I was their favorite teacher, but they just wanted to get my husband\u2019s Xbox gamer tag so they could play Halo<\/em> with him.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say I loved those kids. I joked with my homeroom (sophomores when I began) that my plan was to teach them through senior year and go on to teach them in college. We moved to Pittsburgh the summer before their senior year. I cried on their first day of school, wishing I was back in Indiana kicking off the school year with them. When I arrived at Ball State in 2012, that crew was graduating from college. I just missed them.<\/p>\n

This month, our Ball State English Ed alumni have written some of their own memorable moments, sharing their \u201cwhy\u2019s\u201d for teaching.<\/p>\n

We created an Instagram account (please follow us!<\/a><\/span>) and launched the #WeFly #WeTeach campaign. Our alums told of ways that teaching English is an adventure into the unknown.<\/p>\n

They shared pictures of their students\u2019 writing<\/a><\/span> and spoken word poetry<\/a><\/span> and showed how they\u2019ve led students to interpret literature<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve also gone on to new adventures. For example, Joel Summers is a Master Builder at LEGOLAND<\/a><\/span> in Florida, proving that critical analysis extends beyond text and to Lego castles.<\/p>\n

Paige Pobocik shared how English teachers can take on challenges outside the discipline, as she\u2019s been co-teaching Biology (yes, really). In her words<\/a><\/span>, she is \u201cteaching YA novels that none of (her) coworkers get to teach, connect(ing) biology content into lessons and help(ing) with pig dissections.\u201d This was probably not the kind of Animal Farm<\/em> experience we\u2019d expect a new teacher to have, but it\u2019s a great example of the unexpected things our grads are encountering!<\/p>\n

Ball State English Ed alums are changing lives and connecting with students in many important ways.<\/p>\n

Whether they are working in virtual schools<\/a><\/span> or educating teachers on best practices for teaching about the<\/span><\/a> Holocaust, our students making a difference in education. They are inspired by and inspiring students<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not just our alumni\u2014our current students are inspiring, too. We have students like Karen Palencia<\/a><\/span>, who looks forward to teaching English Language Learners. Other students like Lauren Alvarez<\/a> <\/span>say, \u201cI know what it\u2019s like to hear a teacher say something as simple as one sentence and have my whole world, and everything I thought I knew in it, turn upside down\u2026 and I can\u2019t help but wonder what it\u2019s like to be on the other side.\u201d When I look at the 21 students currently in my ENG 150 class, I am so optimistic about the future of our profession. I learn from them every day.<\/p>\n

Katie Morario, a 2014 alum, wrote beautifully about her \u201cwhy\u201d in this post<\/a> <\/span>where she\u2019s pictured with a few of her students. The whole post is worth a read, but my favorite part is this:<\/p>\n

“What shocks me the most is that no one ever told me that I would love it this much. No one told me that I would chat and giggle and play Bananagrams with students between bells. No one told me that students would write encouraging messages and draw quirky doodles on sticky notes for me every single day. No one told me that I would cry when the last student left on the last day of school because of how empty the room would feel. No one told me how often I would look up from my desk and think, ‘I can\u2019t believe I get paid to do this.'”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Our faculty members Jeff Spanke<\/a><\/span> and Lyn Jones<\/a><\/span> shared their why as well. We’re also planning a “Stars to Steer By” event in April 2020 on becoming a teacher<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Why be a teacher? Why right now? Our alumni\u2019s answers are the same now as mine were fifteen years ago: Teaching is a way to make a living. It\u2019s also a way to make a life.<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ball State<\/strong> English<\/strong> is<\/strong> the<\/strong> Place<\/strong> to<\/strong> Learn<\/strong> to<\/strong> Be an English Teacher<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

I recognize that I\u2019m a little biased, but I\u2019d say that the English Department at Ball State is an amazing place to learn to teach. Ball State celebrated our 100-year anniversary last year\u2014this anniversary is both for the university and our department, which was one of the first eleven departments<\/span><\/a> when the university opened. And, we\u2019ve got a bright future. As our chair, Pat Collier, wrote<\/span>,<\/a> moving into our next 100 years, our department will continue to help students \u201crealize the power of words and stories to change the world for the better.\u201d<\/p>\n

We especially do this through our English Ed major, which prepares secondary school teachers, carrying on the proud tradition of Ball State\u2019s \u201cnormal school\u201d roots.<\/p>\n

Our four-year undergrad major prepares our students richly in content (we\u2019re English majors, after all!) and pedagogical content\u2014not only thinking about teaching broadly but rather about teaching English<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What better place to study teaching writing while also taking classes from our incredible faculty in rhetoric, linguistics, and creative writing?<\/p>\n

What better place to think about literature pedagogy than alongside our innovative literature classes?<\/p>\n

In addition to our awesome English Ed classes<\/span><\/a>, we have an English Ed club<\/a><\/span> that helps our students develop their professional identities from the beginning of their collegiate career.<\/p>\n

Our English department is host to the Indiana Writing Project<\/span><\/a>, a professional development organization for teachers of all disciplines focused on improving writing across grade levels and content levels. It\u2019s the perfect place for teachers to come for professional development after graduation.<\/p>\n

Everything that a new English teacher needs is right here.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our students agree. Sarah Bredar is one of our current students who will student teach in Germany next month. In a blog post<\/span><\/a> for our Pilgrim Soul series, Sarah described her experiences as an English Ed major here, highlighting the range of opportunities our students have beyond their curriculum.<\/p>\n

Laurinda Webb, another student who will be student teaching in central IN, wrote about<\/a> <\/span>how our English Ed program has been a place for her to be challenged and to grow. She wrote, \u201cTeaching is about adaptability, accessibility, all the little nuances we find. And, when we \u2018fall on our faces,\u2019 it\u2019s a chance to learn and grow\u2014 that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about!\u201d<\/p>\n

Take Action<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve always needed good teachers\u2014that\u2019s still the case. I won\u2019t dismiss the many challenges that do exist in secondary teaching right now\u2014it\u2019s true that teachers are underpaid, especially in Indiana<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> where teachers make about $10,000 less than average teacher pay in the U.S. It\u2019s true that teachers work long and hard hours (and anyone who tells you it\u2019s \u201c8-3 with summers off\u201d is mistaken).<\/p>\n

Sure, our grads get jobs, and that\u2019s a good thing\u2014but, part of the reason why is because teachers are leaving, and there\u2019s a shortage in many subject areas, including Secondary Language Arts<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

The rhetoric around teaching right now is disheartening, and that\u2019s putting it mildly. Rather than leaning into that narrative, though, I suggest that our #BSUEnglish community push back and act.<\/p>\n

This is not a job for teachers only\u2014it\u2019s a job for anyone who cares about public education, about an educated society, about the future for our children. It\u2019s a job for us all.<\/p>\n

So, what can we do? I have three suggestions\u2014and, unlike many notes that go out to our alumni, I\u2019m not asking for money!<\/p>\n

Thank a teacher.<\/strong> <\/span><\/h5>\n

I\u2019m quite sure that anyone reading this has a teacher who has influenced their life in some meaningful way\u2014tell them so. It doesn\u2019t have to be elaborate. It can be a quick email to a former faculty member, middle school teacher, coach, band director. Tell them they\u2019ve made a difference. Those notes get teachers through the hard days.<\/p>\n

Encourage someone to be a teacher.<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

If you know a young person who you think would make a good teacher, say so. Your confidence may be just what they need to take the leap. Send them this blog post, or one of the posts featured above<\/span><\/a>. Tell them why they should consider teaching (and, if they should be an English teacher, send them to us!) And if a young person tells you they\u2019re thinking of being a teacher, don\u2019t talk them out of it! For every reason you can think of not to teach, our alumni are showing us there are more reasons to <\/em>teach than not to.<\/p>\n

Support teachers.<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

There are many ways that you can support teachers, but here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n