Why Teachers Teach. Ch1

Chapter 1 Why Teachers Teach

Why do teachers teach? The reading from chapter one states that there are extrinsic and intrinsic rewards to why teachers teach. An extrinsic reward is an external attraction to do the job such as money or to have power. Considering that teachers don’t get paid very much that is the least likely reason for becoming a teacher. An intrinsic reward is the person’s accomplishment or enjoyment out of the job itself. Some teachers might teach because of both extrinsic and intrinsic rewards or just for one or the other. Chapter one also states that teaching has more extrinsic rewards, but teachers talk more and say they teach for the intrinsic rewards.

In an article by Time magazine at the web address http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,793660,00.html a women in Wisconsin who is a teacher named Dorothy McCuskey explains her reasons for teaching. The article starts off with implying that the pay for a teacher is not that great so why would a teacher teach. Dorothy McCuskey says that when you help a student discover that something such as math that seems so hard to them discover that it’s really easy and are able to get a class to come together as a whole that is the true beauty behind teaching. So Mrs. Dorothy McCuskey teaches for the intrinsic rewards, by helping a student discovery how to solve something that use to be so hard and being able to have a classroom full of students come together and work on an activity is her true reason for teaching. (McCuskey)