Our culture is the exponentially growing collection of knowledge and invention that we pass from one generation to the next. Science and mathematics are especially rich components of our culture with millenia of contributions from many cultures and all regions of the globe. Unlike other forms of inheritance which must be subdivided and are often distributed with inequity, this inheritance is the birthright of every person, and every person may consume as large a share as he or she would wish. Our world is one of science, mathematics and technology; literacy in these areas is essential for any individual who is to be engaged with and empowered in our world. The curriculum is a subset of this inheritance which is distilled down and shared with students in the environment we call school.
The America that we know today was built by those who left their homelands because they were not first-born sons and therefore had very limited birthrights. Others came from situations where even first-born sons had few if any prospects. With an education in America a person has prospects to not only survive but to thrive and to provide for children. But if we measure the value of an education solely in terms of economic benefit, then we ignore the greater part of its value.
In times past you might have been a carpenter because your father was a carpenter whether or not you were well suited for that occupation. You might have been a mother and a housekeeper because it was expected, but even learning to read was not a possibility. Perhaps you would have been a field hand because that was the only option available. Carpentry, parenthood and farm work are all important roles, and they bring joy to those who choose them. However, with education you may choose to be a nurse, or a doctor or a software engineer because the work suits you well. And along the way you may sculpt your own identity; you need not accept the identity that others force upon you.
Students do not always appreciate the awesome value of this cultural inheritance, so a primary function of the teacher is to help the student understand the meaning of the curriculum with respect to the life of the student. Once the student is engaged the teacher serves as a guide. Success is achieved when the student is able to function as the most important person in his or her own education. A successful education system produces graduates who are life-long learners that are able to learn and grow with or without formal schooling. I teach as a matter of social justice. I teach to empower students. I teach so that students may understand their world, be part of it, contribute to it and reap its rewards. I teach because the rewards of working with students greatly outweigh the economic remuneration that comes with teaching.
