Ironman and Teaching

Four years ago, I was elected president of my local teachers' union.  I was cleaning out some of my old stuff and I found this speech I gave about Ironman and teaching.  I thought this would be a good place to share...

I’ve completed two Ironman races.  When people hear that, they usually ask, “Why?”  But no answer I give ever satisfies the curiosity of someone outside of the world of triathlon.  When someone asks me why I teach, it feels the same way.  Any answer I provide sounds like a cliché.

At the beginning of an Ironman race, there are over 2000 athletes wading in the water.  The tension in the air is thick.  Everyone is at least a little bit anxious.  Will I make it to the finish line?  What if I panic during the swim?  What will I do if I get a flat tire?  What if I get sick along the way?  What if I don’t make the time cutoff?

The beginning of the school year feels a little bit like the beginning of an Ironman.  What will my class be like?  Will I inspire my students?  What if I have a student with special needs?  What if I have a disagreement with a parent?  What if I don’t make it to the end of the year?

At precisely 7am, the cannon goes off and the athletes begin their Ironman journey.  Arms are flailing, people are pushing and pulling each other, and some feel like they’re drowning.

At precisely 7:39am, the bell rings.  Students fill the halls, pushing their way to lockers and classrooms.  Teachers are passing out books and memorizing names.  Guidance counselors are adjusting schedules and looking for “phantom students.”  We all feel like we’re drowning.

Once we get through the chaos of the swim, it’s on to a 112-mile bike ride.  I know what you’re thinking – “112 miles?  Who would be crazy enough to do that?”  Now think of all those people out there that say, “A classroom full of children?  180 days a year?  Who would be crazy enough to do that?”  But, the athletes settle in.  Of course, those 112 miles are not always the smoothest and they are rarely flat.  One of the worst feelings is when you are riding along, feeling good, then you hear and feel the “thump, thump, thump” of a flat tire.  So, you break your rhythm, pull over, and hop off the bike.  If you are well-prepared and well-practiced, you can get that flat fixed pretty quickly and pick up where you left off.  The flat tire hasn’t kept you out of the race – it only slowed you down a bit. 

You and your students settle in as well.  You get into a rhythm and just when you think everything is going smoothly, “thump, thump, thump.”  Our flat tires often come in the form of a student’s failure.  So, what do we do?  We teach those students how to deal with the disappointment, but we also teach them that all it did was slow us down.  That one test grade hasn’t kept us out of the race. 

We are off the bikes and onto the run – a full 26.2 miles.  This is where the true test of wills begins and the real doubt starts to creep in.  Did I eat enough on the bike?  Did I drink enough?  Did I drink too much?  How will I ever find it in my legs to run a marathon?  What did I get myself into?  Will I make it to the finish line before midnight? 

The end of the year is like an Ironman run.  Did I do enough for my students?  Are they prepared for the next grade level?  Will they be able to graduate?  What did I get myself into? Will I finish the curriculum before the Regents?

It is important to note that no one would become an Ironman without the support and encouragement of the volunteers and spectators along the course.  They want each and every athlete to reach his or her goal and they will do everything they can to help.  All you have to do is ask.  Spectators stand for hours and hours, sometimes in the pouring rain, to support the athletes, celebrate their little victories, encourage them during their disappointments, and cheer them across the finish line.  People even come out of their homes to offer more food at the aid stations.  The best part of human nature is on full display and it carries you to the finish line.

As teachers, we also have a support system built right in – each other.  Our colleagues are there to offer us their help and support throughout the entire year.  And remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness.  Together, we celebrate our little victories and encourage each other during our disappointments.  Sometimes teachers even bring in treats from home, and sometimes that plate of cookies in the teachers’ room is the little bit extra that you needed to get through the day. 

So, when someone asks you why you teach, tell them about that day’s little victory and then tell them about the big celebration when you and your students cross the finish line.