Reluctant Disciplinarian

Ole Gary Rubinstein kind of scares me.  One reason for this is because his description of himself sounds almost exactly like me.  He was a college graduate who was reluctant to go to law school (same for me) who decided to do Teach For America partly because it sounded like a great diversion and partly because he felt he had an aptitude for teaching (same for me).  Like Rubinstein, I also often feel intimidated by the passion others seem to have for teaching.  I'm not sure if teaching is really my passion.  I know teaching English isn't. 

Unlike Rubinstein, I do feel I have at least some pure motives.  I really have always had a desire to help my home state, po' ole beat down Mississippi.  I felt from the beginning that the MTC was a great way in which to do that.  I really did not want to go through life without attempting to do something difficult in an effort to help others.  I also did not want to go through life complaining about all the problems in Mississippi without actually doing something about it. 

I do not feel that I will be as poor of a disciplinarian as Rubinstein was in the beginning.  I will have my problems, but losing my temper and screaming and yelling is not something I feel like I will do.  I feel like I have the right temperment for teaching in that I do not lose my cool easily.  I really feel like I will not be the pushover that Rubinstein was either. 

I think that Rubinstein gives some great advice in his book.  Do not try to patronize the kids.  Do not pretend to be something you are not, but at the same time make sure you come across as a "real" teacher.  Pick your battles.  All of this is great advice.  I guess we will see what happens when I become a teacher.