The Challenge Learning how to be a teacher in a wider culture that doesn't know the difference between a vocation and a job.

An assignment to do work that can be quantified and evaluated. A Job An assignment to do work that can be quantified and evaluated. Teaching is a job that I get paid for, a job that is assigned to me by a principal, a job that I am expected to do to the satisfaction of my employer. Often when I am frassled, I revert back to the ‘job’ – e.g. I ‘m only doing what I am paid for…. This is often counter-cultural in terms of leadership – in society, people rise to leadership by operating very competently and effectively in the external world (i.e. techniques, skills, knowledge) sometimes at the cost of internal awareness; regarding the inner life as illusory, a waste of time, fantasy

... as a profession appropriate and equitable remuneration high quality pre-service education appropriate and equitable remuneration opportunities for in-service education collaboration with colleagues in professional associations a degree of autonomy and accountability responsive, service orientation One of the fundamental requirements for an educator in a Catholic school is ...a solid professional formation. Poor quality teaching .... unavoidably undermines the effectiveness of the overall formation of the student. (Educating Together in Catholic Schools, 2007, n. 21) Teaching is a professional undertaking. There is an expectation to develop as effective professional educators – expertise, competence, skills, knowledge, techniques (the WHAT, HOW, WHY) Possess expertise and competence in a specific area A person with formation and training in an area of expertise (unlike amateur) Appointed by community and paid

vocatio = a call, a summons A Vocation vocatio = a call, a summons A call to leadership and service in the Church We are not defined by what we do. Their [vocation] is a calling and not simply the exercise of a profession. (The Holy See’s Teaching on Catholic Schools, 2006, p.53) Vocation is a religious term which has been borrowed by secular world In Church documents you will often read about this in terms of naming teaching as a ‘vocation’ as well as a ‘profession’ Vocation – comes from Latin vocare, meaning "to call“ Vocation does not mean a goal I pursue. It means a calling that I hear. In a culture that equates work with suffering, it is revolutionary to suggest that the best inward sign of vocation is deep gladness. If a work is mine to do, it will make me glad over the long haul, despite the difficult days. Even the difficult days will ultimately gladden me, because they pose the kinds of problems that can help me grow in a work if it is truly mine.” Parker Palmer, p.31 You are church for these people; The religion classroom should teach them the head, the heart and the hands – to go out form school and do something with it …

Any authentic call ultimately comes from the voice of the teacher within, the voice that invites me to honour the nature of my true self; the voice of identity and integrity. It says things like “ This is what fits you and this is what doesn’t”; “This is who you are and this is who you are not”; “This is what gives you life and this is what kills your spirit”. (Adapted from Parker J Palmer, The Courage to Teach, 2007, pp.30, 32)