Teaching Metaphor

Personally, I find that there is a strong association between being a teacher and being a pitcher for a softball team. To begin with, the pitcher stands in the center of the field. As a teacher, my position will be at the heart of the classroom. Each time a new batter steps up to the plate, the pitcher must assess the hitter’s stance to determine the best type of pitch to throw. With each new student, a teacher must assess their abilities and strengths to determine the most appropriate type of instruction. In addition, a pitcher must constantly be prepared. For example, because they are so close to the batter’s box, a pitcher must always be ready for line drives. Similarly, a teacher must be prepared for all types of students and the individual perspectives and experiences they will bring to the classroom.

To be a pitcher is to be a true leader. Pitchers must be confident with each release of the ball. Likewise, a teacher must be an effective leader in the classroom. They must be confident about the decisions they are making in the classroom on a daily basis. Being a pitcher on a team is a certainly a great responsibility. However, a pitcher is nothing without the strong support of his or her team. Everyone must work together for things to run smoothly. The same holds true for inside the classroom. Teachers must serve as the base, but there must also be a strong relationship with the students. They must work together to develop new ideas and make important classroom decisions. On the softball field, communication and trust are key. Whether it’s calling for a fly ball or yelling that the runner on third is heading for home, a pitcher needs to communicate with the rest of the team. Similarly, a teacher must communicate his or her expectations and procedures as well as provide effective feedback for the students. Like a pitcher trusts their teammates to field the ball and make the play, a strong foundation of trust must also be established between the teacher and student for successful learning.

The best way for me to articulate my final association between being a teacher and being a pitcher on a softball team is to share a personal experience:

I was playing on an eighteen-and-under girls travel softball team, and at fourteen, I was the youngest on the squad. Nationals that year were held in Kissimmee, Florida, and the trepidation I felt was overwhelming. During one game, I was sent in as relief pitcher at the bottom of the third inning; we were already losing badly. White-knuckled, I walked up to the mound. If I could have disappeared right then and there, I would have. I set up, took a few deep breaths, and then did what I had trained so hard to do. I pitched. They got a few hits and may have even scored a run, but finally, there were two outs. I glanced over to the on-deck circle. There stood the most intimidating girl in their line-up. Well over six feet tall, she had hands the size of catcher’s mitts. In the first inning, she had hit a stand-up triple and was now hungry for more. The sun, still low in the sky, was scorching. Sweat dripped from my face. As she stepped up to the plate, everything magically came together. My team rallied around me, chanting encouragement. My spirit soared. Focusing on my target, I managed to strike out the Goliath with three pitches. Even as I left the mound, I knew why I had fanned her. She was trained for faster pitching, and I had messed up her timing. My fastballs, though well-placed, came over the plate like change-ups. We lost the game, of course. In fact, we were defeated by the slaughter rule. But I had won a much larger victory. My accomplishment on that sweltering Florida morning wasn’t the strike out, although that will stick with me forever. It was the insight that came with it. I became a leader that day and I had earned the respect of my teammates. As I look back, I realize winning that game would have been great. There’s certainly no feeling like it in the world. Ultimately, however, it’s loss, or maybe victory framed within loss, that best teaches us who we are and how far we’ve come.

As a future teacher, I know there will be ups and downs. I know there will be good days and bad days. Just like a pitcher for a softball team, there will be wins and losses. But even on a bad day, it is my goal that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the life of at least one child.