Top Three Ways Educators are More Powerful than Other Superheroes

 

I have a plaque in my office that reads, “Teaching is my superpower.” I noticed that plaque recently and it inspired me to do a bit of research to learn more about superheroes and their superpowers. According to the always reliable Wikipedia, a superhero possesses powers beyond those of ordinary people and typically uses these powers to make the world a better place. The term superhero was first used in the 1890s and, in the years since, many superheroes have emerged. Some superheroes like Batman and Iron Man benefit from creating and using advanced technology while other superheroes like the Invisible Woman and Ms. Marvel possess superhuman biology. Superheroes even exist for preschoolers in the form of the Paw Patrol - a set of superhero puppies with a variety of special skills and talents. Given this definition, it is clear that educators are superheroes and actually have superpowers that exceed those of run-of-the-mill superheroes. Here are the top three superpowers of educators that surpass those of other superheroes.

 

1) Vision: Superman is probably the most-well known superhero with the power of x-ray vision. X-ray vision is nice and allows you to see through walls, etc. but educators have vision powers that Superman does not. It is often said that educators have eyes in the back of their heads and are able to see and know what is happening behind them. However, the most important and amazing vision superpower educators possess is the ability to look inside a child and know the struggles, joys, potential, and needs of that child. This superpower allows the educator to make a positive difference in the lives of students.

2) Time Travel: Being able to travel forward in time is a superpower that Flash possesses given his tremendous speed. Again, not a bad superpower to have but still pretty limited when the educator version is considered. Traveling forward in time would be a fun journey but Flash really has little impact once he gets there. Educators, on the other hand, have the power to impact the future and change the world, and they do this every day with every child. As  Malala Yousafzai said, “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.”
3) Stamina: Some superheroes have increased stamina. For example, Spider-Man can fight evil for twelve straight hours and go for multiple days without sleep. Stamina is defined as doing something for a long period of time without tiring or without giving up. Spider-Man certainly has great stamina but there are limits to his superpower. Educators, on the other hand, go to school each day prepared to inspire the next generation. Day after day they rise to the challenge without giving up on any of their students. But educators’ inspiration does not end at the close of the day or the end of the year. Jill Biden said, “Teaching is not a job. It is a lifestyle. It permeates your whole life.” The stamina required of educators is tremendous but their impact is unending.

 

The next time you watch a superhero in action, think about the true superheroes in our world - educators. We invite you to become an educator superhero. You, too, will gain the power to change the world.