{"id":12173,"date":"2025-06-24T23:45:28","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T03:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pacificopencourses.col.org\/ds4oers\/?page_id=12173"},"modified":"2025-06-24T23:45:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T03:45:28","slug":"vocation-or-profession","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pacificopencourses.col.org\/ds4oers\/learning-challenges\/why-does-open-matter\/vocation-or-profession\/","title":{"rendered":"Vocation or profession?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Annette-teacher-Norsop-School.jpg\"<\/a><\/div>\n


<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\u201c\n<\/td>\n It is noble to teach oneself, but still nobler to teach others — and less trouble.<\/i>\n<\/td>\n \u201d\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\u2014Mark Twain, 1906<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\u201c\n<\/td>\n Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.<\/i>\n<\/td>\n \u201d\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\u2014Jacques Barzun, 1945<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Is teaching a vocation or profession?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many educators would agree that teaching is both a vocation<\/i> and a profession<\/i>. Consider the following definitions from Wikipedia<\/a> and Dictionary.com<\/a>:\n<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\"definition\"\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Definition of vocation<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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A vocation<\/a><\/b>, from the Latin vocare<\/i> (verb, to call), is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained, or qualified. Though now often used in secular contexts (i.e. not connected to religion), the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.<\/p>\n

Today, the use of the term \u201cvocation\u201d has evolved, with emphasis shifting to an individual’s development of talents and abilities in the choice and enjoyment of a career.\n<\/p>\n

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Definition of profession<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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Profession<\/a><\/b>[1]<\/a><\/sup> is defined as:\n<\/p>\n

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  1. a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science: the profession of teaching<\/i>\n<\/li>\n
  2. any vocation or business\n<\/li>\n
  3. the group of people engaged in an occupation or calling: to be respected by the Medical profession<\/i>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    Getting to know you<\/span><\/h2>\n
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    \n\t\t\t\"discussion\"\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Discussion<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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    Purpose<\/b>: To reflect on why we became educators, while practising how to use the online forums\n<\/p>\n

    This activity is designed for you to meet other participants online by sharing some of your own views about education and teaching. Please post your views using the forum.oeru.org<\/a><\/b> site, in response to the questions below:\n<\/p>\n