Honor Your Teachers
©2010 Daniel A. Brown
Ten years ago, I concluded my teaching career after a decade at a local rural, elementary school. It was perhaps the ten most constructive years of my life and as any teacher can tell you, one never completely leaves the classroom, even after retirement. Whenever I travel to somewhere exciting, view an illuminating movie or program on TV, or read an interesting article, my first thought is always “The kids would love this” and proceed to mentally craft a lesson plan on the topic. Then the present reality kicks in and I realize that “the kids” are long gone, some raising children of their own.
I’ve always felt that everyone should teach at least once in their lives. Not only does it show you what qualities you have as a person but you are truly (and I mean no disrespect to veterans) serving your country in the highest sense. Although I was surrounded by children, I felt that I grew up into a full adult during my years among them. Nothing teaches responsibility, diplomacy and communication skills better than a profession where you have to deal flawlessly with children, parents, peers and administrators on a daily basis for years at a time. Like combat, teaching is learned in the field and it’s a long process of trial and error, patience and frustration brought to eventual fulfillment by dedication and support.
During that period of time, I heard a fair amount of silly opinions voiced about teaching, mostly by people who wouldn’t last an hour in a typical classroom. The most common misconception is how “easy” teachers have it, working only six hours a day and having all those summers off. In reality, teachers spend hours at home grading papers and preparing lesson plans, researching information and gathering materials. Summers are spent taking professional development courses so that they can qualify for re-certification every five years. Beyond that, there is the mental quotient. Unlike most jobs, where you can leave your work after 5pm, we take it home with us because, as noted above, we are always thinking about the kids. And not only thinking about them but fussing, exulting, worrying, applauding and, quite frankly, praying over them because their needs and potentials are always in the backs of our minds. As teachers become fixtures in the local communities, we become friends with their families, attend their houses of worship, watch ballgames and dance recitals and participate in after-school programs. And when they leave our care and become adults, we go to their weddings and, sadly, sometimes their funerals. When they have kids of their own, I glow like a grandparent.
So that cliché about those who can’t do, teach; has it all wrong. Those who care, teach.
I’ve always considered teaching to be a creative art, not unlike music or art and I was lucky to depart before teaching to the test became the standard method of American education. While necessary in some venues, it mostly misses the gifts all children have, some in realms that have little to do with arid academic memorization. I once had a sixth-grade student who wrote on the first-grade level and could barely cough up a book report. But when asked to tell the story of what he had read, he verbally recounted the tale with a detailed thoroughness that would have made Shakespeare proud. Another child routinely flunked exams but was an expert on oceanography, an interest she discovered on her own while engaged in a dozen other creative endeavors. The boy who once looked like a candidate for reform school is now a successful and proud father of two and one girl who never attended college is a resourceful entrepreneur. I never met a kid who didn’t have a gift to share, whether the tests revealed it or not.
And there are some fine teachers out there whether or not they are publicly noticed or commended. One reason why my school worked so well was because of the diversity of the teachers who brought a wide range of backgrounds and experiences into the mix, an example to young people that those who have different styles and values can not only get along, but compliment each other as well. In particular, I owe a debt of gratitude to our master teacher who provided the kind of mentoring that is the backbone of successful education. She is a former Catholic nun; I’m a former Jewish hippie and our teaching styles could not have been more dissimilar. But because of our mutual love for our kids and respect for our profession, we not only developed an excellent working relationship but an enduring friendship as well.
In terms of pay, teaching stinks but that is beside the point. No one is in it for the money. While Wall Street bankers get annual million dollar bonuses for ruining people’s lives, teachers are lucky if they get several coffee mugs with “You’re an A+ Teacher!” printed on them. But what makes it all worthwhile are those rare moments when, years later, one of our grown-up students greets us on the street and casually mentions that we not only made them enjoy learning but changed their lives for the positive. These are their words and they are worth more than a million bucks.
So as the school term comes to an end, please take the time to thank the teacher who either made a difference in your life or the lives of your children. While the coffee mugs are nice, the recognition of a job well done is worth even more. Although the following term has been grossly overused, teachers are indeed true American heroes and should be recognized by our local communities as such.
I’ve always felt that everyone should teach at least once in their lives. Not only does it show you what qualities you have as a person but you are truly (and I mean no disrespect to veterans) serving your country in the highest sense. Although I was surrounded by children, I felt that I grew up into a full adult during my years among them. Nothing teaches responsibility, diplomacy and communication skills better than a profession where you have to deal flawlessly with children, parents, peers and administrators on a daily basis for years at a time. Like combat, teaching is learned in the field and it’s a long process of trial and error, patience and frustration brought to eventual fulfillment by dedication and support.
During that period of time, I heard a fair amount of silly opinions voiced about teaching, mostly by people who wouldn’t last an hour in a typical classroom. The most common misconception is how “easy” teachers have it, working only six hours a day and having all those summers off. In reality, teachers spend hours at home grading papers and preparing lesson plans, researching information and gathering materials. Summers are spent taking professional development courses so that they can qualify for re-certification every five years. Beyond that, there is the mental quotient. Unlike most jobs, where you can leave your work after 5pm, we take it home with us because, as noted above, we are always thinking about the kids. And not only thinking about them but fussing, exulting, worrying, applauding and, quite frankly, praying over them because their needs and potentials are always in the backs of our minds. As teachers become fixtures in the local communities, we become friends with their families, attend their houses of worship, watch ballgames and dance recitals and participate in after-school programs. And when they leave our care and become adults, we go to their weddings and, sadly, sometimes their funerals. When they have kids of their own, I glow like a grandparent.
So that cliché about those who can’t do, teach; has it all wrong. Those who care, teach.
I’ve always considered teaching to be a creative art, not unlike music or art and I was lucky to depart before teaching to the test became the standard method of American education. While necessary in some venues, it mostly misses the gifts all children have, some in realms that have little to do with arid academic memorization. I once had a sixth-grade student who wrote on the first-grade level and could barely cough up a book report. But when asked to tell the story of what he had read, he verbally recounted the tale with a detailed thoroughness that would have made Shakespeare proud. Another child routinely flunked exams but was an expert on oceanography, an interest she discovered on her own while engaged in a dozen other creative endeavors. The boy who once looked like a candidate for reform school is now a successful and proud father of two and one girl who never attended college is a resourceful entrepreneur. I never met a kid who didn’t have a gift to share, whether the tests revealed it or not.
And there are some fine teachers out there whether or not they are publicly noticed or commended. One reason why my school worked so well was because of the diversity of the teachers who brought a wide range of backgrounds and experiences into the mix, an example to young people that those who have different styles and values can not only get along, but compliment each other as well. In particular, I owe a debt of gratitude to our master teacher who provided the kind of mentoring that is the backbone of successful education. She is a former Catholic nun; I’m a former Jewish hippie and our teaching styles could not have been more dissimilar. But because of our mutual love for our kids and respect for our profession, we not only developed an excellent working relationship but an enduring friendship as well.
In terms of pay, teaching stinks but that is beside the point. No one is in it for the money. While Wall Street bankers get annual million dollar bonuses for ruining people’s lives, teachers are lucky if they get several coffee mugs with “You’re an A+ Teacher!” printed on them. But what makes it all worthwhile are those rare moments when, years later, one of our grown-up students greets us on the street and casually mentions that we not only made them enjoy learning but changed their lives for the positive. These are their words and they are worth more than a million bucks.
So as the school term comes to an end, please take the time to thank the teacher who either made a difference in your life or the lives of your children. While the coffee mugs are nice, the recognition of a job well done is worth even more. Although the following term has been grossly overused, teachers are indeed true American heroes and should be recognized by our local communities as such.
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