I just read in my old hometown newspaper that my elementary school principal died. Mr. Were was 95 and his passing brought back memories.
This time of year our minds probably slip back to ready-for-a-new-year-of-school days. The whole cast old and new characters post-summer revisited. Where were they all and each one at now?
What put smiles on our faces were and are teachers who respected and cared about us.
Teaching is as sacred as jobs come. Medicine, law, ordination as a clergyperson too make a lifelong impact.
So I was troubled last week talking with a woman who works in a big-box store selling school supplies.
She said a group of teachers had come in shopping, each with a small allowance from their school to cover more supplies, while everything else they needed for their students and classrooms came out of their own pockets.
Fortunately, the store gives them a big bulk discount during special before-school sales. She overheard one say she hated sending letters begging parents to help with boxes of tissue paper and toilet rolls, hand sanitizer, paper towels and more needs.
I was demoralized to hear this. So much starting a fresh new year.
Demands made on public schoolteachers never have been greater. I am sure some feel pushed and pulled in all directions.
Today teaching is much more complex than asking students to open their textbook, turn to the page appointed for the day and get cracking. That is almost the easiest part, in fact.
In the past, if a student got out of line the teacher could apply the “board of education” to where culprits seats met the chairs below them.
Not today. In some schools, even if a student is pounding his or her fists against a teacher, he or her raising a hand to defend him- or herself could land the teacher in court. In the future, charges could be escalated to “angry staring with intent.”
Teachers are expected to know not only a student’s name, but also their preferred gender and to never make a mistake, even if the youth changes it day to day.
They are expected to know and flawlessly perform the school’s protocol for an active shooter drill, all there is about cyber security, have all skills to face a possible suicide-prevention incident and more.
Teachers are conscripted into fighting an o-going culture war of acceptable books and resources in their classroom or library, which songs can be sung and the proper names for school holidays.
In some parts of our country, Columbus Day has been renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day, Thanksgiving has turned into a Harvest Festival and Christmas is now the Winter Holiday. Slip up and someone will complain!
Anyone who thinks teaching is a cushy, well-paid job of five days a week for nine months a year with the workday ending just after the last bell at 3 p.m. is living in the dark ages.
Yes, teachers have time off during summer recess, but many scramble to fill those months working to earn credits for mandatory continuing education. Sometimes they must do so at own expense.
Instead of guiding students to learn how to learn to critically think for themselves, teachers often find themselves “teaching for the test” so schools and districts can stay on the good side of state and federal agencies.
Teachers take their turns as lunchroom and hall monitors, coach or otherwise help with after-school sports events, or have recess and playground duties. It’s expected as part of their responsibilities and duties. So are receiving early-morning or late-night calls from parents who want to grouse about what went on with their kids today.
It is not the work that kills us, but the stress. That seems true for everyone.
One thing we hear from teachers’ unions during pre-contract negotiations is they want and need more benefits. I too like money; some is good, more better. But respect we need even more.
Think back to your school days. Which teachers do you remember? Ones you’d ask a question, they answered with kindness. You made mistake as we all do, they didn’t humiliate you in front of others. They asked and cared about your life out of the classroom too. They built you up by respecting you as a person.
“Little” things like that go a long way. Teachers deserve to be treated with respect too.
