Thank a Teacher Today!

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending my sister’s retirement from teaching in Gwinett County, Georgia. In her farewell message, she pointed out that when you combine all our careers, our family has contributed almost 200 years to the teaching profession! That’s quite a contribution to this country from my father whose parents were immigrants from Ireland and England in the early 1900s!

My grandfather and father did not have the opportunity to attend college. Their work ethic provided opportunity for them, but they always knew that life would have been easier if they had that college degree. For that reason, my parents put all eight of us through college even though it took all their savings. What a gift!

I have to admit that I looked at teaching very differently before I became a teacher. I thought that it would be nice to have a job that had the same hours as my kids – in at 8, out at 3, summer vacations and lots of snow days and holidays. Throw in the undying respect and adulation from students and parents – who wouldn’t want to be a teacher?!

Teaching is hard work. Every day requires hours of preparation before you even enter the classroom, and that is why teachers work in the summer time. They prepare so that the classroom is ready when the students arrive in August. I will never forget my first day with students in the classroom. I had prepared all summer, reading the Teachers’ Guides and textbooks, making lesson plans, decorating the classroom, and developing lots of fun activities for the students. Then the class came in for the first time and took their seats. I closed the door and saw all those trusting faces looking up at me. I was overwhelmed with the question, “What do I do now?” I realized that they were counting on me, and their futures hung in the balance. Wow.

Teaching is intense and requires focus and compassion. I really cared about my students and their families. You can’t turn that off at night or on holidays. Trying to motivate a student is exhausting. The old expression You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink applies to students. Sure, they learn some things through osmosis, but trying to light that spark in a child is very consuming. My students kept me awake many nights, worrying about them and trying to find ways to help them succeed. Teachers would collaborate when a student hit a rough patch, and there was great rejoicing when we broke through! There are several triumphs that we will always share – success stories about students whose lives were turned around, kids who saw real change in their attitudes and therefore their potential. When I see a child graduate from college, and remember them as a young student, I am truly awed by the power of education.

There are two things I would like to encourage you to do today. First – give your teachers a break! They have had a long year, and are just as excited about summer approaching as you are! They have a million things to do to wrap up the year, so do what you can to make their lives easier!

And second, please thank your teachers. To a large extent, their gallant work goes unrecognized. As the year comes to an end, reflect with your child about all the good things that happened this year, and sit down together and write thank you notes to all the teachers who have given so much all year long. Not only will you brighten your teacher’s day, but you will instill in your child a deep respect for the work being done at your school. An attitude of gratitude will go a long way toward developing that love for learning that makes children succeed.

Blessings,
Barb

PS This photo is from my first day of teaching! Not my first career!