Teacher Appreciation Week

 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and here are my thoughts:  

 

A teacher’s job is extremely important even though policy makers, budget writers, the general public, and I dare say some school boards don’t recognize it as such. Education is the foundation needed for a healthy society, and teachers are essential to proper education.  

 

A teacher’s work is extremely important, and how we do our job matters. How we treat our students and the way in which we impart knowledge can be both life-forming and purpose-giving. Our work has the power both to build and destroy, and it has the reach to touch students from all walks of life, regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnic background, religion, gender, sex, sexuality, or ability level. All students are entitled to free and fair public education. We must never forget that fact.

 

Teachers are extremely important people. Independent of the job. Independent of the roles of teacher, wife/husband/partner, mother/father, daughter/son, friend. Independent of accomplishments and titles. Teachers are important people with hopes and dreams, fears and failures, certainties and uncertainties, and times of rest and play. Teachers are more than teachers. Teachers are people, and a very important people indeed. 

 

My guess is that a lot of positive and encouraging words will be showered on teachers this week—and rightfully so. But friends: Teachers are leaving the profession at alarming rates because we don’t hear these words or see them backed up by policy and action often enough.

 

We don’t need praise through toxic positivity or empty words. We need genuine encouragement and support throughout the year. We need volunteers and substitutes. We need parent support rather than questioning and condemnation. We need funding. We need Amazon Gift Cards. We need coffee. We need prayer. We need policies that allow us to teach our subject areas and don’t censure us. Yes, there are a few bad apples in the teacher bunch, but mostly, we are good folks who have been trained to do what we do. Trust us. Let us teach. Don’t slap us on the wrist or in the face for trying to open the world to students or be a safe place for them as they grow and develop. And for the love of everything good, pay us like the professionals that we are and don’t punish us for staying in the profession longer than 15 years! 

 

So Friends: Go. Go do something nice for a teacher. And then write yourself a reminder to do something else nice for a teacher in a couple of weeks. These last few weeks of school are ridiculously challenging. And make a plan for next year. Ask yourself: How can I appreciate the teachers in my life? And then do it. 

 

And teachers: When you start to doubt your purpose. When the ridiculous demands of the job make you want to quit. When you are so tired that you just want to sleep. Hang in there. You are not alone. And you are loved. So much. If by no one else than God and me…but I have a hunch that it’s by so many more.

 

Amen.