Recently I volunteered in a school, after a long pause. This will be the fifth elementary school I have had the privilege of crossing the threshold of and spending time among the young students and their teachers and staff. Of the five elementary schools, there are striking similarities and really only a handful of differences. With each school, I have been more blessed than I ever blessed.
It is amazing how similar teachers are---some are well seasoned and some are raw dough just being put into the oven. They ALL obviously care about the children---you could not do the job if you did not. One of my observations is how the seasoned teachers pour into the raw dough teachers. No one has a game plan they hold close as if it was a state secret. All the teachers compare notes and pull together striving for the common goal of teaching the children. There does not seem to be any competition between the faculty--they give the appearance of one cohesive unit striving to better the children. They really do not have time for drama in today's performance driven educational environment. All for one and one for all comes to mind when reflecting on the world of education. Perhaps striving for a common goal aids in fostering this refreshing attitude.
When I encounter a teacher or staff member, their attitude about their job is pasted all over the expression on their face and the countenance they project. We all have bad days--and I have been guilty of bringing my terrible mood to work. Thankfully my clients and fellow workers were all adults. NO EXCUSE, but some days I struggled to bring my A Game to work without reflecting the personal world I lived in. Teachers have no such luxury--they deal with the most vulnerable and have to leave their troubles behind when they walk into the halls of academia. They hang their aches & pains, troubles and woes, and worldly problems in the cloak room before they enter their room. Those children are perceptive and pick up on your attitude quickly and turn right back around and reflect that attitude to their teacher. Those teachers learn this quickly and adjust to always putting on a good face --in spite of their troubles.
As you can tell, I have great admiration for the profession and this is a short explanation of that respect. There is NO more important job---our very future depends upon them. What a responsibility to have attached to your chosen career. It is NEVER about the paycheck---I have been there and observed and I can promise you--you cannot pay them enough for the charge they have. We all owe a big THANK YOU to the teachers in our lives today as well as those in our past---a literal pat on the back---put into out loud words shouted from the rooftop~
THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
"Well done,
good and faithful servant."
Matthew 25:23
I taught middle school for quite a while, and it was the teachers whom you described here who encouraged me in my mission to become better with every passing year. Sadly, when I decided I had no choice to leave the profession, it was because of those NOT like the teachers featured here, caring more about their own egos and consumed with teaching to the test. Yes, I was actually bullied to resign. But how I truly enjoyed those young men and women I had the honor to teach. Blessings, Lulu!
ReplyDeleteI am praying you can forgive them. We can only control our behavior and forgive those who misdo us. We are always better off and freed from the pain of their actions when we do.
DeleteBlessings, Sweet Martha!