by Connie Matthiessen
Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task.– educator Haim G.Ginott
Ive always enjoyed working at my kids school – helping out in the classroom or the school library — but when I leave the building after an hour or two, its hard to keep from breaking into a run. Its not that I dont love the kids, its just that being surrounded by quick, demanding, little people — all with different questions and moods and levels of understanding — is like being pecked by adorable but persistent chicks.
So I marvel that teachers do it all day every day — and that so manymanage to keep their patience, inspiration, and sense of humor. This is just one of the manyreasons Im gratefulforall thegreat teachers in my childrens lives.
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 – 6), and its a great opportunity to celebrate your teachers.
There are many ways torecognize Teacher Appreciation Week. At one of my sons high schools, the PTSA provides lunch for the schools 75-plus teachers and administrators. Parents decorate the shabby cafeteria, covering lunch tables with table cloths and flowers.We alsoprovide the food, and theres always plenty: huge platters of chicken, Asian noodles, pasta, salads, a whole ham, and a tableful of luxuriousdesserts. The teachers heap their plates and sit down –- for perhaps the onlyday all year — to a leisurely lunch.This year, a city supervisor dropped in for a surprise visit to award two members of the faculty “Teacher of the Year” awards.
The teachers areopenly grateful in return, thanking parents over and over. “This is my favorite day of the year,” one teacher told me.
At my daughters school, teachers worktheweek afterschool closes down,cleaning and organizing their classrooms and meeting to debrief and plan for the next year. On Tuesdaythat week, parents serve an elegant sit-down meal, with candles and musical accompaniment. There is usually enough food to last the entire week.
“It makes us feel so special,” one teacher said. “Parents make dishes that we look forward to every year, and if they know we like a dish, theyll make it even if theyve retired the recipe. What makes it so nice is that its just about adults. The school year is about the kids, but Teacher Appreciation Lunchlets parents and teachers celebrate the school year together.”
Given widespread school funding cuts andtheincreasingly polarized debate overeducation reform, Teacher Appreciation seems more important than ever this year.Many blame teachers forfailing schools and lackluster test scores. Despite meager teacher salaries, some conservative punditseven chidethem for wage and benefit demands,pointing out thatteachers dont have to work that hard, since they get summers off (check out the Daily Show segment, below). Its no surprise that teachermorale is low. Its a great time to show them a little appreciation.
Does your childs school celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week? Tell usabout Teacher Appreciation rituals where you live.
The Daily Show – Crisis in Dairyland – For Richer and Poorer – Teachers and Wall StreetTags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
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