I wish we could come up with a new word besides teacher. It is clearly not a big enough word for that profession, lets face it, teachers nowadays are doing at least three jobs at a time, sometimes more than that.
With the breakdown in the family and so many social issues that students bring to the table these days, just sitting at your desk with an apple and some worksheets, excuse my language “ain’t going to cut it”, I’m sorry, “isn’t going to cut it”!
Well, obviously I could use a teacher as I write this post.
Back to the point..teachers are now mentors, brothers, mothers, father figures, role models, counselors and every thing in between, and that’s just sometimes for one student.
I’m just afraid that when people hear the word teacher, they are still thinking of Helen, on the Andy Griffith Show. That method of teaching may have worked then, but these days you have got to be much more creative in teaching and darn right genius in some classrooms.
The kids come with lack of sleep, malnutrition, anger management issues, broken families, bad neighborhoods and the latest rap song so laced with profanity it would put a sailor to shame.
Whats interesting is that the kids are brighter and smarter than ever, that’s not the problem. It’s the lack of discipline with too many of them that makes things difficult, however, that is what also gives me hope that we can change this around.
If we can harness that brilliance in the right direction, the sky is the limit and the future is bright, but that’s a big IF.
Teachers have to do it all. It has become one of the most under appreciated jobs in society, again because I think the thinking is still in the past.
Teachers have got to more determined than ever, stay after longer, be more creative than ever, do more jobs in one but get compensated as if they are only doing one, tough tough duty!
Let’s support our teachers with higher pay and parental support, more resources like children’s educational music, learning games, learning music, visual aids, teacher recognition and yes, a pat on the back, which is the only thing most of them are looking for.
