When I was little, I could not understand why an athlete would make millions of dollars, and teachers seemed to make so little. I have never had a great concept of money, something that is truly so abstract, but even then, I did not understand how no one ever challenged that.
Now, with an adult mind, it seems even more bizarre. Sure, athletes work hard. They bring in money for the city. They help promote different issues. They entertain us. They absolutely have value and deserve to be recognized for how they contribute.
But … so do teachers, right? The people who are teaching our children math and science. The people who influence their social-emotional learning. The people who are caring for our babies for hours each day, days each week, weeks each year, years for their entire youth.
I am not a teacher and I could not imagine having such a great responsibility. Frankly, I do not know how they do it! The noise and stimulation in a classroom are enough for me to run the other way. But add on the germs, chaos, bullying, lesson plans, and actual teaching … all of that does not even touch the societal issues.
Staffing issues place incredibly high pressure on the teachers that are still in the classroom, adding more to their already full plates. A lack of funding decreases their already relatively low salary as they need to pay out of pocket for classroom additions. But listen, all of this does not touch the things that really get me going.
There are two things that are simply inexcusable.
1. School inequities.
Schools and teaching are challenging. Can we agree on that? But some schools are well funded, and others are so underfunded that the expectations are incredibly low for what a student learns each year. Poor reading rates, high suspension rates, and frequent turnover are accepted because there is so little that can be done without funding. Children show up without clothes that keep them warm or without eating. Some do not know where they will sleep at night. How can a teacher expect them to learn unfed and unhoused?
2. Parents.
Yes, you and me. Let me say that again. WE are a part of the problem. Teachers have reported experiencing parents that are rude, who blame the teacher for their child’s behavior, and add insult to injury. Sure, some teachers need some more supervision or are burnt out. But every human deserves respect. We owe it to our children to hear the feedback of their teachers, even if it is not what we want to hear.
Like I said, I am not a teacher. I do not really know what it is like in the classroom. I am also fortunate to have experienced some fantastic teachers for whom I can only celebrate rather than complain. But the gist remains the same: teachers are valuable. Teachers are human. If we want to change the world and create a space for our children that makes us proud, it starts early. That starts with us and the people who are around our kids the most.
Teachers.
Not every parent has the funds to “clear the list” or to contribute extra supplies to the classroom. In fact, you might be sending your child to school unfed because that is the only place where your child eats. But kindness is possible. We can talk to our teachers with respect. We can say thank you. We can advocate for them at the school board, send a kind message to the principal, and partner with them when our children inevitably struggle in one way or another.
I would love to hear from teachers about what we can do as parents to support them!
