School is starting across the nation for millions of students. Summer break is over with and parents are saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Summer is what reminds parents that teachers are underpaid.
I love teachers! In fact, I married a teacher. Jan retired in May, 2009 after 31 years. One of her “claims to fame” is that she taught every grade level K through 12. She has great stories and I love hearing them.
As a speaker, my primary target audience is educators. I’m actually on the road this week speaking to 10 school districts and over 3000 teachers. I love my job! One thing I always tell them is to take pride in being a part of the Public School System – a system that does not “pick and choose” but offers a quality education to every child that walks through their doors.
One thing that really makes me lean on my Humor Attitude are egg-headed politicians (who wouldn’t know what education meant if they had one) who are quick to blame all of our school problems on teachers. They need to spend a little time in the classroom and see the challenges these fine professionals are up against.
I think I will produce a reality show called “Teacher for a Week” and the contestants will be politicians. We will bring the contestants in; put them in front of 25 students in a room built for 18. Many of these students do not speak English and 3 do not have desk and chairs to start school. Many do not smell good and several have bad breath. Some have parental support and some, bless their hearts, do not have parents. Some have never been in trouble and some are on probation. Some come from loving homes and some are homeless. Some can read and some can’t. Some want to learn and some don’t. And we will give the contestants the job of having ALL students reading at grade level and ALL students passing ALL areas of a standardized test or the contestants will be voted out of the classroom – and the winner, IF THERE IS ONE, will be paid only $695. That is one weeks pay for the beginning teacher. Now that is reality!
As school is getting started, let the teachers know how much you appreciate them and what they do. As you might expect, I will be sharing with them different ways to handle stress and letting them know how to “Laugh Their Way Out!” I even remind them that meeting a child’s parents sometimes instantly answers the question, “Why is this child like this?”
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Still get anxious this time of year, even though I’m retired. Do miss some things about the school family. Some administrators want to take out the “laugh” stress reliever. Would love to have heard one of your inspirational speeches. Enjoy reading your posts…….
Susie, thanks for the comment. Jan still feels the same way even though she is retired. She’s traveling with me this year and it has really sunk in that she is glad she retired.
Well said, my friend. There is a reason I gave up the classroom many, many years ago!
Enjoyed your book. My daughter, the teacher, thinks you got it just about right in this weeks email. She thinks the kids in kindergarten would eat my lunch.
Phil