Heroes
There sure are a lot of heroes during COVID-19!! Healthcare workers, grocery workers, delivery workers, teachers… Whew!!
But the funny thing is, while we call these workers heroes, we don’t treat them like it. Many healthcare workers still don’t have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to stay safe and keep others safe. The employees at my neighborhood Publix weren’t even allowed to wear face masks until a few days ago. Some delivery workers are facing the same: bosses that won’t let them were PPE. And supplying PPE? Some are saying they can wear it if they pay for it themselves.
My point is, if these people are truly heroes, why aren’t we supporting them in the ways they need support? Why aren’t companies providing them with the protective equipment they need to stay safe? Why aren’t they receiving hazard pay for putting themselves and their families in increased danger every day? We wouldn’t expect a firefight to run into a building in nothing but their knickers, so why are we asking these other heroes to do just that?
Teachers
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. So how do the COVID-19 heroes I mentioned above relate to teachers? After all teachers are able to work from the safety of their homes!
But the reality is we are asked to do our job without the proper resources on the daily. Have been for years. Our local, state, and federal legislators have continuously underfunded public education for years, ultimately leading to a situation where we don’t have the time our resources to do our job as well as it could be done. Not without sacrificing our mental and emotional health, anyway.
Often we don’t have the support we need to hold a class that isn’t chaotic, because there aren’t enough administrators to assist students who need additional attention. And we are rarely consulted in large-scale problem-solving, with directives being thrown at us time and again with no say in the creation of them. This results with us being talked down to, instead of treated like the professionals we are.
The combination of these things leads to death by 1,000 cuts. Teachers get burnt out, which ultimately hurts students because we can’t give students the attention they need as effectively. The burn-out factor leads to a majority teachers leaving the profession after five years, because they can’t mentally take it anymore. How can public education maintain a strong foundation when so many leave due to mental and emotional fatigue? And for those who stay in it, well it’s rough going by May.
The quarantine is adding even more work to teachers, as we try to create good lessons in formats that aren’t our first choice. Lessons where we don’t have the benefit of explaining to students while there, so we have to create even more resources to help them since they don’t have the resource of us to help figure things out. And certainly, teachers and educational support professionals are the most valuable resource public education has.
Teacher Appreciation
Teacher Appreciation is traditionally filled with a lot of gifts and freebies. Gifts and cards from parents and students. Gifts from our schools. Breakfasts and lunches provided by different groups. Don’t forget that free burrito at Tacos-R-Us!!
Those shows of appreciation are wonderful, especially heartfelt messages from students and parents. But the reality is, a one week show of love each year isn’t enough.
So what would make me feel truly appreciated during Teacher Appreciation Week? Here’s a few ideas:
- A letter to my Principal and/or the Superintendent and School Board saying how I’ve helped your student, or how much you appreciate the educational staff at your child’s school.
- Regular letters/emails to the School Board and Superintendent letting them know concerns you have about your child’s learning. Send a copy to the local teacher’s union to let them know you are supporting us!
- Regular letters/emails to your local, state, and federal representatives demanding they fully fund public education. (Here’s a link where you can find them.)
Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance wheel of the social machinery.”
Horace Mann, 1848
Each person in this country. In the world! Each of us benefits from having an educated public. But our legislators have been whittling away support for public education for too long. Communities need to fight to win back those supports!
Teachers care for the students. We care about their futures! But I will not feel appreciated until every student is fully supported to be able to learn at their best ability. This will not happen until our legislators prioritize public education. Until they prioritize each and EVERY students’ right to learn. And to make this a reality, teachers, students, parents, and community members need to come together to fight for their public schools.
So if you buy your student’s teacher a gift this year, put a copy of the letter/email your wrote to a legislator supporting them and supporting robust funding of public education. Our students certainly deserve it. Our communities deserve to see those students grow into healthy adults. And so do the teachers who sacrifice so much of themselves to help students learn and grow.
Let’s start building relationships between teachers and communities to rebuild public education. Show your schools and teachers you have their backs!