Appreciation for Teachers

 This is Teacher Appreciation Week, and I know that educators everywhere are being honored and thanked for all that they do for their students and school communities. This year, more than ever, teachers need to feel appreciated as they have navigated many obstacles in their never ending quest to make teaching and learning meaningful for their students. 

I read all the posts on social media with joyful photos of snacks, breakfast or lunches, signs, cards, and other treats for teachers, and I decided to read about “The History Behind Teacher Appreciation Week.” I was surprised to read that former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt took the lead in convincing Congress to designate a National Teacher Appreciation Day back in 1953.  I think back to my school years, and I don’t think we knew there was such a day. However, I remember my classmates and I proudly gifting our elementary school teachers with flowers from our yard. I don’t think there was ever a day when someone didn’t bring flowers for their teacher, and our classrooms were filled with a variety of vibrant colors and heavenly scents. 

I know that most teachers go over and above what is required for the sake of their students. I also know that they would love to be appreciated throughout the year, not just during Teacher Appreciation Week. It doesn’t have to cost anything, and it doesn’t have to take up much time. A picture or a note from a student can bring a smile and the incentive to go on when things are tough. An email or a note of thanks from a parent can be particularly meaningful at the end of a challenging day. A compliment from a colleague or administrator can give the teacher confidence that what she/he is doing is worthy and acknowledged by others.

Recently, renowned American journalist and author Dan Rather wrote a post, “Did a Teacher Change Your Life?”, and one of his paragraphs summed up the value of our teachers:

“Teachers provide so much more than a curriculum. Teachers can be a mentor, cheerleader, resource, refuge, advisor, even a literal life saver. They come in early, stay late, and prepare in all hours in between - often for not enough pay, with not enough resources, and for not enough appreciation. But teachers are an indelible part of our communities and our society. To borrow a phrase, if “children are the future” then teachers are the bridge connecting the present moment to that eventuality. Educators are a type of magic makers who turn potential into reality.”

I couldn’t agree more. In these challenging times especially after this tumultuous year for educators, many are choosing to leave the profession. Our communities and our society need dedicated teachers who care about our children. So if you remember, please thank a teacher, not just during Teacher Appreciation Week, but throughout the year. That one small act of kindness could be just what a teacher needs that day!