Teacher Appreciation - Is One Week Enough? | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Teacher Appreciation - Is One Week Enough?

Every year, the first full week in May is devoted to showing our nation's teachers that we value the time and effort they devote to our children. This year, National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6 through May 10. But is one week a year enough?

ThankaTeacher2013_titlebar_500px.jpg

Once we've left the grades and the school politics behind, it's easy to forget that without teachers, success wouldn't be a possibility. Teachers are the ones who encourage us to dream and endow us with the knowledge to make our dreams reality. Every day, teachers take on the task of inspiring and creating the future.

But, for all their energy and time, generally teachers are overworked, under-appreciated and underpaid. Make a point to thank a teacher who has made a difference in your life.

Teaching isn't a "fake-it-till-you-make-it" job; a teacher can't have "off days", go home because they're day hasn't been great, or be in a bad mood. Every day, teachers have to be on top of their game, organized, lively and enthusiastic.

Teachers can't give up. It is almost guaranteed that in every class there will be a troublemaker, a child who, for whatever reason, does not want to listen and does not want to learn. A teacher has a responsibility to that child to try their best to get through to them and make them appreciate the importance of education, despite how much the child will try to push away.

A great teacher is one that tries to go the extra mile, find out what the underlying problems are and try to iron them out. A teacher has to treat every student equally and fairly and not take bad behavior or rudeness to heart.

In other professions, the people we come into contact with, colleagues and customers, have an effect on our day-to-day professional lives but not have a great impact on our personal and future lives. In teaching this is completely different. The experiences we have in school affects our future in terms of our personality, motivation and aspirations. Teachers have a big impact on the course of their student’s lives and those of the child’s family.

Therefore, it cannot be underestimated how important the teaching profession is for society as a whole. Teachers affect each and every one of us and should be recognized for their professionalism, determination and ability all year long. Without those people who are willing to dedicate their lives to being great teachers, we would all be worse off.

—Rae Anne Watkins, Source Intern

Rae Anne Watkins

Rae Anne Watkins is a high school student and one of our fabulous interns!
Comments (0)
Add a Comment
For info on print and digital advertising, >> Click Here