Hello Beautiful People,
Around this time last year, the world was charged with political energy. A new election was around the corner, and it seemed like the whole country was at odds with another. You were Red. You were Blue. You were Black. You were White. We forgot about the shades of grey; we forgot about the things that matter. In the thrust of that, it seemed as though educators were public enemy number one. Something I will never understand.
But alas, I digress.
Around this time last year, I wrote a letter to my colleagues. My fellow educators. The ones who shape the young minds of America, the ones who help inspire and guide our youth. The ones who put their hearts and souls and sweat and tears into their jobs – without so much as a thank you half the time.
And while the majority of that letter holds true, I think it’s appropriate to preface it with a new message…
To my fellow teachers, my principals, librarians, guidance counselors, teachers aides, and any members of the school faculty that I may be forgetting.
I hope you had a wonderful summer. I hope you find yourself recharged, energized, and happy.
As we start this school year, the bloodshed and strife continues to worsen in Syria, and President Obama has recently stated that he will “seek authorization for the use of force [against Syria] from the American people’s representatives in Congress.”
I hope that hit you like a ton of bricks. I hope that made you want to read all about this, to inform yourself of all the facts. Because my friends, the students will be asking what you think. What they should think. Because whether they are in elementary school or middle school or high school – that’s what students do. They question. And so, my colleagues, remind yourself, that in times when the world is a place of anger and strife, when we have unrest and chaos in places like Syria, your students will be watching you all that more closely. Adults will hurl statements fueled by hate, some will make snap judgements. Others forget to think before they speak. And the children of this country, your students, will be looking for to you for guidance and wisdom.
Be a beacon of hope. Be a pillar of strength. Be the one who encourages conversation. Remind them of the goodness that comes from listening.
May you have a wonderful school year. May you remember that we went into this profession, this noble and honorable profession, because we wanted to do some good in the world. We became teachers, we became educators, because we wanted to inspire. Because we wanted to make this world a little bit better than how we found it.
Remember friends, that we teach because we care. We teach because we love it. No matter what the masses may say, we do not teach because we have the summers off. We teach because we know that it makes a difference.
Remember friends, that just because we care, just because we have passion, does not mean that we shouldn’t be properly compensated for what we do. Remember that when the haters and the bitter souls out there try to take away what you have worked so hard for.
You deserve what you have. You have worked hard for it.
Do not be afraid to remind the non-educator that your day does not stop when the students leave. More often than not, you will take your work home with you. It’s IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO, for when your students are in trouble, when they are hurting, upset, or have a bad day, their stories will stay with you. And they stay with you because you have a heart. Feel free to remind the non-educator that we too have to work outside our given work day, except there is no such thing as overtime. Papers do not grade themselves. Tests do not grade themselves. You do not have an assistant or a secretary to do it for you.
You do it yourself.
Remind yourself that you cannot do it all. Remind yourself that you can not do everything on your own. You can teach all sorts of ways…new, exciting, wonderful ways…but if education is not supported, or if it is undermined in your students home, well, your job just became that much harder.
Remind yourself that you do not teach for the politicians, the corporations, or even the parents. You teach for the kids. You are there to guide them, to help them, to get them to think on their own.
And that, my friends is a beautiful thing.
I hope you all have a wonderful school year. If I could buy you all bouquets of sharpened pencils I would. If I could visit your classrooms I would. If I could share lunch duties and hall duties and grading papers – I would.
But I can’t.
Instead, I look forward to hearing your stories, and to what the future brings.
Happy School Year, my friends. Don’t let the haters get you down, and may it be the happiest to date!
Live, Love, Learn,