Teacher Appreciation always gives me mixed feelings.
It's nice to have BOGO Burritos.
It's nice to get thank you notes from students.
It's nice to have a free donut.
It's nice to get lunch from the PTA.
But, there are no appreciation days for doctors and lawyers.
There are no appreciation days for jobs that are paid what they're worth.
For jobs that get respect every day.
What if every day, other adults believed that my M.ED is just as impressive as their MBA?
What if every day, other adults realized that summer is basically a 2 month furlough that happens every year...
not a paid vacation?
What if every day, politicians and state officials, principals, even parents, just listened to what teachers had to say?
What if every day, parents believed teachers when they said, "Your child needs more help in reading" or "Your child was disrespectful today" or "I'm worried about your child"?
What if we didn't have to use my own money to buy pencils, construction paper, markers, books, bulletin board borders, granola bars for hungry kids, alternative seating for the antsy kiddos, graduate classes to maintain my certification?
What if we were paid for all the hours we actually work, instead of the laughable notion that our day ends when the students leave?
Would we have a teacher appreciation day then?
Or would we just feel appreciated every day?
It's nice to have BOGO Burritos.
It's nice to get thank you notes from students.
It's nice to have a free donut.
It's nice to get lunch from the PTA.
But, there are no appreciation days for doctors and lawyers.
There are no appreciation days for jobs that are paid what they're worth.
For jobs that get respect every day.
What if every day, other adults believed that my M.ED is just as impressive as their MBA?
What if every day, other adults realized that summer is basically a 2 month furlough that happens every year...
not a paid vacation?
What if every day, politicians and state officials, principals, even parents, just listened to what teachers had to say?
What if every day, parents believed teachers when they said, "Your child needs more help in reading" or "Your child was disrespectful today" or "I'm worried about your child"?
What if we didn't have to use my own money to buy pencils, construction paper, markers, books, bulletin board borders, granola bars for hungry kids, alternative seating for the antsy kiddos, graduate classes to maintain my certification?
What if we were paid for all the hours we actually work, instead of the laughable notion that our day ends when the students leave?
Would we have a teacher appreciation day then?
Or would we just feel appreciated every day?