Much has been in the news these days about teachers and the "cushy" jobs they have.
Hmm...it's funny, "cushy" isn't the word I'd use.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I come from a family of educators. Maternal and paternal sides together I am 1 of 13 adults involved in education. Collectively, we are/have been involved in, but not limited to the following:
~ Teaching grades k-8 (general education), grades 9-12 (history, mathematics, physics and chemistry), preschool classes, and undergraduate and graduate students.
~ Attending countless IEP and Quarterly meetings to discuss student progress, needs, and support.
~ Advising and providing administrative support for hundreds of junior high students, in the capacity as counselor and assistant principal.
~ Assisting multiple classrooms and students as a paraprofessional and part-time secretary.
~ Working as an administrative assistant to the principal in a building of over 2000 students.
~ Studying education in preparation for student teaching.
~ Working with a group of other dedicated people who cooked meals for over 2,000 students each day.
~ Coaching kids and inspiring them that learning can happen on the court, greens and at "The Yard".
And this is just the beginning...that's just my family.
Working in education is a round-the-clock vocation, not a job.
I don't know a single person who works in education that is able walk out the door at the end of the day and NOT think about the work that they've done and all the myriad of tasks to be completed before they return to work the following day.
I don't know a single person who works in education who chooses the work solely because of the annual salary and healthcare benefits.
I don't know of a single person who works in education who ever has an entire summer off.
I don't know of a single person in education who doesn't read something, see something, do something and immediately think "man, my students/co-workers/colleagues would REALLY love/learn from this!".
I could go on for days about the long hours, dedication, and all-out love teachers put into their work. But, you already know about that.
Think back, I bet you can name at least one teacher who influenced you as a child.
Think to the present, I bet you know at least one teacher who works to make a difference every day.
Think about your children, grandchildren, and/or future children and think about the type of people you'd like to have teaching them.
Also, please consider the following: