Eliza has had what I'll just call an "issue" at school the past month or so. Nothing awful, just a bit of a glitch. I reached out to one of her specialty teachers to help Eliza and to help me resolve the issue. In typical Anne fashion I wrote a probably far too detailed letter, sent it in and hoped for the best.
The teacher took his time to talk with Eliza at length and helped enormously to resolve the problem. And all it really took was some kind and caring words in his conversation with Eliza. Eliza really looks up to this teacher and his input has made a world of difference in just a few days. More importantly, he really went out of his way to understand the problem, Eliza's unique issues and to discuss it with Eliza in a way she could understand. He was also very compassionate and reassuring in my conversation with him.
Teachers have an enormous influence on children's lives and by extension, a parent's life. They have a tough job and we entrust our children to them for a huge portion of our children's lives. As in any profession, there are some teachers who should think of a career change, but let's be honest, no one becomes a teacher for the enormous salary and annual bonus.
So if you and your children are lucky enough to have kind and caring teachers, tell them thank you every so often.
Thank you for posting this. Even teachers themselves forget the enormous impact their words have on children. Sometimes teachers even forget that their charges are children. It's not because we're mean or just don't care. It's because we are under so much pressure from administration, state mandates and yes, the media. Sometimes we are exhausted and overwhelmed. But deep down, most of us do care and when we slow down and focus on the child in front of us, we realize that we have the best, most important job in the world.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad Eliza has a caring and inspirational teacher in her life. So relieved this situation had a happy ending. These early school years set the tone for the future.
It drives me crazy when people complain that teachers are overpaid or have too much free time. Heck, you're putting your child in the care of someone else practically every day - they should have the resources and the energy to teach them well! I was lucky to have great teachers, and my daughter has been lucky enough to have amazing caregivers so far.
ReplyDeleteThis gave me happy tears :) We've been so lucky to have kind and caring teachers, that understand my neurosis and paranoia of what lingering impacts are left to be uncovered from Gav's prematurity. They were patient and kind in the early years when he just needed time and space to catch up maturity wise to his peers, they were a little tough love when he needed to start being more responsible for himself, and now that he doesn't really need any special support, they celebrate his accomplishments and support his running endeavors. Teachers are the best and they deserve to make more money than any of us. I guess the only benefit of their terrible pay is that they must really love what they do to be doing it.
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