As an educator I know teaching is hard, but rewarding
work. Teachers are not only responsible
for helping children learn, they play a pivotal role in creating a space that
is safe for children’s emotional and physical well-being. From school shootings to weather related
disasters, the courageous actions of teachers in the midst of chaos and terror
has been in the media multiple times over the past few months. The selflessness of their actions, the
compassion and protection that they offer to their students has been lauded
publicly. There is no doubt in our
minds: they are heroes.
This is a welcome contrast to the portraits that were
painted not that long ago of teachers as overpaid, under-qualified drains on
the economies of many states. Who hasn’t
heard these comments, “teachers get summers off, they are done working at 3 pm,
they don’t work as hard as everyone else” and are members of unions that
protect the “bad teachers”?
This extreme dichotomy of opinion on the status and worth of
teachers is difficult to digest. Yet,
these attitudes seem to surface in the media repeatedly.
We need to be proactive and market teaching for what it is:
hero’s work. Teachers may not all be
saving children physically, but they are providing students with the tools to
reach their potential, catching them when they fall, and serving as strong role
models.
I leave you with a few questions to get you thinking about
how we all might become activists for teachers and the profession:
How do we support our teacher candidates, new teachers, and
colleagues to be prepared for, and
personally manage shifting public opinion of
their profession?
As School Districts, Colleges, and Universities, how do we
advocate for our profession and shift
public perception? How can we utilize our various strengths and
leverage our P-16 partnerships to
promote teaching and build support within our
shared communities?
What role do teacher preparation programs play in providing
our future teachers with all of the tools
needed for supporting student
learning, and also being a leader and positive role model in their
communities?
