I have been catching up on the newspapers that have accumulated since I was home two weeks ago and the negative educational headlines jump out at me: "Legislators' rhetoric over education still heated" (TN), "Dalton, Whitfield bicker over education spending" (GA), "Allowing tax increase for schools ruled down" (MO), "Schools headed for more failure" (under NCLB), "Gov. Deal revamping plans fo budget cuts to pre-k" (GA), etc.
All of this seems so discouraging, but it isn't anything new. Educators and education have received the brunt of politicians' and the public's frustration whenever social problems and finances are discussed. It sometimes makes us wish we had selected another profession.
Then I get a greeting card with a note in it, or talk to someone who tells of how a teacher made a differenc in their lives, and I realize that, no matter how negative or vitriolic the public debate gets, we are professionals who truly make a difference in the lives of those we teach. We need to remember that more.
I seldom go on Facebook; only when I receive an email that someone has sent me a message do I check it. But, I am gratified that many of my former students have found me and contacted me. My birthday was a couple of months ago (didn't realize tht putting that in my profile would be viewed by so many!) and among the more than 100 birthday wishes I received that day were two that really touched me. One said: Thank you for making my high school years so memorable and for being such a positive influence in my life. You're the best!"
The second, from a young man, said, "Happy Birthday to a wonderful teacher who spoke some words to me one day that helped make me the person I am today. Your impact on people's lives is bigger than you can imagine. May you have a wonderful day!"
I "tear up" even as I type those comments, because I honestly do not remember anything that I could have said to that young man to make such a difference. Nonetheless, these messages and others have been a wonderful reminder to me of the many positive, sometimes unknown, ways that we make a difference in the lives of those we teach.
My junior- and senior-year high school English teacher (a DKG member) was the example that made me want to teach English, also. A couple of years after I had been teaching, I thought about her, looked her up in the phone book, and called her, inviting her out to lunch. She said she had a cold and didn't feel like it, but to call her back in a few weeks. While on the phone, I told her that I had majored in English and history and was now teaching English, and how much her influence and example had meant to me. She was so pleased that I called. Three weeks later, I saw her name in the obituary column. I have never been so glad that I took the time to make that phone call.
We need to let our voices be heard about the positive effect on lives that teachers make. If you had one or more teachers who made a difference in your life, and you haven't told them, do it now.
