I pick up the proverbial pen today with energy that can only come as a result of someone taking the time to give me some encouragement. Thanks to that person for your kind words. I begin this post after sitting at the dinner table and hearing about the work day of my grown up children. Both are school teachers, I think this is the most wonderful profession, don’t you?.
We all have a teacher when we were young that meant the world to us. My heart swells to think that they might inspire such affection in a child. Teaching is a profession which always was poorly paid to what it deserves but it came with a certain level of respect and appreciation plus it has always been one which has the pleasure of youthful company and the satisfaction of seeing minds grow, seeing how capabilities can develop under curiosity.
More and more the ignorant calls of ‘those that can do and those that can’t teach’ are now joined by the prejudiced views that only people who make big money are admirable. This obsession with media celebrity and online influencers over real heroes like nurses and teachers needs to change. Until then I will continue to champion the teaching profession and specifically my two teachers.
Teaching is at its heart about awaking curiosity. It might well be other things but curiosity is the ever living spark which sits quietly beyond all other things. My kids teach the children the syllabus they are expected to teach but I like to think that it is what they are themselves as people which matters most. I found this poem years ago which says what I feel better than I can. Hearty handshakes from me to you.
No printed word, nor spoken plea can teach young minds what they should be. Not all the books on all the shelves – it’s what the teachers are themselves.
Arthur Guiterman
Sea's The Day 