I'm sitting here tonight thinking about how much I have to do tomorrow morning. I'll walk into my classroom with To-Do list in hand, on a Saturday morning mind you, turn on my computer, stare at my list, and proceed to prioritize. I'll think about how much time I have, panick for a second or two, and return to my duties. My thoughts will switch to my darling little girl who's almost three and fast asleep in her new little bed. Then, I'll simply "get to work!" I teach second graders, bilingual second graders. One of these days I'll write about what "bilingual" really means. For now, I just want the People of America to know what teachers reeeeeally do. How we really feel about education and America's kids. I want you all to know about a "real teacher's" academic and social aches and pains, and our number one complaint - parent's are not teaching their kids anything these days. The love of reading, counting, the value of a dollar, morals and so forth. What? You didn't know? Okay, let me rephrase that: our number one concern - lack of parent involvement. Well, yes, we complain. There is lots to complain about. It's not professional, I know this. But, we do it nonetheless. It it, however, professional to look at the problems and then develop plans to fix them. Yes, we do fix problems. Sometimes on our own, and on occasion we're directed by administrators who haven't been in "the classroom" (teaching day-to-day) for over 15 plus years. Ah, but we believe, we believe in ourselves and in our students. We believe that they will overcome all obstacles and achieve greatness! "Mom and Dad, we can, and we will make a difference in your child's life," we say. Parents, I say to you that I'm one teacher, one year of your baby's academic life. But, you're there always and forever. I choose to be a role model for that one year he's with me. Will you? I'll look for you and ask if you'll work with me. Will you work with me?
Parents complain all the time. Interestingly enough, they're usually furious. They scream shout and even use foul language. I suppose that the bad teacher's usually deserve it. The funny thing is, that the bad teachers will always be bad. They give us "real teachers" a bad name. I bust my you-know-what for your kids. My lessons are well thought out and reflect understanding of your child's learning necessities and behaviors. What do you plan for your kids? Hooray for those of you who do. Those of you who chose to have children and invest your time in them. Those of you who play with your kids. Bravo, to those of you who stop and think about which toys you will buy your child: open-ended or structured toys (those that encourage violence, vanity, sexuality and all at an inappropriate age or those that make them think for themselves). Shame on those of you who are walking through your life with your eyes shut and never mind your children. My mother said, "give them a break." They're just going on with the "business of life." What? The business of life is the children they've created. I call those parents the "don'ts". They don't read to their kids, they don't give them knowledge about the world around them, they don't take them to the library, they don't help them with their homework or even make sure they DO the homework.
Praise them. Praise me! Send me an apple, preferably Gala, at least once a month. Give me a helping hand. Parents, be a volunteer in your child's classroom. BE PRESENT IN THEIR LIVES. They need you. They love you. They think you're the Kinds and Queens of all things.
Teaching is all consuming. There are people who've gotten into the teaching field because they thought is was an easy way to make money. Listen folks, it's not easy. Nothing's easy about it. When I'm with my second graders, I'm actively involved in their learning. That means, believe it or not, I'm not sitting at some over-sized desk with too many drawers, that will never lock because the keys were lost over 20-something years ago. No, friends, do not mistake me for some 1950's schoolteacher with a perfectly sprayed and pinned in place up-do. You know what? We love your children. I'm a real teacher, and I enjoy teaching your children. They're the reason I go back after summer vacation. Listen, I go back to teach children. God, knows its not for the money!!
