FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : Teachers’ role worthy of more than one week of thanks
Posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2008
This week is the annual Teacher Appreciation Week in Fayetteville, a chance for the community to officially express its appreciation to those who perform one of the - if not THE - most critical functions in our society.
The same argument can also be made for those in the medical field, law enforcement and the military. However, without teachers, the other professions don't exist.
In an era in which society spends billions each year to make us more and more comfortable and encourages us to expend less effort, teachers spend their days moving us out of our comfort zones and into new and unfamiliar territories, urging us not to fear the unknown but to stretch ourselves. They teach us to learn, grow and become better by seeking criticism, not praise. They teach us about tough love and how the ones who truly care for us expect the most from us and will accept nothing less than our best effort.
Taken as a whole, the impact of teachers on our society is incalculable. Teachers are frequently the unknowing catalysts to ideas and events created by their former students, though maybe not for decades after the teacher had the student in class. Henry Adams once said," A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. "In his trademark get-right-to-the-point style, Andy Rooney said," Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives. "
Given their enormous impact and influence, it's a bit ridiculous to only celebrate teachers one week per year. In years past, several area restaurants would offer a discount to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Now, all staff members are offered discounts by numerous local merchants, and staff members can check the school district's Web site to see the latest offerings. We're grateful to the area merchants who make the discounts available.
The parent-teacher organizations also have plans to do nice things for the teaching staff in their schools. It's also a safe bet that you'll probably see more than one student this week walking into an elementary school clutching a flower that is being hand-delivered to a favorite teacher.
This week is also a good opportunity to thank your former teachers, the person or persons who either pushed or coaxed you to that higher level. Most all of us have a teacher that we remember fondly, respectfully or both. You probably did not fully appreciate them at the time, but the odds are pretty good that you do now. Hindsight and perspective provide clear focus to the gift we received all those years ago. Call them or drop them a line or e-mail before the opportunity is gone. I guarantee you they will get a kick out of it, and you'll feel better, too.
Mom was more than likely one of your most diligent teachers, as well as your first teacher. The chance to thank her is coming on Sunday, and you'd better not forget, or you'll learn another hard lesson.
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