Teacher Appreciation

It’s hard to believe that we are less than two months away from the end of the school year. You wouldn’t necessarily believe it with the cool weather that we’re still experiencing, but none the less the end is near.

The end of the school year and holidays like Christmastime, seem to be popular times to show appreciation to our children’s teachers. After all, it is said that teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions. That’s a big job and one that deserves recognition.

The job of a teacher is one that at times is underappreciated. Personally I could not manage 30 plus children in one room for 7 hours a day; keeping them interested and engaged. Hats off to these professionals.

I’ve heard the argument that teaching is a breezy job with 2 weeks of holidays over Christmas, a week in March then the entire summer off. But I ask you this, have you ever had one of those weekends where come Monday morning you are actually looking forward to going back to work and feel you need a break? And that’s based on spending time with your own child whom you love unconditionally.

To understand the life of a teacher is difficult if you haven’t done it before, but I think this quote by Donald D. Quinn says it best, “If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn’t want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher’s job.”

So how do you show gratitude to your children’s teachers? Do you buy them a gift; give them something homemade; send a card? Do you collaborate with the other parents to buy a group gift, or do you find it an unnecessary purchase?

I’d love to hear your ideas!

Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net