Teachers deserve our appreciation

are certain professions within our society that carry with them a fundamental respect. Doctors, nurses, police officers – these people save lives. They care for the sick. They protect us. These people, without question, deserve our gratitude and appreciation.

There is, however, another profession that deserves that same level of respect, a profession that, for whatever reason, does not always seem to receive it: teaching.

Teachers work with minds. Teachers work with hearts. They are preparing the next generation of doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants (and countless other professionals). And yet, many people act as though that’s something that anybody can do. It isn’t. Teaching requires years of schooling and training, and even then, the job is not easy.

It is a miracle when a teacher can reach a child who might have come to school unfed. Or is scared of getting bullied after school. Or walks home to a house without electricity. Or wants to give up because that day’s lesson was too difficult.

How do we measure the value of an individual who affects our children almost two-thirds of each day, five days a week? How can we measure financially the passionate energy from teachers and support staff that makes a child want to learn, want to stay in school and, most importantly, want to excel?

We need to invest in increasing teacher morale. This means showing teachers respect, giving them reasonable time to manage classroom duties within the school day, decreasing class sizes, increase the classroom instruction time and dealing with discipline no matter what the numbers show. Students who know there are swift consequences for bad behaviour show proper behaviour.

Teaching is a noble profession. It goes beyond lessons and lectures.

It is not an 8 – 5 commitment; it is a way of life. Society needs to understand and appreciate that.

YASMINA SADECK Snell Parade