Real Talk
Teacher Appreciation Week is here yet again.
We teachers will likely partake in a nice staff lunch, receive a handful of new teacher mugs, and be told “thank you” by a few lovely individuals in the coming week, all for which we are very grateful.
Heck, I may even cash in on some of those teacher discounts this week. That discount Chick-Fil-A sandwich and free Dunkin’ Donut are calling my name. Nothing pairs with a teacher salary quite like a value meal and free sweet treat. It’s like a little cherry on top to the end of the school year, which isn’t exactly a piece of cake.
It’s nice, really. I’m grateful, honestly.
However, I do believe we could gracefully carry this gratitude through the rest of this year, and maybe even extend it beyond the complementary food (which, again, not complaining).
What does that look like, though? Appreciating teachers year-round compared to a week-long final HURRAH in May? Because right now, it feels as if I’m walking off the battlefield weary and stumbling, only then receive a little pat on the back.
Hear me out. Teachers need appreciation more than once per year. Not the flashy kind of appreciation. Stay with me. You see, appreciation takes on many forms.
Here’s what we really need:
We need a pay raise that matches our level of expertise, schooling, and time/energy put into the job. Appreciated.
We need support when dealing with a troubled student, a misbehavior, or more. Appreciated.
We need to get real about our actual roles and responsibilities, and what we should NOT be required to do outside our job description. Appreciated.
We need a realistic class size, necessary classroom supplies, and adequate technology support. Appreciated.
We need someone to believe us when we share our struggles in the classroom. Appreciated.
Teachers have always deserved the recognition, but now, more than ever, we need to appreciate our teachers.
How to truly appreciate teachers
Now you may be thinking, reader, “How can I help with any of these things?” Well, unless you’re a state representative or supervisor, there’s likely no “big” issue you can totally change. However, parents, community members, and others can do more than you’d think by filling in the gaps.
Parents, that may look like partnering with us to carry lessons from our classroom into your home, and vice versa. Raising a respectful child that’s willing to listen and learn works wonders when it comes to our daily job. Trust and respect are the biggest determining factors in our classroom success.
Volunteers, consider us when fulfilling those volunteer hours. We have endless papers to staple, copies to make, and busy work to get done. Alleviating the stress of these minuscule tasks is HUGE so that we can focus on the important things.
As a citizen, everyone has the power to vote in favor of teachers and schools. Personally, witnessing others vote against funding for my school system on a recent ballot hurt my heart. Consider teachers and STUDENTS when visiting the polls next voting season.
Above all, a positive culture surrounding education works wonders for teachers. How many times have we heard something negative about the school system or teachers in general? Above all else, just have our backs, guys. MOST of us have the kids’ best interest at heart. We are the role models in these kids’ lives, whether we all like it or not. Many children spend more time with us than anyone; I promise we are a worthy investment. Consider this when deciding where to invest your time, money, resources, or simply your positivity and willingness to be kind. We appreciate your appreciation more than you know.
We need your support more than ever
And why now? Why do we need your appreciation more than ever? It’s because we’ve got our backs against the wall in a way that we never have before. In the post-pandemic school system, we are facing an amplified amount of mental health issues and students’ needs being unmet. We are adapting to new and unseen learning environments that are changing quicker than we can keep up. We are simultaneously battling with and partnering with new technology like AI. We are expected to be teachers, counselors, social workers, coaches, and more each day. We are drowning under a list of to-dos that we’ll never cross off and all we really want to do is teach.
So yes, we need support, in a way that’s greater than ever before.
So this Teacher Appreciation Week, refrain from throwing another cup or plaque at a teacher’s way (please send all the gift cards, though) and consider REALLY showing your appreciation in the ways that are meaningful.
Aside from these suggestions, it’s always a good idea to ask a teacher in your life, “How can I help?” While the list may be endless, I promise just one helping hand can make this job feel a lot less thankless.
