Missy O’Connell
Sartell
Teacher appreciation week has come and gone. A week dedicated to letting teachers know that what they do matters.
Unfortunately, teachers are under fire. Their character, practices, intentions and expertise in the field they studied, mastered and always strive to improve upon continues to be questioned on a daily basis. Package that with budget cuts, increased behaviors, mental-health crisis, standardized testing, meeting each student’s individual needs, insufficient planning time, working outside of contract hours, new initiatives and curriculum, lack of parent and community support, and you now have the recipe for an extremely stressful, exhausting and at times lonely profession.
Contrary to popular belief, teachers have very little control of what is taught in the classroom or the curriculum used to do so. This eats away at the very core of what little bit of autonomy a teacher has in their classroom to do what they need to do to make each child feel as successful as possible. Yet, teachers continue to persevere, to show up daily because that is what they do. They do it because they want every child to have the opportunity to do or be what they want in this world. They do it because they know children are capable. Capable of learning, growing, thinking critically and becoming all-around great people and contributors to this world. And let’s be real. They do it to make a living and support themselves and their family just as the rest of us do and that’s OK too.
The pendulum shifts quite drastically in education and it’s time for it to shift again. It’s time to talk positively about teachers in front of children. To respect and build supportive relationships. To honor them as the professionals they are. It’s time to show appreciation and be kind to teachers. Not just one week a year, but all year long.
So for all the teachers the O’Connell boys have had throughout the years and all teachers showing up day in and day out, we appreciate you and thank you. You matter. Enjoy your well deserved summer break!