“The
mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher
demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
--
William Arthur Ward
By
Tommie Saylor
Kennedy
High School Principal
If
I could write an open letter to the public, it would start with, “We are not
the enemy.” Those of us in the field of education were drawn to the profession
out of a strong desire to serve. True, some may become a teacher because
they bought into the premise that teachers have summers off and great benefits,
but those people do not last long, and are quickly weeded out. Those of
us who are veteran educators, who have withstood the test of time, have
personalities deeply rooted in service. This could also be why many of us at
one time in our lives served in the military.
Teaching
is a calling every bit as spiritual as those who enter the clergy. It is
a mindset where one individual is willing to spend an enormous amount of energy
and time to better the lives of others, often at the expense of their own
health and welfare. Teaching is a way of life where you put your students
first, your family second, and yourself last. Teaching is deeply
personal, emotional and parental. It is a way of life where you strive
for the success of others, and measure your own self-worth by how profoundly
you are able to touch another’s life.
Given
the nature of those of us in the field of education, I hope and pray that
parents and community members understand that we are on their side. The
field of education is not just a job it is a calling where we do everything
that we can to help them raise their children into becoming productive and successful
members of our society. In doing so, sometimes the best thing for a student is
to tell them no, to make them face the consequences of their actions, to
discipline the misbehavior. This is never enjoyable for us, and in fact,
takes a great deal of effort to overcome our natural desire to just let the kid
have what they want and be happy.
But,
in order to teach the student a “life lesson” that will better serve them their
entire life if properly learned, educators are often forced to swallow their
natural desires and give the student what is best for them, not what is easy
for us.
Trust
me when I tell you that the last thing an educator wants to do is remove a
student from a learning environment. But sometimes this is the only
action that catches a student’s attention, and until you have their attention,
you can’t teach them anything.
I
was recently asked, “Would you advise your own kids to enter the field of
education?” My answer was that I would explain to my children the reality
of the field of education and let them make their own decision. I would
tell them that many people believe that teachers work half a day for only half
the year and get paid well for doing so. That those who can’t do, teach.
The
reality, is if you are prepared to work 10 to 12 hours a day (but only get paid
for seven), that 20 minutes is considered lunch (and most of the time you will
be helping students while trying to scarf down a sandwich), that you will be expected
to work every weekend from home grading papers and preparing lessons (for free,
there is no such thing as weekend pay and overtime in the field of education),
that seven days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day, for nine months a year your life
does not belong to you, it belongs to your students.
Students
will break your heart, be disrespectful, and revile you, the very person trying
to make their lives better (you are “the bones upon which students sharpen
their teeth” and find their independence), that you will be asked to do all of
this while being scorned by the public and openly attacked by the
“establishment” (being called lazy, ineffective, and uncaring), if you are
prepared for all of this, then yes, the field of education is for you.
Don’t
get me wrong: I’m not trying to be negative. It is just the reality in which
educators live. Knowing the above and still bravely going into the field
of education disregarding the shortfalls and dangers, just further demonstrates
the nature of the profession, the purity of heart of those who enter the
profession, and the overwhelming desire to serve our community that forces us
out of bed in the morning and into the classroom.
Simply,
those who work in the field of education are the modern equivalence of Paladins
who are dedicated, almost fanatically, to the children of our community.
As
such, we are not the enemy. We want the very same things for your children
as you want for your children. We gain no benefit from being deceitful, and
wish for nothing more than a school day filled with young minds eager to
learn. Drama is not our friend, and when we call, email, or send a letter
it is to inform and solicit your support, it is not to criticize, only to
enlighten.
Essentially,
we are on your side, the side of the parents, and desire to form a team, a bond
between the home and the classroom that creates a support network for your
child.
Together,
as the proverbial “village”, your child can be raised in an environment that
makes dreams come true.
What
starts here, changes the world. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence
by design.
