Dad's response

I have always said that my Dad has a magical way with his words....here is his response to my last blog titled "I am a TEACHER"
Thank God for supportive parents and words like these.....

"

Good way to get your frustrations out! Yes, you are a teacher and I hope you never lose that attitude. That is the attitude we need in our schools. So many teacher (and probably in other professions as well) either never had it or have gotten burned out and over stressed. Therefore, for their own "survival" they preserve themselves and their "sanity" by adjusting their attitude to one that is not healthy for the school or the students. It is a shame but it happens all the time. Luckily, I think almost all teachers start out with the attitude you have (hopefully all of them) but over time after being taken advantage of, personal problems, family demands, unsupportive administration, budget cuts, unappreciative students/parents, bogged down with new curriculums and teaching theories every couple of years, more "cover your butt" paper work (see NCLB) and being forced to teach in a manner you may think is ineffective, you just throw up your hands and "hold on"-----self preservation. This does not happen to all teachers. Some have found ways to cope with these certainties of education over a 30 span and still have that drive to do "what is best for kids". I wish they would share their secret because, unfortunately, I see more of the later. I am sure you can recall teachers you had who were well into their career or maybe even at the end and were outstanding teachers and then I would imagine you experienced some that were just "holding on". Think back, I know you did because I knew a number of your teachers and I know you had both.

Try not to be too idealistic about your profession, every profession has its darker sides and education is not exempt. On the other hand, do everything you can to remember WHY you chose education and what a difference you can make in a child's life, not just in the present but in the future as well. To do so you will have to rise above all those things I mentioned above and not let them get you down or beat you down until you are just a shell of the teacher you started out to be or want to be. It is not easy, but others have done it and you can too. If, in your career, you feel yourself slipping into that "abyss" I suggest you contact a teacher you know who has kept that "educational torch" burning for a long time (20 years or better) and seek their consul and advise. We all need "recharged" from time to time and redirected back to why you chose this profession. No better person than to help you do that than one who has walked your walk, came out the other side and is still walking tall in his/her educational field.

I didn't mean to get this lengthy but you know me when I get started. You will always have some "turkeys" in the barnyard, the trick is to have staying power and act like the eagle that you are instead of gradually acting as the "turkeys" do, lest you be mistaken for one of them. "

Thank you for always being there and helping me through times of trials, Dad! LOVE YOU!