A sport. A slight competition in a manic world with its hard-to-solve issues that are much more complicated, severe, and exhilarating.
And that is why I shout out to teachers like Colette Bennett. Yesterday, she presented with her team from Womogo High School on ways to be wireless in the 21st century in the promotion for excellence with reading, composing, thinking, and speaking. They are the real athletes. They persevere through inane testing, top-down mandates that are not pro-kid, insufficient funding, low pay, and intense stress. Still, they score. They bring it to the net. They conduct small miracles each and every day with teamwork, coaching, cheerleading, and planning.
NCAA coaches make astronomical salaries and only host two 20-minute halves twice a week. Teachers, however, work at a minimum of 10 hour days and, more than likely, 7 days a week. They carry with them social inequities, the pressures kids feel, worries, and hard-to-believe stories. They do this with integrity.
Yes, although I'm in awe of the sport, I'm more proud of educators and what they do with very little recognition. Teachers, like Colette and her team (who I was fortunate to learn from at the Literacy Essentials Conference hosted by Central Connecticut State University), deserve the accolades for the real March madness. They endur much and do their best to prepare kids for the world. They're in the real game to win it and the applause should go to them.
Wow. Woke up this morning and clicked on the link you sent me to this piece. My immediate reaction was a little conflicted; I was both pleased and a little embarrassed to have all this attention!
ReplyDeleteI will certainly share the comments you directed to the wonderful members of my English Department: Ronda Hanecak, Jane Smith-Vaniz, Linda Bickford, and Stephanie Pixley.
You also call attention to the thunderous applause and astronomical salaries given to NCAA coaches. The "game" does seem a little lopsided.
But there are small reminders as to why teachers are in the "game" at all. You were fortunate to meet my former student, Leah Ward, yesterday who found me at the conference. I was surprised and delighted to see her. I learned that she is looking to enter the field of education as a reading specialist. Leah is a caring, enthusiastic person who will make a wonderful educator. I am so proud of her and pleased to have been a part of her education.
The rewards of teaching are often unexpected.
The combination of this blog post and seeing Leah again are enough to keep this teacher going...at least till the end of this school year!
Thank you.