The Importance of Teachers

I had my second neck surgery in as many years on Monday, so I have had a little extra time to just sit and think over the past few days. With the beginning of a new school year just around the corner, I found myself thinking back to my younger days, reflecting on the wonderful teachers I had along the way, and how each of them helped to get me to where I am today.

I believe very strongly that teachers are likely the most under-appreciated and underpaid members of our society.  When we consider the value of what we expect our teachers to accomplish, it’s hard to think of a profession that is more important, especially in today’s economy.  Teachers are charged with the responsibility of training the next generation of leaders.  They very literally hold the future of our nation in their hands every single day.  Yet for some reason, there are those who continue to downplay the importance of teachers in our country.  I will never understand why.

As I look back over my own education, it’s easy for me to pick out the teachers who had the most significant influence on my life.  Miss Hahn, who taught second grade at First Ward Elementary, showed me that learning was something that could be fun.  (I guess I’ll have to forgive her for her rabid support of her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes.)  Miss Edge, my sixth grade teacher, cultivated the seeds of self-confidence by having students speak in front of the entire class.  Mrs. Hyre, my junior high algebra teacher, was the epitome of patience and grace; a professional in every sense of the word.  Mr. Burk (quiet confidence), Mr. Chambers (dedication and perseverance) and many others added important ingredients into the mish-mash of character traits that would eventually become important parts of “me” as an adult.  These were all consummate professionals who taught not only by what they explained to us from textbooks, but by how they carried themselves in and out of the classroom.  The things they taught from the texts were important, but it was the examples they set while teaching that had the greatest impact on my life and the lives of my fellow students.

We in the United States have a habit of proclaiming ourselves as #1 in the world in pretty much everything.  Unfortunately, at least where our educational accomplishments are concerned, that label may not always be appropriate.  Schools in places like Singapore, Finland, South Korea and Japan are consistently turning out students who are higher achievers than those who come out of the U.S. system.  It can’t be a mere coincidence that in those countries, teaching is a highly selective profession whose members are afforded tremendous prestige and substantial compensation.  If our goal is to turn out the best-educated students we possibly can, we must first make sure to provide them with the best teachers available.  It follows that if we want to attract the best teachers, we have to make the teaching profession attractive to the best and brightest students coming out of college.  We can do that by paying them according to their value, and treating them with the respect they deserve.

And while we’re at it, we might want to consider going back to some old school parenting techniques.  When I got in trouble at school, I was more worried about what would happen when I got home than the punishment I got in school.  Teaching is hard enough without having to add parenting to the mix.