Happy Mother’s Day! And Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! It’s interesting that these celebrations both happen around the same time.
I’ve written salutes in the past.
Moms and teachers work together to provide students the best education.
Moms
Moms don’t just bake cupcakes for bake sales, although if they do this they are still much loved.
Today, some of the best education activists are mothers. They stand with teachers to make good public schools, not just for their children, but for all kids.
Moms:
- opt their children out of harmful tests.
- fight to get students the services they need.
- are advocates for recess.
- do great research concerning the problems facing schools.
- recognize the threat of unbridled technology.
- speak for teachers who fear losing their positions.
- have been outspoken critics of Common Core and a string of unproven reform initiatives.
- understand the unpreparedness of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
- recognize the perils of 3rd grade retention.
- are not only active in the PTA, they work to improve district PTA bylaws when they disagree with corporate PTA changes.
- speak out strongly for students and teachers at school board meetings.
- run for offices like school board, so they can help public schools be the democratic institutions they are meant to be.
Teachers
Teachers in many states have been speaking out against corporate reform.
Teachers:
- courageously put their positions on the line to strike.
- are fighting for better funding of public education.
- want to reduce class sizes in order to better serve individual students.
- fight for professional wages.
- demand better school facilities.
- ask for better custodial services (some teachers clean their own classrooms).
- spend a lot of their salaries purchasing materials.
- go above and beyond taking care of children with special needs.
- protect children from draconian school reform.
Together
Teachers and moms (and dads) need each other. When this vital connection is in play, students are more secure, and the fight for a true public education for all children is strengthened.
Together, both parents and teachers can determine the best way technology can be used to support how children learn. The overall threat is technology for both moms and teachers.
Why aren’t school districts bringing teachers and parents together? When the house is divided, it falls.
Here’s to both moms and teachers! Enjoy this day and future days to come, standing-up for great public schools for all children.
And do not forget all those whose great desire to have their own children was thwarted by illness, chance, or society. So many of them, many teachers fall into this group, have been like mothers to so many. One such person I know raised three generations of children, none of which were her own.
Excellent observation. Teachers are often surrogates for absent mothers and fathers. They are life-long mentors.
I know many teachers who are like moms to their students. Thank you, Roy and Laura. Excellent point!
And some women are both public school teachers and Moms. We have kids at home and at school. I am retiring from 31 years of teaching and have had over 4,500 kids during my career.
Congratulations! It sounds like you had a good run of it, Diane! Teaching is an excellent profession when you have your own children. I knew many teachers whose children went to the same school. I’m not sure how the students adjusted, but all the moms loved it! Very best wishes!
My son, Nate had me on his roster for public speaking when he was in high school. I asked the counselor to move him to another teacher but he wanted to see what I was like as a teacher. I told him, no special treatment from me. When he gabbed he got moved to the front like the rest of the gabbers. It really wasn’t a problem.
Ha! I guess he learned what you were like as a teacher! Thanks for sharing.
How many teachers have had students call them mom or dad mistakenly of course while being there teacher. I guess it does take a village to raise a child.
Me! Of course I am of the age where the students I have now are children of my former students. whom I see at Parent Teacher Conferences. So rewarding. When you have to worrry is when they call you, Grandma!
That’s the best! Not Grandma, but the other! Thanks!
A wonderful tribute! Thank you.