| Over the many years that I have taught I have seen | | | | make their administrators look mighty good. If your test |
| one fact that is always constant. TEACHERS | | | | scores are up it is because of your teachers. |
| When the lights go out for the day they move into the | | | | Just like the district the teachers bills have gone up, |
| halls or to the nearest window and TEACH. | | | | their transportation costs are up, their food costs are |
| When computers go down and all the technology | | | | up, their heat and electricity is up etc. etc. But unlike |
| stops because of some catastrophe they TEACH. | | | | other industries their salaries are low. |
| When there are no books they buy their own and | | | | Teachers are the backbone of the education system. |
| share with the students and TEACH. | | | | They are the ones that are on the front lines of the |
| When the buses get stuck and half the class is late | | | | war against ignorance. They are not only required to |
| they TEACH the ones that are there. | | | | teach core subjects they are expected to teach |
| When half the class is absent because of a flu | | | | citizenship, responsibilities, manners, cleanliness, safety |
| outbreak, they TEACH the students that are there and | | | | from all the bad things of the world and each year |
| then have to do it again when the others return. | | | | more responsibilities are shifted from the home to the |
| When the heat goes off they put on coats and gloves | | | | school system. The compensation they receive in |
| and open their books and TEACH. | | | | comparison to their responsibility is pitiful. But dispite the |
| When the heat is unbearable they take their classes | | | | pitiful compensation they keep teaching because they |
| outside and sit under the trees and TEACH. | | | | love kids. |
| When the principal leaves, they don't know, because | | | | Your teachers deserve a break, not a little break, but a |
| they are too busy TEACHING. | | | | big break. They need adequate compensation for all |
| When the bells fail to ring they keep TEACHING. | | | | they do. They are the bottom line and are the ones |
| That's their job and they love it, it's a passion and they | | | | that accomplish the goal of a district. They TEACH. |