I wanted to thank you. Thank you for allowing us to borrow this awesome member of our community. They have a difficult job. They know that. I know that. I’m sure they’ve told you about it. The challenges. The frustrations. The students. The parents. The administrators. The legislators. The laws. The anti-teacher articles in the newspaper. The list goes on.
But despite  that, they rise to the occasion and manage to go in, smile fixated on the face, and teach like their hair is on fire. That’s because there really is no other means to teach anymore. Our brains are boiling so much that, yes, our hair product has begun to act like kindling. Teachers don’t really bald, their hair just incinerates.
And while everyone else has been talking about Rand Paul filibustering Freedom Act, FIFA scandals, and Caitlyn Jenner, your teacher has been working diligently to finish up grading, close out their classroom, and in some cases completely pack up and move out.
I’m sure you know. Teachers get a bit “testy” at the end of the year! You’ve probably been snapped at a few times. We’re sorry. It’s not you. It’s us.
But, as we turn the pages of the calendar and June 10th creeps up, you know, it’ll all be better. You also know that they deserve it. You also know a few more things, like:
-When someone says, “wow, teaching kids must be really easy,” you shake your head after you’ve heard the story of “THAT KID.” Every teacher has “one” each year.
-Each time someone says, “wow, must be nice to be a teacher, they only work until 3 o’clock,” you know that – occasionally – that becomes 3 o’clock in the morning.
-When someone says, “wow, it must be nice to only work 9 months out of the year,” it’s a bunch of bologna. On one hand, that teacher is going to be tweaking lessons, learning more about the craft, the subject, or themselves. On the other, you know that you’ll finally get your teacher back from the 10 hours days they’ve been logging since late August.
Thank you for allowing the teacher to do what they do best. It’s not always easy. It’s not always fun. It’s not always sane. Or rational. Or the best.
Sometimes it’s an endurance test, sometimes it’s a battle, and sometimes it’s so difficult we want to curl up in a ball in the corner with our favorite book and just need to be left alone for 18 straight hours. But, boy is it always rewarding.
May you be rewarded with their effervescent, rejuvenated presence this summer; thank you for all that you do in supporting, listening to, and encouraging your teacher. We look forward to seeing them in late August. Until then, may your summer be stellar.
Enjoy,
A Teacher
