Local Voices: Perspective Regarding Teachers

I’m sure just about everyone reading this blog remembers “that one teacher…" the one that made an absolute difference in your life.

Personally, there were many in my life and I’ve tried not to lose sight or take their contributions for granted. After all, along with my parents and other significant influences, I am their product. Throughout my school-aged years, my life changed often as I came in contact with people who cared.

I met my first education hero when I was five years old. Gerry Klammert, my first grade teacher at Bayless Elementary School had a profound impact on my life. Her nurturing ability made an otherwise shy first grader a little less scared of the world around him. I’m not entirely sure how she did it, but she made me comfortable and I knew she cared. Looking back, any success I had in school from that point forward was built on a foundation named Mrs. Klammert.

In third grade I met another nurturer, Mrs. Sandy Ruth, who was interested in showing me the world through sharing details about her travels. I knew she cared and in her own special way, she bolstered my self-confidence and taught me to explore.

I could go on and on about my encounters with teachers who cared; Mrs. Sykes modeled her unbelievable patience with all children and Mrs. Green somehow made 1977, the most difficult year of my life, a little more bearable after the loss of my oldest brother. 

There’s Mr. Hellwege, my middle school science teacher and basketball coach, and Mr. Hayes, my high school English teacher who somehow found a way to instill in me a love of poetry that remains.

I would be remiss not to mention maybe the greatest single educational influence in my life, Mr. Charles Crouther. As a music teacher, this man’s ability to care about all kids while significantly impacting their self-esteem has been unmatched. It was his relentless words of encouragement and praise that pushed me to study music and ultimately become a teacher.

What was the common denominator in all of these people? They cared and they made a significant difference in my life… and they were teachers.

Bottom line, I grew up admiring teachers, admiring their profession and being in total awe of the contributions they made. I was taught to honor and respect teachers, period. Sure, there may have been those we didn’t particularly care for, but they were usually the exception and regardless, learning from them offered something to our formative years.

I absolutely do believe these influences are still recognized today by all generations, but I’m disheartened that such conversations appear to be stifled by an apparent effort to discredit the field of education. Remember the old adage, “you just can’t pay teachers enough to deal with the issues they face.”

Well guess what, as the world has become more diverse in every aspect imaginable, the issues have grown exponentially. And, regardless of what some would prefer you to believe, in comparison, we still do not pay our teachers what they deserve.

Yet they are constantly attacked— teacher pay, teacher tenure, teacher benefits, teacher retirements— these are a few of the conversations that drown the heartfelt “thank you for all you do and have done” stories that need to stay alive to keep our society healthy, productive and positive for future generations.

Shame on anyone who spends their days in any way diminishing the absolute significance of what teachers mean to our world. I encourage everyone to reflect on the teacher heroes of your lives and then ask yourself, what are you doing today to keep this important element of society alive and supported?  

Feel free to respond to this blog to personally acknowledge an educator who was significantly meaningful to your life. In the meantime, thanks to all educators everywhere, for doing what you do every day. Specifically, thanks to all teachers responsible for my education. You came through for me and you did not disappoint. Be proud because you made a difference in my world.