Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important. (Bill Gates)
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good teacher. (Temple Grandin)
Dear teacher,
Can you sit down for awhile and read my blog for a moment? Sip your coffee, stretch your muscles and breathe your tension away. How many students have disappointed you? You teach them ABC but they spelled it backward C-B-A. You say that the subject is important but some fall asleep half-way and the other half never take notes on what you said. You try your best to be on time, but they pray their best that you would cancel class or maybe- hopes you didn’t come to class at all.
Have you talk about this with your fellow teachers? Did you hear they complained that your class is the worst, the noisiest and the rudest? There was a fight in class, you checked – it was your students. Another at canteen during recess, it was yours too. Yet another case where 3 students met the headmaster to receive the wage of the day – 3 swings of iron rulers landed on their right hand. You don’t need to take a peek, by the sound of their scream; you knew that they are your students too.
After the entire incident happened in your class, I never once see your hope for them faded away. It was like the more they failed you the more eager you teach them. Maybe you should take heed of what your mother told you before you get into this risky profession, ‘Child, if they send you to rural area… please don’t go.’ Can I call you a fool? The school paid you a little bit higher than the store keeper. You deserve much more than living in a wooden house, small room and inconstant water supply. I wonder, why you want to be a teacher anyway?
(Pause)
I don’t know why you become a teacher? But I know this; you see the best in us when we only see the worst we are. You see what we can become in the future instead of what others thought we must be in the present. You give us hope, affirmation and attention in class when we hunger for it in our own home. In your schedule, you work 5 days a week, 8 hours per day but the truth is you didn’t charge any of your extra labor marking student’s paper at night and free tuition you gives during weekend. Before long we give up on ourselves, you never once give up on us. We called you ‘teacher’ and then we forget the rest. But you called us by name- full name and with little addition on the front before you spell it, ‘My....’.
No word can express your contributions to us. My Oxford Dictionary cannot compressed your value in one word. Even now you need to get back to work don't you?… how can we ‘thank you’ you enough for what you had done? Today we remember your sacrifice. Today we cherish you hard work. Today we celebrate your impact in our life. Teacher, none like you. May God bless you mightily wherever you are. Thank you.
Love,
Your student
(P.s: Actually, headmaster missed his 3rd swings.)
I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. (John Steinbeck)
