teacher, teacher teach me more May 12, 2008
“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefits for everyone and greater strength for our nation.”
John F. Kennedy
May 6th was Teacher Appreciation Day. Our school is celebrating it this week, all week. Parents and grandparents decorated the teachers’ parking spaces, bring coffee, lunch, flowers and cards made by the students. Having sat in the classroom on too many occasions to count, I have a great appreciation for the work teachers do inside and outside the classroom. My sister-in-law teaches 4th grade and my father-in-law teaches at a Junior College so I’ve heard from them all of the struggles they face, the triumphs they make and the pleasure they get out of it all.
In California our Govenator wants to slice the public school budget next to nil. You’re going to think I lied when I said I was not very polical, but in some instances I am. Hearing the panic in the teachers’ voices when they talk about the fact that they’ve run out of copy paper and the PTA has to sponser a fundraiser to buy more, watching students play on playground equipment that’s at least as old as I am, seeing students share books because there aren’t enough to go around…. I could go 
on and on.
Check out the cute frog, now click on him and fill out a petition that will be sent to the Gonvenator to let him know that he can’t do that to our children, to our future. Oh, and tell me about your favorite teacher and if you have kids tell me about their favorite teacher.
My favorite teacher is….. ME! LOL. I homeschool my daughter, ya know.
About the budget… I’ve signed the petition. We have those issues here as well. It’s truly awful. A few weeks ago, the children at my daughter’s old elementary school had a walk-a-thon to raise money for the same things you mention - copy paper, textbooks, etc. What’s even sadder for me is knowing this ‘walkout’ was about the only exercise these kids got since not only has the budget been cut but recess has been cut as well. These are only a couple of the many reasons we homeschool. Fortunately, we’re able to do that.
~Debbie
Debbie-
Wow, they cut recess? We haven’t experienced that yet but our school did hire a part-time PE teacher this year. How ironic would it be if our state cut our physical fitness when we have a govenor who made his living off of the fitness of his body.
My boys fuss and whine when I try to help them with their homework so there is no way I could ever homeschool them, we’d probably kill each other. I have found that the more involved I am with their school the more they get out of it. Knowing the staff by name (they’ve even been to my house) and them knowing my name has made a tremendous difference in the opportunities they have. I know they are chosen more often and their work is recognized more often than other students whose parents are not involved. It’s sad but true.
My favorite teacher was my high school English teacher who wanted me to date her son.
We had a few dates, but never hit it off except as friends, though. Oh, well.
Seriously, though, she was a great teacher, with a terrific sense of humor. One of her favorite sayings was, “To each his own; that’s why we have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.”
I signed the petition and emailed it to five friends.
Linda
Thanks Linda! Your teacher sounds great and it helps to have a good sense of humor.
Wasn’t the Governator Prez Reagan’s ambassador or poster boy for some national campaign for physical fitness? I have the impression that his advocacy was the inspiration for Hans and Franz on SNL and their “Pump YOU up!” skits.
Rhonda-
I believe you’re correct. Funny how the worm turns.