As a teacher's kid , I saw the sacrifices and dedication of teachers first hand. In the course of a school day, teachers play many roles : educator , advisor , guardian, volunteer, peacemaker and yes, even a shoulder to cry on (teacher's are also. mandated reporters - I've heard some chilling stories). Many teachers hold down a second job and continue their post- graduate education- I saw my father do both -at th same time.They attend seminars , they innovate and they fight for their students-cutbacks are a teacher's recurring nightmare. I didn't like all my teachers, but I respected them- they earned it (that's a lie - One thing I learned as kiid ,was how much , good,' dedicated , proud teachers hated the shirkers and incompetents. And I do mean HATE).
One of the things teachers' kids love to share with each other, is the fond mockery of the "teachable moments"we were endlesslly exposed to -I am not talking about lfe's lessons here-literally teachable moments.A skunk runs across the road -my cousin yells "skank", her father (a teacher) replys "Actually , there is a reptile called a skank ... " instant laughter,uncle has no clue as to why.Every hike with my father "which side of the tree does moss grow on ? Why does it grow ... ? "can you name this rock ? " (Alberta was not the right answer).At the Steinhardt Aquarium with niece and nephews "Do you know the difference between an alligator and a crocodile ? " My small town nephews who had never seen a skyscraper before , were in speechless awe (Thank god my niece answered , it gave the boys a chance to escape to the next exhibit). Teachers NEVER stop teaching.
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