I will share with you what I posted. I've edited my comment and added a few more thoughts. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic.
Like any profession you have your good and your not so good and unfortunately sometimes your bad. As for teachers overall I think they do an amazing job. Not only are teachers responsible for teaching our children but they have to deal with so much diversity and adversity. Sometimes they are forced to wear many hats. They have to be parent, social worker, and student advocate. At times children come to school in their pajama's because their parents either can't afford clothes or couldn't be bothered to ensure their children were properly dressed. Sometimes, those poor children go to school with empty stomachs...how well do you think a child can learn when they are troubled by their grumbling stomachs. Or what about those truly unfortunate children who live in homes where parents are addicts or where abuse occurs. How well do you think a child can learn. Teachers have to deal with all of this and more. It's not just about teaching them the ABC's. They spend a large portion of their time dealing with social issues. Why, because a good teachers sees the child as a WHOLE....not just as someone filling a space. In order for the child to learn they have to be open and ready to learn.
I have seen teachers time and again dip into their own pockets to get supplies for their classroom...I have seen teachers go above and beyond for their students to give them the extra bit they need.
I have heard many parents say they use the school as a daycare...what does that say about the parents and how do they respect their own children.
Teachers play a HUGE role in our children's lives. I have heard of stories about that one special teacher who went the extra mile for a student. I am one of those stories. I was privileged to have 3 teachers who did that for me....three teachers that made the world of difference for me. Teachers that believed in me and what I could do.....they pushed me...they challenged me....they made me think outside of the box....I was so close to dropping out of high school, had it not been for the kindness of a teacher I don't think I would have graduated.
Yes teachers are only in the classroom 10 months of the year...but they do not get paid for the summers when the children aren't in class. Many teachers due to the poor salaries have to take extra jobs in the summer to make ends meet.
While we are on about salaries...what kind of society are we when we will pay a football, basketball, baseball, hockey player millions of dollars to throw a ball around and do some tackling. What DO we as a society value.....please don't tell me that a professional player is more valuable than someone who we entrust to educate our children. Do you not see that OUR children are OUR future!
Here is a link to Meredith's comment about teacher's on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/note.php?note_id=666995678863&id=71209634
