Santa rocks the North Pole. He has the entire elf community working tirelessly and cheerfully in his workshops, eight (okay, NINE if you count Rudolph, weather-depending) light-footed reindeer pulling his philanthropic load, and Mrs. Santa baking fresh cookies year-round. Hot cocoa is his thing, and North Pole weather applauds the choice.
This time of year, however, even Santa is less than Santa-ish. The elves are just a little irritating with their whistling and knee-high adventures. The reindeer keep soiling their stalls, the world's children are whining if their toys are less than perfect, and you can only eat so many homemade cookies before your blood sugar spikes and makes you--well, irritable. And dang it, who wants cocoa for every beverage choice?
Yeah, I know. Santa isn't real. But teachers are. And though they look like they're Disney-created, light-footed, creativity-oozing, Mother Theresa-emulating, altruistic gods and goddesses, you need to know: they're tired.
They are sick. And. Tired. Tired of working ten to twelve hours, then going home to grade papers for three or four more. Tired of IEP meetings that go on for hours and result in nothing more than paperwork that denotes what is already being done to meet the needs of the child. Tired of students who show blatant disrespect--or worse, disinterest. Tired of government mandates that are designed by political ideologues who have never spent a day, much less an hour, in the classroom. Tired of respectfully responding to parents who attack with a vengeance, forgetting that the teachers are on their team in support of the child. Just. Plain. Tired.
But...
Have you ever noticed that Santa keeps coming, year after year? He may consider taking off for Florida, or finding a retirement option that doesn't include snowflakes and mistletoe, but Santa loves it. He loves the whistling elves, candy canes, long wish lists, bullying reindeer, and sugar highs. He's drawn to his work, because it's his calling. He could capably fulfill many job requirements, including CEO, but he returns to the North Pole, because that's who he is.
And teachers, year after year, reach the end of themselves, yet continue to return to their calling. It's who they are. They know they'll face unrealistic expectations, egregious paperwork, discipline scenarios that stretch their patience, and long days that make their bodies ache, their hearts ache more.
They also know they'll reach children in ways no one else can. They know the joy of whetting a student's appetite for learning more, being more, doing more. They see future leaders building upon strengths and learning from weaknesses; emotionally wounded students thriving in a safe learning environment; colleagues discovering new ways of meeting students' needs; children throwing off their society-induced affectations and simply and freely being themselves; and the simple joys of students working together to solve problems--building abilities, growing self-confidence, and developing appreciation for others.
Yes, Santa is whimsical. Teachers are whimsical, too. Because we expect them to be like fairy-tale imaginations, solving all our children's problems. They do solve many issues. But they need our support, our backing, our belief, our trust. They want what's best for our kids.
They may not slide down the chimney to bestow gifts, but they come pretty darn close. Most of the teachers I know look pretty battle-weary at this point in the year. If you've ever thought of sending your child's teacher a note of appreciation, now is the time. If you've ever thought of volunteering--now is the time. And if you've ever wanted to support your child's teacher in front of your child--it's past time. There are very few teachers who want anything more than to help your child be the best he or she can be. Like Santa, a teacher is interested in gifts.
Santa wants to bring gifts. Your child's teacher wants to bring out your child's gifts for him or her to enjoy, and for the world to benefit from.
Help your child believe in the magic of Santa as long as you can. And support your child's teacher, for we all want the gifts to keep shining, year after year.
This time of year, however, even Santa is less than Santa-ish. The elves are just a little irritating with their whistling and knee-high adventures. The reindeer keep soiling their stalls, the world's children are whining if their toys are less than perfect, and you can only eat so many homemade cookies before your blood sugar spikes and makes you--well, irritable. And dang it, who wants cocoa for every beverage choice?
Yeah, I know. Santa isn't real. But teachers are. And though they look like they're Disney-created, light-footed, creativity-oozing, Mother Theresa-emulating, altruistic gods and goddesses, you need to know: they're tired.
They are sick. And. Tired. Tired of working ten to twelve hours, then going home to grade papers for three or four more. Tired of IEP meetings that go on for hours and result in nothing more than paperwork that denotes what is already being done to meet the needs of the child. Tired of students who show blatant disrespect--or worse, disinterest. Tired of government mandates that are designed by political ideologues who have never spent a day, much less an hour, in the classroom. Tired of respectfully responding to parents who attack with a vengeance, forgetting that the teachers are on their team in support of the child. Just. Plain. Tired.
But...
Have you ever noticed that Santa keeps coming, year after year? He may consider taking off for Florida, or finding a retirement option that doesn't include snowflakes and mistletoe, but Santa loves it. He loves the whistling elves, candy canes, long wish lists, bullying reindeer, and sugar highs. He's drawn to his work, because it's his calling. He could capably fulfill many job requirements, including CEO, but he returns to the North Pole, because that's who he is.
And teachers, year after year, reach the end of themselves, yet continue to return to their calling. It's who they are. They know they'll face unrealistic expectations, egregious paperwork, discipline scenarios that stretch their patience, and long days that make their bodies ache, their hearts ache more.
They also know they'll reach children in ways no one else can. They know the joy of whetting a student's appetite for learning more, being more, doing more. They see future leaders building upon strengths and learning from weaknesses; emotionally wounded students thriving in a safe learning environment; colleagues discovering new ways of meeting students' needs; children throwing off their society-induced affectations and simply and freely being themselves; and the simple joys of students working together to solve problems--building abilities, growing self-confidence, and developing appreciation for others.
Yes, Santa is whimsical. Teachers are whimsical, too. Because we expect them to be like fairy-tale imaginations, solving all our children's problems. They do solve many issues. But they need our support, our backing, our belief, our trust. They want what's best for our kids.
They may not slide down the chimney to bestow gifts, but they come pretty darn close. Most of the teachers I know look pretty battle-weary at this point in the year. If you've ever thought of sending your child's teacher a note of appreciation, now is the time. If you've ever thought of volunteering--now is the time. And if you've ever wanted to support your child's teacher in front of your child--it's past time. There are very few teachers who want anything more than to help your child be the best he or she can be. Like Santa, a teacher is interested in gifts.
Santa wants to bring gifts. Your child's teacher wants to bring out your child's gifts for him or her to enjoy, and for the world to benefit from.
Help your child believe in the magic of Santa as long as you can. And support your child's teacher, for we all want the gifts to keep shining, year after year.