Teacher Appreciation
Appreciate…from the Latin word appretiatus meaning “to set a price”. Other meanings have evolved over time as “to value highly” or “to rise in value”. Geesh, have we seen this come true during the recent developments due to COVID-19?! Although there has always been discussion around paying teachers a salary more commensurate to jobs with similar requirements for education and skills needed, never have we truly considered the true value of a teacher beyond the monetary value attached to them. Students, parents, administrators…well, basically, just about every human being on the planet, is finally waking up and recognizing the real value of teachers in this world. Their value is now being measured in the currencies of relationships, connections and heart and how much value they add to society, community and family.
Teachers are the glue that holds us together. As children/students and as adults/parents, we create meaningful and heartfelt connections to teachers. We develop and nurture relationships with ourselves and others through teachers. Through the generous gestures of the heart of a teacher, we discover a greater sense of who we are and where we fit in to this world. If a child’s basic needs at the lowest levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy are not being met, a teacher is there to help. One of the first thoughts many teachers had was “how are my kids going to…” get enough to eat, get the love and attention they need, get the support and help that they need, get their needs of safety and well-being met??? Teachers across the world have been bringing forth super-hero levels of energy, endless hours of support and a never-ending flow of unconditional love from their hearts to answer the calling to teach., but more importantly, to assure the emotional well-being of their “children”.
Teachers have always been heroes because they experience what Joseph Campbell described as the “Hero’s Journey”. We clearly recognize this journey through the stories told in comic books like Marvel and through movies like Star Wars. Yet we have been reluctant to recognize this journey through the stories of teachers. Every.single.day teachers are on the path of the hero’s journey. My hope is that we will continue to see teachers for the heroes they are, to support them in their journey and to “value highly” what they do for our human community every day.
Find some way to show your support and to give back to a teacher with kind words, kind thoughts and kind deeds to let them know that you see them and that you value what they do…not just one designated week per year, but every day. This should be our guiding principle for education (Henry Wordsworth Longfellow says it best)! Take some time to work on your heart garden today by extending some kind words and some kind deeds to those you appreciate and value…especially teachers!
#teacher appreciation #thankyou
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In the end, only kindness matters. Thank you for sharing this meaningful tribute to teachers. Parents are our first teachers and we have been blessed with the guidance from our own and shared with our children. That is our legacy.