The Day After Labour Day
Gosh. It’s been a while.
Having a baby has certainly put the brakes on this wee little blog of mine, but today feels like the right time to open up my laptop and have my fingers do some thinking. Why, now? Because it’s the day after Labour Day, of course.
It’s such a special time of year. Heading back to school is a time of highly anticipated change and a welcomed return to routine. I may not be heading quite back to school just yet, but that same feeling of nervous excitement lingers in the pit of my stomach, as it has for as long as I can remember. The difference, this year, is that so many children in this province aren’t returning back to school either.
I prefer to keep things pretty light here on Pancakes, so I don’t feel the need to delve too deeply into the political nuts & bolts of the issues at hand, but I do feel compelled to say two things:
Public school teachers need to be valued. We are not daycare providers. We are not babysitters. We are trained professionals that facilitate real student learning. We love children, and that’s why countless dollars from our own pockets are spent on creating optimal learning environments, and the hours we put in don’t end with the ring of a school bell. There is a need to address the growing challenges we face daily in increasingly diverse classrooms, with increasingly limited resources.
We as teachers have a responsibility in this as well: to earn the respect we so greatly desire. Teachers value their autonomy immensely, but we also need to embrace the accountability that has to come along with it. Our classroom doors need to open so that people can see the what and why of our jobs and the powerful impact we have on shaping young lives.
Whew.
Feels good to be back. Let’s hope we’re all back in schools soon, too.
(photo by: Follett Design Co.)
*Two years ago: Birthdays and Back to School
*Three years ago: Happy Birthday, Pancakes
*Four years ago: It’s Showtime
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