A Tribute to Everyday Heroes

(Posted in the Stephenville Empire-Tribune, August 22, 2011)

School starts today. By that I mean that students show up for the first day of class. Actually, the school year has been in full swing in most Texas school districts for at least two weeks. Schedules have been prepared, lessons written, rooms cleaned, decorated and arranged. Bring on the kids!

I have been especially proud of my teaching colleagues these past two weeks. All teachers have faced great adversity this year and many teachers face a very uncertain future. Still they have soldiered on, most of them with good cheer, preparing to deliver the best possible education they can. Sure there has been some grumbling, some complaining, and maybe an occasional tear. But mostly what I have witnessed is nothing short of heroic.

I found a definition of heroism on the internet that includes the phrase “selflessness and the will to try.” By that definition, I have witnessed many acts of heroism.

Let me begin with selflessness. Every teacher has given a child lunch money from their own pockets. To quote one teacher, “I just can’t stand to see a kid go hungry.” Many students cannot afford basic school supplies so teachers often buy supplies for them. Classroom supplies have been rationed for years; most teachers buy their own. I know teachers who have pitched in to buy clothing and winter jackets for kids. I even know a case where teachers took up a collection to buy a girl a prom dress.

Selflessness is not just about money. Selflessness also involves the giving of time. The notion that teachers work from 9:00 to 3:00 is a lie. Most teachers I know arrive early to prepare for each day. There are usually students waiting for them. Some need tutoring. Some have personal issues. The teacher is there for them. Most teachers I know stay late every day. There are usually students waiting for them. Some need tutoring. Some have personal issues. The teacher is there for them. Most teachers I know take work home with them at night and on the weekends. There are papers to grade and lessons to prepare. To be done well, teaching takes time.

Speaking of time, how many professions do you know of where employees will donate their own sick leave to help out a seriously ill colleague? Teachers do.

I have seldom witnessed a group of people more possessed by “the will to try” than teachers. This year especially, our politicians have stacked the cards against us. Budgets have been slashed, classrooms are overcrowded, teachers have been laid off and more probably will be. Still we will keep trying to do our best at what we are supposed to do: teach the children. For some reason, I have faith that we will succeed or we'll keep trying.

I’m reminded of a poem that was very popular during the ‘60s called Desiderata. One line from this poem especially resonates with me, “…the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life if full of heroism.” If you want to see everyday heroism, you need only look as far as your nearest school.

Best wishes to all teachers in the upcoming school year. You are my heroes