I Imagine A Day

Each and every one of us has had multiple teachers throughout our lives. Some good. Some not so good. Some rememberable. Some not. Whether you loved them or loathed them they were still your teacher. They taught you to be who you have become today. No matter what profession you have entered into, someone taught you how to do it. From pizza delivery to doctors. From sanitaion workers to astronauts. We were all taught.

Yet, schools are still struggling to make ends meet. Schools still struggle to send their students to learn outside of the classroom on a field trip. Schools are still struggling to provide teachers and students alike the resources they need to succeed. I cannot count on my hands and toes the number of teachers who spend their hard earned money on their students and classroom.

I imagine the day when teachers step into the spotlight to become part of the elitist group that comes with being a celebrity. When teachers are the rich and famous. When teachers are the ones who own summer and winter houses. When teachers sail in luxurious yachts bringing back experiences and knowledge to enhance understanding in their classroom. I dream of the day when sports cards aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. When every kid wants their teacher’s “Teacher Cards”. When a teacher’s rookie card is worth more than a tanker ship filled to the gills with crude oil. Perhaps there will come a day when the entertainers enter the working class as teacher take over the top tax brackets.

I imagine a day when classrooms have just a dozen students. Or fewer still. No more classrooms busting at the seams with students. No more worring about how to fit in all the desks. No more worrying about feeding the masses a balanced, healthy meal, or if there will be enough books because schools will have the finances to supply it all.

I imagine a day when teachers have earned the trust bestowed upon surgeons, for those surgeons, too, had to have teachers. Perhaps one day there will be no more testing. No more accountability held over teachers’ heads like carrot on a stick. Teachers will be informed on what to teach but not how to teach. We will all rest assured knowing our child’s teacher is doing the best they can to ensure our child, our learner, our future, is receiving the knowlege they’ll need to make wise decisions when the time comes. But we’ll also know that teachers aren’t miracle workers for all education begins at home.

I imagine a day when teachers aren’t scoffed at for having summers off. Because truly, they aren’t really off without pay. A teacher is a 10 month employee who’s salary is stretched to 12 months. Some teachers even take courses over the summer to better prepare themselves for our children. Over the summer, teachers spend time with their own families instead of yours during parent/teacher nights. Instead of concerts. Instead of coaching a school based sporting event. Instead of sitting in a semi-dark classroom every evening planning the next big lesson for your child.

I dream big. Perhaps we all should.