Heroes...

On Monday, I return to work as an eighth grade middle school math teacher. We are lucky this year, in the sense that we have a week and a half to prepare before the children to return. In spite of my amazing summer, I am ready to go back to work. We have many new teachers which may help break up some of the issues from last year, as well as a new principal who I am excited to be working with. I am still mourning my losses and feeling tender from the blows, but feel like I have hope for a new year...hope that things will be better.

The job we do, as educators, is important. Our job is not what some believe, come into the room, toss a worksheet or two at the students, then sit at our desk for the duration of the period. We are preparing students for the future, both theirs and ours.

When the beginning of the year begins, I am humbled by the gravity of the work that we do...we are helping to mold the future. In no other profession does one have such power. Each day, I look at my students, and I wonder where these young people will end up, what job they may hold, what their impact may be. It makes the job even more important.

We are part of a community...raising children. Parents, teachers, community members alike have a powerful task at hand...raising the children of our world, giving them opportunities, opening their world. If we don't view this as shared responsibility, we have missed the boat...these children, my students, are the future, whether we like it or not.

Luckily, I work with a variety of teachers who view them this way too. So, this year, if you take your own children to school, remember who you are leaving them with...a group of heroes who commit their life to the future...a future for us all to grow old in...