The 2013-2014 school year will be upon us in a few short days. I am excited for a new year to start; however, I am not looking forward to the alarm clock screaming at me to get up.
The beginning of the school year is exciting and new and overwhelming, all at the same time. The amount of work to be done at the beginning of the year is enough to overwhelm any sane, organized person.
Educators must organize and set up their classrooms and gradebooks, attend meeting after meeting, go here, go there, do this, do that, prepare this, prepare that. The week that teachers go back prior to the students’ arrival is busy, but it sets the precedent for a year of making a difference in the lives of children.
Students, your teachers are in this profession to educate you and advocate for you. We will do anything we can to help you because we care about you and want you to succeed. You have to do your “job” though and be ready and prepared for school. You must study and work hard in order to succeed. We will do our part to help you do your best; you must do your part and meet us in the middle.
Parents, please trust your children’s teachers and treat them as professionals. An educator would never disrespect a parent and talk down to them; we hope the same from parents. We are all in this together and collaboration will work better than isolation. We both want what is best for the children!
Teachers, we are beginning a new year that provides an opportunity to impact children. Take this role seriously; the children are depending on you to advocate for them. They need champions and fighters in their corner and we, the teachers of Prince William County, are the best champions and fighters. How proud we should be to be included in the incredible group of people who are changing lives every day. When I think of my role as an educator and advocate, I think of this quote:
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration; I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
― Haim G. Ginott, Teacher and Child: A Book for Parents and Teachers
Here’s to a great year! Students: Work Hard! Parents: Work with us! Teachers: Work for your students but take time for yourself!
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