“Ties that are never broken…”
A few years ago, after class, a male student approached me and quietly said…
“Mr. Ballou, I am escorting a girl in homecoming tonight, and I don’t have anyone at home who can tie my tie. Would you care to show me how?”
I was more than happy to assist him. I made sure the length was right, and I showed him step by step how to do it. Later in the week he showed me pictures. He was wearing his tie and was sharply dressed. It looked like he had a great night.
Lately educators have come under fire. People outside of education devalue teachers and their responsibilities.
We are selfish for wanting security for retirement.
Teachers get summers off, so we are not underpaid.
We are lazy or ineffective because test scores fall into a category (insert acronym) that has been deemed unacceptable.
We have even been called “thugs”. The only part of that word that is true is that I have been known to give hugs.
You name it… I have heard it since I have been teaching.
Many haters are of this mentality :
“Those who can’t do, teach.”
This is my least favorite quote because the ones who say these types of things are the people who would never attempt to do what we do on a daily basis.
I don’t do what I do for the pay.
Teachers don’t go to work thinking about their retirements and benefits that we have been promised, yet are becoming more questionable with each passing year.
I don’t go to work to just to teach a subject.
While I appreciate the opportunity for each of these, I do what I do to form relationships, and, in the process, I integrate English class. 🙂
My mission? I care for kids, emotionally and intellectually. That is all.
That same boy who needed help tying his tie came back to me recently just to chat. He told me that the tie I helped him with still hung on his mirror and that it was still tied for the next special occasion, and in the meantime, it serves as a reminder to him of how I helped him when no one else was there.
Folks, statements like his are why I am still in the teaching profession. Kind words like his are a realization that I am making an impact and that all of my efforts are not in vain.
Education gives me the opportunity to form ties that are never broken, both literally and figuratively.
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You are one of the best. Let the haters hate. They don’t understand because they have never done your job. To be a good teacher, you have to love it. It’s obvious you do. It was a blessing and an honor to work with you!
You are too kind, Linda. I miss seeing you.
you are a great teacher and friend to your students. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you.