The new year is upon us. This is a time to view our faults and make resolutions to be better and healthier people. This is also a time of stress for many teachers who worry about their town's budget and whether they will become a part of what has to be cut. It is common knowledge that most towns are experiencing budgetary deficits and unlike our Federal Government have to make ends meet.
During the next few months there will be many debates over what has to be cut and what can't be cut. These debates sometimes become heated with many in the community wondering why their school budget is the largest of the town's expenditure. I have suffered through many of these debates over the last 30 years and realize how discouraging this can be. Especially to new teachers. Now who am I kidding; it also bothers the dinosaurs of my profession.
One comment especially irritates me. At a budget committee meeting a gentleman wondered why teachers should receive any pay increase. In the conversation he considered teaching a fine part-time job. He did not understand how anyone could complain about working a 186 day year. Of course, at the end of the dialog he further belittled the profession by stating, "Those who can do. Those who can't teach."
My answer to this question is quite simple. If there were no teachers how would anyone learn how to do? If there was not a system that educated the young men and women of our society what would this society look like? Would it be OK if our children did not learn how to read or write. I assume through home schooling or apprenticeships they could learn a trade but how could they ever survive in this competitive world. How would they become familiar with the remarkable authors and writers that came before us. How would they possibly learn how reading and writing makes us who we are.
If there was no teaching our children could never learn to love music or art. In fact, the concept of not living a life filled with things that make us human would create a very somber society. How could our children learn about what their own bodies can do. How would they be able to discover hidden talents of athletics to cooking. If there was no teaching how could they learn how to make things made of wood or ceramic. I, and many like me are saddened by the fact our children's art, music, physical education, and industrial art programs are the first to be eliminated.
If there was no teaching our children could never understand the Earth around them. They would never be allowed to wonder about the incredible miracles of our world. They would never be able to explain why things happen and how, as a society, we could make them better. How would they be able to understand the laws of our universe and how these laws affect them every second of their lives.
If there was no teaching our children could never understand the glorious history of our nation and our world. They could never understand the mistakes of the past and learn from them. If they never had the opportunity to learn history in their futures they are bound to repeat the mistakes of our past. How could they learn to question history thus making our democracy the wonder of our world.
If there was no teaching how could our children learn and understand the philosophies of what makes us human. This is a major discipline that separates us from the rest of all living things. Philosophy is synonymous with Theology. If there was no teaching how would our children be able to decide what should be their beliefs. How would they understand if they should question these beliefs.
If there was no teaching how could our children learn there is more to mathematics then simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. How would they be able to understand the marvels of architecture to the structure of DNA. How could they possibly understand that mathematics is the centerpiece of everything.
The other interesting comment made by people who do not respect education is that teaching is a very good part-time job. I wish I knew who he or she was talking about and where these teachers are. I work with people everyday who bring hours of work home with them. They also plan seminars and development activities after the school day that hopefully will make them better teachers. Most summers are for classes they take either to complete certification requirements or learn more about new discoveries that were made long after they completed their formal education. By the way, these discoveries happen every day.
The new year is upon us. This is a time to view our faults and make resolutions to be better and healthier people. This is also a time of stress for many teachers who worry about their town's budget and whether they will become a part of what has to be cut. I assume this reality will never change. As teachers there is little we can do except what we've always wanted to do and that is to teach.
Jim Fabiano is a teacher and writer living in York, Maine
Maine Publisher's Association Best weekly column award for 2004
Email Jim: james.fabiano60@gmail.com
