One for all...Teachers, we need to stick together!

A couple of weeks ago I took my kids to see Newsies, the latest Disney musical to travel to our area.  Let me just say, without this being a review blog, that this musical was amazing!  The stage, the dancing, the music, everything was just so full of energy and all the magic you expect from Disney!  But what was most compelling to me was the story.

If you're not familiar, the musical is based on the true story of newsboys who unionized and went on strike in 1899.  This strike eventually led to the passage of child labor laws.  Bless those brave children for having the courage to stand up for themselves and demand better treatment!

I teach in a state in which teacher's unions are not legal.  As I have no desire to lose my job or face any charges, I am in no way going to attempt to unionize any teachers.  But, I was so inspired by the solidarity and strength shown by the boys who were treated unfairly in the musical!

Teaching is the best job in the world, but also one of the most challenging.  Ask any teacher and he or she will tell you they love the students and the actual teaching, but the regulations and legislation have made the job nearly impossible!  Teachers must be expert statisticians, dynamic leaders, crackerjack curriculum writers, and technological geniuses!  All of that has nothing to do with the actual work of teaching, dealing with parents, trying to differentiate for abilities and interest.

On top of all the new items being added to teachers' plates, there are new student and teacher assessments and evaluations.  Teachers are being told that they will never reach the top level of those assessments because it would be nearly impossible to do so.  In the past two years, I have seen more teachers cry at work than ever.  More teachers are leaving than ever.  More teachers are breaking down than ever.

We can't unionize.  What can we do?  We can unite in spirit!  The only way to get through these hard times is to support one another in our strengths and weaknesses alike!  It's time to stop backbiting and competing with one another and time to start helping and defending one another!  Teachers, your best resource are the teachers across the hall from you!  Meet together, work together, plan together, pray together!

When we are a strong team we can best serve our students and parents!  No teacher can teach well who is overwhelmed with worry and burdened with the weight of the world.  It's time for us to bear one another's burdens.  Share your strengths and your weaknesses.  In this way, we will become better teachers, better wives, better mothers, better everything!