Teachers

I have been trying to find time, here and there interspersed among other commitments, to write the answers to questions in an interview for Scholastic's TEACHER. And I'm just coming up on the several questions that deal with schools and teachers. Here's an example:

What concerns you about education today? What would you like to see change? What has changed for the better.

If you could give a gift to teachers, what would it be?

I haven't answered those yet for Scholastic, but they are waiting; and in the meantime, today I got an email from a teacher in Oklahoma. Here is part of what she wrote me:

One of my students had a very tough week because of his homelife. It has been a pretty heartbreaking week, and I came home tonight feeling pretty worn out emotionally and physically. I got on the computer and went to your site because my 23 fourth graders had so many questions about you. I ended up reading your speeches. Thank you for sharing them with everyone! “Bright Streets and Dark Paths” especially touched my heart. It was the encouragement I needed tonight. Thank you. I am going to quote your wise words in the last part of your speech, “Down those treacherous bright streets and the dark paths today’s children travel, they need our companionship, our respect, our outstretched hands.” I hope you don’t mind if I write them in red ink across my lesson plans for next week to remind me to keep doing all I can for them.

Well, I'm gratified that she found something of value in one of my speeches. But much more: I am moved to be reminded of what teachers do, how they care, how they struggle, often—not just to drum the spelling words and math rules into those small heads, but to make a difference in their lives, to understand how tough some young lives are, to shape and mold and comfort and give hope along with knowledge.

It's what I do, too, of course, in writing. But I can get up from this desk and go to a movie, or chat on the phone, or fly to California to visit a friend...as I will do soon...and while I am doing those things, teachers everywhere are remaining in their classrooms, day after day after day, and they struggle often: against the administration sometimes, against parents, sometimes, against the demands of testing—and the lure of higher-paying jobs.

Well, my soapbox is wobbly and uncomfortable to I will step down from it now.

Comments

[Jeannie Hagy]

Although I am not the teacher who wrote to you originally, I am also a fourth grade teacher from Oklahoma, and I, too, could have written that email. My first year of teaching was 1969, and this will be my last year of teaching. Much has changed during my career. Teaching, while always a challenging profession, has become increasingly difficult throughout the years. I ache for the children I teach, and I wish people understood just how hard our teachers must work. I just wanted to say thank you for understanding and getting on your soap box.

I love your books. I'm also a children's writer and I appreciate your comments about writing for children.

Again, thank you.

[Ms. Simbe]

thank you, Lois, for your kind words of support and for your wonderful books. there are some parts of the work of teaching that i find impossible to explain, yet you already understand.

[Jennifer Elliott]

I also wanted to thank you for getting on your soapbox. It is a difficult profession at times, because it so often feels like we are raising the kids rather than just teaching them. 150 kids (eighth graders for me) per year equals a lot of work. However, it's worth it when you see the appreciation in their eyes or a kind word from them in a Christmas card... or even just a smile on the face of a student who has a rough life. Thank you for giving us the tools to help us-- your books! Books, perhaps more than anything else, help us connect with our students. We can talk about life, life's struggles, and life's triumphs in the face of difficulty. We can remind them that they are more than just a test score. Thank you for that.

[Kim]

Is teaching tough? Absolutely. Is it getting tougher. Undoubtedly. Is it worth the toil and the struggle? Immeasurably.

[Sarah :)]

Hi :)

I just want to say thank you to all the teachers that read this blog. I'm still in school (grade ten.) Thanks to the teachers who really do work so hard. You are appreciated you know. People in my class still talk about favourite elementary school teachers that have made an impact on them.

Anyway, I love your books Lois!

Sarah :)

[Sara]

Lois,
When I was in the 6th grade, my literature teacher had me read "The Giver" and it was one of the most eye opening books that I have ever read and since then I have read it as many times as I could! Here I am 8 years later doing an Author study for my children's literature class and I came across your website! I have noticed a lot of similar themes in your books and was wondering if there was any way that I could get a little more information about your younger years in life. I would like to know if you had a good childhood etc. I understand that you are a busy person, and have a life of your own, but you have definately touched my life and as a future teacher of America I will definately incorporate your books into my curriculum. I am to read all of your books for this "thesis" and am very close to achieving my goal. I would really appreciate if you could reply back to me through email. The couple of questions that I do have is 1. When did you start writing, and what made you start? 2. What is your favorite book that you wrote? 3. Were you a troublemaker as a child. 4. What character in your books do you associate yourself with the most? I would really appreciate any answers to any one of these questions, and as I stated before, I know that you are a very busy woman, I would really like to speak with you, as I do look up to you quite a bit. Thank you for this opportunity that you have given me through your website.
Sara Heck
[email protected]
2211 Douglas St.
Sioux City IA 51104
Briar Cliff University
Junior in Elementary Education