They're more than just teachers, they're human

Michael Dodes

Columnist

In almost everyone's life, they will most likely encounter a great teacher.

"Great," not only meaning someone who can relay information and make a student understand, but also one who can connect with a student on a personal level to impact their lives.

A good teacher is one who not only cares about the student when they are in the classroom, but also when they walk out the door. They work hard at their jobs not only for the pay, but also because they are doing what they love to do.

Whether one finds a great teacher in elementary or high school, the lessons they learn from him or her will stay with them for a lifetime.

Often times, students do not always open up to teachers about their problems, much less view them as actual human beings. To us, they are just authoritarian figures who dole out homework and repeat mass amounts of information during the long and tedious school days -- not exactly someone we want to associate with, and hardly someone who was considered "cool."

However, as I have recently discovered, teachers can help us with problems in our personal lives, as well as finding a predicate nominative in a sentence.

Early last week, I was not having the best of days. Stresses in my life and bottled up emotions were overtaking me and making my day quite unpleasant. As a result of not dealing with my problems, my performance in school that day was hindered.

A teacher of mine happened to notice my abnormal behavior and asked me what was wrong. At first I was apprehensive about opening up to a teacher, but after talking for awhile, I found that she had given me a more clear view on my life.

I was given advice that I probably could not have gotten from friends my own age. Talking to someone who had more life experience than my friends or me, helped me feel better about my situation and gain more insight as to what I could do to make myself happier.

I was surprised that I was able to find guidance from a teacher. The notion of talking to a teacher about my personal life had never even crossed my mind. But I am quite glad that I did open up.

Teachers definitely deserve more credit than what they receive. They work hard at their jobs in order to give students a quality education. Often times, they are not given half of the respect that they deserve.

Teachers are handling the future of our country. What they teach today's youth will resonate into the coming years. People gripe about teachers being paid too much, or that they are wasting tax dollars.

In my opinion, for what teachers have to put up with, they are not paid enough. Every day they have to deal with unruly, disrespectful students. They put in late nights and long hours only to benefit the children of others. Without decent teachers, the future would be quite bleak.

It is important to take the time to appreciate the teachers in your school systems. They most definitely deserve the recognition.

Michael Dodes is a senior at Frazee-Vergas High School.