By Alison Freese
Students may not realize how important their teacher is to them. Teachers are the amazing people who help us learn what we need to know before graduating and becoming an adult. They know what we are capable of and try to help us succeed. If a teacher sees a student struggling in their class. they will try and find a different way for the student to learn. If a student doesn’t understand what they were assigned to do, a teacher will take time out of their day before or after school to help that student. These are just some of the things teachers do for their students on a daily basis. Teachers don’t really get the recognition they should.
During COVID-19 teachers are still reaching out to their students. I have Zoom meetings on weekdays and have found that even during this strange time, teachers are still making sure everything is going well. Doing classes online is quite a bit different than a classroom. Some students have bad internet connection and can’t always get their assignments in on time. Teachers understand and will reach out to that student and find better ways to communicate. Personally all of my teachers have made sure that we aren’t getting assigned too much work for us students to handle. Teachers are putting in more time than students trying to find the perfect way for students to learn. Correcting papers and assignments isn’t as easy as you would think it to be. Correcting papers takes time and focus. Teachers correct students’ papers all the time with no complaints. Students often complain to their teachers on how much work they give them. But teachers are actually probably spending more time making and correcting students’ assignments. Students are sometimes stressed out because of the work given to them. Teachers are probably just as stressed as students are. Students only have to worry about their school work and their grades. On the other hand, teachers have to worry about every student in their class and make sure they put in the right grades and correct all of their assignments on time.
I think students and parents should start giving recognition to teachers for the time and effort that they put in. They definitely help to prepare us for getting into college, landing a job, buying a house, or basically anything that we will have to do to become a successful adult. Teachers are our leaders through elementary, middle school and then into high school. They encourage their students to grow and learn more. I think that students should think about what teachers are actually doing for us before getting upset about an assignment or test. Parents and students sometimes criticize a teacher on how poorly they teach or their teaching style. But, actually, that teacher is probably trying their best to become a better teacher. If teachers are trying their best to teach us students, we should try our best to listen to what they are saying. If parents and students respect teachers, teachers will respect them back.
In college, teachers are just as important but they cannot reach out to every student like a high school teacher does. High school teachers know that in college it’s a lot different. They are trying to teach students, so that a student isn’t super stressed in college. Teachers know that in order to succeed, you will need to be able to stand on your own two feet. Failure can sometimes be just as much a teachable moment as success. Maybe you don’t get an A. Maybe your grades are not up to par with what your parents want you to get. Sometimes regardless of what your parents think, you didn’t deserve or earn an A grade. Teachers have to put up with disappointed parents when we don’t earn the grade our parents think we should earn. They know that grades need to be earned, not given. This actually gets us ready to face the real world and step out on our own. When we choose to further our education, we need to be prepared to accept responsibility for our classroom successes as well as failures. Teachers are the leaders who build up their students to help them become mature responsible adults.
Alison Freese is a student at Lanesboro High School. She is one of eight area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 21st year.
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