Today was one of those days that I live for as a historian and teacher. I spent the day in Virginia Beach with a group of 4th and 5th grade teachers as part of a workshop on the Civil War and historical memory. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Fitz Brundage sketch out some of the salient commemorative themes during the postwar period while I worked with the group on analyzing a collection of primary sources and discussing how to approach some of these themes in the classroom. The teachers were enthusiastic throughout both sessions. It was impressive given that the material can be incredibly difficult and even a bit draining to those who are approaching these issues for the first time. We have amazing teachers in our classrooms and we need to support them.
The president was right to describe teachers as “nation builders.” I wish the general public had the image of teachers sitting around engaged in serious discussion as part of their professional development rather than the stereotypical views so closely associated with our worst fears about public education. So, what were we really doing today in Virginia Beach? We were doing what we do every day in our respective classrooms, which is making a G-d Damn Difference. Now what about you?
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Amen!
Thanks, Kevin. I understand you – I have been married for 46 years to a wonderful woman who has spent her entire professional life teaching first kids and then teaching teachers. It is so sad that we as a society do not value you, anything to avoid paying for our future. Our Sacramento granddaughter gets a week off in February because her teachers are being furloughed. At least we will bring her to Washington, at her request, to learn about presidents. And it is almost as bad here in Denver. Keep up the good work!
It comes down to the fact that good teachers are essential for the maintenance of a free society.
Teachers.
Unarmed soldiers embroiled in the most important battle anyone can imagine.
The teaching of our children.
My mother taught school after she and Dad split, and though she was generally conservative, education issues could make her seem like a raging liberal—she even voiced support for a teachers strike when we moved to CT after she re-married.
That’s music to my ears.
For the last 20 years, I’ve taught students with emotional disabilities. There were days I hated it, and days I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Can’t say I was ever really bored.
Something that I find curious in America today is the trend toward home schooling.
I guess parents think they can do a better job of educating kids than people trained in education. And maybe some of them can. But it seems like the kids would be missing a nice chunk of growing up, socializing and being part of a larger world.
Like history, teaching looks easy. Especially good teaching.