To the Editor:
During the past few months, our community engaged in discussions about the “value” of our teachers. During that time, much of the informal dialogue was about salary steps, how many days teachers are in session, and about their pension and the tenure system. On occasion we would hear talk about the monumental task that teachers accomplish by helping our children learn all they need to know to function successfully in our world.
Now, because of the tragedy in Connecticut, we are reminded about another role of our
teachers – that of frontline protectors of our children.
We all have heard how the staff of Sandy Hook Elementary risked their own lives to save their students, with teachers and support staff stepping directly into the line of fire to pull students to safety. These brave teachers, administrators and staff laid over their students to shield them from harm, and they whispered to their students they loved them. They did this so that if they were killed, the children would leave this world knowing that they are precious and loved.
Besides our heroic police and firefighters, we also have heroes in our teachers who are charged with not only teaching our children but also with protecting them when unspeakable tragedy occurs.
Even in our relatively stable community, school personnel protect our students in important ways by taking action when students are being abused, securing help for students contemplating suicide, and preventing violence when students are thinking about harming others. As local parents try to make sense of this tragedy in Connecticut and learn how to talk to their children about the situation, who are parents calling for advice and guidance?
It is their school.
When we put a “I [heart] Geneva Teachers” sign in our yard a few months ago, it was not just because of all teachers do to help our child learn. It was because we know how teachers protect our son; we know school staff would even give their lives to save him and others.
How do you put a value on that? Isn’t that beyond measure?
Heartfelt gratitude to those of you who work in our schools.
Mary Benjamin
GenevaTo the Editor:
During the past few months, our community engaged in discussions about the “value” of our teachers. During that time, much of the informal dialogue was about salary steps, how many days teachers are in session, and about their pension and the tenure system. On occasion we would hear talk about the monumental task that teachers accomplish by helping our children learn all they need to know to function successfully in our world.
Now, because of the tragedy in Connecticut, we are reminded about another role of our
teachers – that of frontline protectors of our children.
We all have heard how the staff of Sandy Hook Elementary risked their own lives to save their students, with teachers and support staff stepping directly into the line of fire to pull students to safety. These brave teachers, administrators and staff laid over their students to shield them from harm, and they whispered to their students they loved them. They did this so that if they were killed, the children would leave this world knowing that they are precious and loved. Besides our heroic police and firefighters, we also have heroes in our teachers who are charged with not only teaching our children, but also with protecting them when unspeakable tragedy occurs.
Even in our relatively-stable community, school personnel protect our students in important ways by taking action when students are being abused, securing help for students contemplating suicide, and preventing violence when students are thinking about harming others. As local parents try to make sense of this tragedy in Connecticut and learn how to talk to their children about the situation, who are parents calling for advice and guidance? It is their school.
When we put a “I [heart] Geneva Teachers” sign in our yard a few months ago, it was not just because of all teachers do to help our child learn. It was because we know how teachers protect our son; we know school staff would even give their lives to save him and others. How do you put a value on that? Isn’t that beyond measure?
Heartfelt gratitude to those of you who work in our schools.
Mary Benjamin
Geneva
