God Bless The Teacher
I just ran some errands with Mrs. RTK and one of the stops was The School Box. We’ve been there many times, but this time was different. You all probably know of the cuts in school budgets, furlough days and “reductions in force”. My wife was a victim of being “RIFFED” after having been a teacher for 32 years, but just one year in a new county. She went over 6 weeks without so much as a call for an interview, but has now landed back in the same county, just at a different school and position. We are thankful for that.
But, that’s not the reason for this blog post.
Something that has puzzled me in the eight plus years we’ve been married is how much of “our” money she spent on the kids. It was not always necessary, but if she thought it would help certain kids learn, she did it. What struck me today is that even in this teaching climate, the store was packed with some obviously veteran teachers and just as many new teachers full of ideas. All of them spending money they may not have, to be ready for the school year. It’s obvious to me that no matter what the situation is, the best teachers will find a way.
God bless those with the heart of a teacher.
Glad she found a position. And very happy for the school where she will teach! It is just incredible to me that in the “greatest” country of the world we allow our government to take advantage of our teachers. Our country is the most generous nation in the world. We provide aide to hundreds of countries and millions of people but we short change women and men with the biggest hearts and greatest unselfish desire to educate our children. Shame on us for allowing this to happen.
I for one always find out how a candidate voted on educational issues. If they did not support funding for education I will not vote for them. Regardless of party.
Good karma to your wife Rex and all the others in America with similar hearts and goals. Pax, DL
08/18/2010 at 11:16 AM
Rex, God Bless your wife and all the teachers who buy supplies for the children they teach. I’ve always believed in the old adage that if you think education is expensive….try ignorance. Glad your wife got her job back but I’m appalled by any rule/system that would let a teacher with 32 years of experience go. Geez…..seems like those in school administration could use a little more education themselves. Dumb….just plain dumb.
08/13/2010 at 11:06 AM
On a related note, Friday is Educator Appreciation Day at the UGA Bookstore.
08/02/2010 at 10:11 PM
I am glad your wife found another job. Good teachers are called and do everything they can to reach their students. There is not enough money to pay them even when we aren’t in budget crunches. God bless her for her work. My youngest just finished her bachelors at GCSU in Special Education and is starting UGA in August to get her Masters in Special Ed-Classic Autism. I am proud to be her mom.
08/01/2010 at 8:22 PM
Amen brother. Teaching is one of the most noble professions. And I’ll state the obvious just in case, remember to keep receipts for the first $250 spent and write it off on your tax return.
07/31/2010 at 10:04 PM
The lack of value placed on good teachers is pathetic. More money than ever is spent on education, and yet good teachers are having to foot part of the bill out of their own pockets.
“It just aint right”
07/31/2010 at 8:58 PM
I’m currently a student at UGA but worked 3 years at The School Box in Kennesaw. Great experience, I learned a lot about how hard teachers work. God bless your wife and all the teachers going through these lean budget years.
07/31/2010 at 5:29 PM
Amen!
07/31/2010 at 3:52 PM
My wife is also a teacher & it has always been understood that she has to spend a fair amount of $ on supplies. One day @ AC Moore, she struck up a conversation with a lady who was buying craft supplies (not for a school). The lady ended up buying all my wife’s supplies that day. It moved my wife to tears knowing that there are people that understand the life of a teacher.
Some day, I’m going return that random favor.
07/31/2010 at 3:51 PM
So very true.
And, not only do they teach, and make financial contributions so that their job can be done correctly, but they take care of (emotionally and otherwise), other people’s kids–I for one am very grateful.
07/31/2010 at 3:04 PM
My wife has taught 1st grade for about 13-14 years….the amount that she spends out of our checkbook on her babies blows my mind. Bless your wife’s heart. I am glad she landed on her feet.
Know about those School Box stores….you can spend your life’s inheritance in there! I know we did Friday!
07/31/2010 at 2:47 PM
Rex, first I’m glad she was able to land a new gig. It always seems that the educators that want to teach are let go while the worthless ones continue to draw a check. We have all had those teachers that don’t care. Luckily those are just a fraction compared to the great teachers out there.
As far as buying their own supplies, this is just the result of red tape. I worked for 5 years in a counties central office, and to get anything took an act of congress. Even today I find myself buying office supplies myself because the process is so broken.
But it is nice that these teachers are still willing to pay out of their pockets, when most are underpaid for what they do.
07/31/2010 at 2:25 PM