GARY'S WORLD: Put away the chips and hit the books

Opinion

August 17, 2009

By Gary Nelson / gnelson@crossville-chronicle.com The Crossville Chronicle Mon Aug 17, 2009, 03:10 PM CDT

Well another summer has come and gone for the kids in Cumberland County and it's back to school for their first full week. I feel for the students and the teachers, too.

It's hard to get back on a routine schedule and not being able to lay around, eat potato chips, drink Cokes and watch cartoons all day, or go fishing, biking or play whenever you want.

Preparing for back to school is not a picnic for a teacher, either.

My wife is beginning her fifth year as a fifth-grade elementary teacher in this county. You would think that, each year, getting ready to go back to school would get easier. That's simply not the case.

Each year it's like starting over because everything has to be boxed up, or packed up at the end of the school year so the floors can be cleaned in her room at Pleasant Hill Elementary.

There is so much work and organization that goes into planning for the school year. In our home, it becomes a family project. Everyone at one point or another does something to help get that classroom ready. We carry boxes, paint, hook up computers, move stuff all over and put it back again. I'm sure it's that way with many teachers who have families. It's just one of the sacrifices in getting ready for the new school year.

Getting that room ready is kind of symbolic because it helps gets everyone into the frame of mind of heading back to school and getting back to the daily routine. Planning for the education theme of the year and decorating the room for that theme is also a challenge. For my wife, it comes easy. Building a theme and following it is like a fantasy come true.

I kid you not.

We once spent five hours at Party City in Knoxville while my wife looked at the endless supply of birthday themes and dreamed of the possibilities for our kids' birthdays. Or stuff she could use in a classroom. When our kids were younger, there was always a theme to their party along with a cake — always made by my wife.

She loves to decorate for themes and parties.

As much as she loves that, it's still hard to do after spending a couple of months with your family and revolving around their world. With two teenage children, it isn't easy either.

This was also a big year going back to school because my daughter started her senior year. Her last year in the school system. She has had some great teachers along the way in Cumberland County. She's had a few downers, too, but she learned to deal with them as part of life.

Isn't that what going to school is about? Not only learning in the class room, but learning about people and the types of people you will meet in life and dealing with all those challenges they present.

That's how it is for our kids. Every situation has a lesson and our kids have come to learn that along the way. How you deal with that situation defines who you are.

I was reading a blog online the other day and the topic was about what teachers make. Some comments were, "teachers don't make much."

One of the comments was, "those who can do, do. Those who can't do what they want, teach."

It really bothered me because that's not the case.

Another person posted, "Teachers help make CEO's."

Many teachers sacrifice so much for their students. They give their time unselfishly and bring a ton of work home with them on a daily basis. I dare say the teachers usually have more homework than the students. There's a lot more that goes into teaching then just a 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift at the school. It never stops there. There's also dealing with the parents, coworkers and politics.

Being a teacher is like being the mother or father of 30 kids.

I am proud to tell people my wife is a teacher. I'm proud of her and the work she does with her students. I commend those who teach. What a teacher can do for a child is change their world.

Looking at that blog online I thought about it and made my post.

"My wife is a teacher and I'll tell you what she makes. She makes a difference."

I can think of at least no less than three teachers who made a difference in my life.

A big thank you to all of our teachers. You have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility. You are helping shape the future of our community and our country. You have the opportunity to make a difference — don't take that opportunity lightly.

May you all have a successful school year.

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