G.O.A.T. of the week – JILL BIDEN TO HONOR TEACHERS WITH STATE DINNER FOR FIRST TIME IN MAY - (the HILL)

(Teaching with Passion : Image Source : Huffpost)

Whoa you guys! This is a long time coming and way overdue! Teachers are the unsung heroes and backbone of our society, and it will be so nice that the federal government is willing to do something to honor their selfless service. I have personally been through a lot of schooling over the years. When added all up, including the time I spent in K-12, I have been a student at least half of my life and I am about to be 40 years old! Learning is so gratifying, just because someone finishes a type of schooling does not mean that they will not have further need for more teachers throughout their life. A teacher can also make or break a student’s confidence in their learning experience.  

“Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” - G.K. Chesterton 

Did you know that the first national Teacher of the Year award was started in 1952 (Glavin) to honor their excellence? They are invited to the White House rose gardens to accept their accolades. The winners then become the spokespeople advocating for the teaching profession and are granted a yearlong sabbatical to travel the country in favor of promoting an issue that is close to their heart. The award itself is a glass apple demonstrating the symbolism of ancient times regarding the Tree of Knowledge and in more modern times, how students would give an apple to a teacher as a way of showing gratitude.  

(Teacher of the Year Glass Apple Award : Image Source : AwardMakers)

Teaching provides multiple roles such as instruction in literacy, numeracy, and helping students acquire knowledge through virtue and competency. Some states pay their teachers better than others, while some states pay well below a living wage. The best places to be a teacher in the United States include California, New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, New Jersey, D.C, Alaska and Rhode Island with the average mean salary being from $75,000 - $92,000 (Teacher Pay by State 2024). Contrastingly, Montana is ranked the lowest by states in that the living wage average is $47,000 while they pay their teachers a measly $31,000. Interestingly, Georgia’s teachers make a fair living at around $62,000.  

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin 

Because state funding does not always guarantee resources for everyone, many teachers end up spending money out of their own pockets to fund the classroom experience. As the idea around public schooling enables every child to be taken care of and given a well-rounded education, it does not always mean that those children will have the same financial means if they come from low-income households. According to a Forbes study, “95% of teachers spent money on classroom supplies without being reimbursed” (Darling-Hammond) which further exacerbates many of these dedicated professionals feeling education fatigue and leaving the field.  

(Hardships of Learning during a Pandemic : Image Source : WPI Journal) 

Another source of teaching fatigue was felt nationally during the pandemic where stresses induced by the need to switch to hybrid or solely online learning, resulted in many teachers feeling uncertainty about staying in the field until retirement. According to a study conducted by the Brookings Institute involving 1,045 teachers, “in March 2020, 74% expected to work a full career until retirement, while in March 2021, 30% expected to leave the field entirely” (Camp et al.). Many cited the unrealistic expectations of the education department in their reason for feeling futile about their career choice. In 2024 alone, there is a “demand for 300,000 teachers across the country” (10 States with Massive Teacher Shortages (February 2023)). In places like Georgia, there is even an attempt to recruit retired teachers back to the field because of the Great American Teacher Shortage caused by the pandemic. As it stands, there are 3,112 open teacher positions for K-12 schooling throughout the entire state (Loehrke).  

(The Prestige of a State Dinner : Image Source : Irish Chronicle) 

Considering that the idea of state dinners are usually reserved for foreign dignitaries and presidents, this idea is a beneficial one which will transcend how we honor the brilliant luminaries that change people’s lives. Hopefully, this becomes a precedent moving forward where the president continually honors those who pursue this profession in an extravagant way. 

“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.” - Brad Henry 

As a final note, bad teachers ruin it for everyone. But, if you have had an excellent teacher here at Kennesaw University, I highly recommend utilizing the “thank-a-teacher" note on the university’s website. If you ever felt during your time here that one professor went above and beyond in your education, the most important thing is to thank them for it. Many professors never get to hear true and grateful communication from their students, and it is a nice little cherry on top of all their hard work. I have only ever utilized it twice because it is an honor reserved for those who truly deserve it. Just like how we work diligently and responsibly toward our studies and get rewarded through scholarships, being granted special consideration toward Honor’s Society, the Dean’s List, or the President’s List, we must also remember to acknowledge the professors that influenced our lives for the better! You might be the very thing that convinces them that their life has meaning and purpose. 😊  

Sources: 

10 States with Massive Teacher Shortages (February 2023). www.universities.com/education/states-with-the-highest-teacher-shortages. 

“Brad Henry ‘S Quote About . A Good Teacher Can Inspire….” QuotesCover, quotescover.com/brad-henry-quote-about-teacher/app/high-resolution-image. 

Camp, Andrew, et al. “How The Pandemic Has Changed Teachers’ Commitment to Remaining in the Classroom.” Brookings, 8 Sept. 2021, www.brookings.edu/articles/how-the-pandemic-has-changed-teachers-commitment-to-remaining-in-the-classroom. 

Darling-Hammond, Linda. “Underpaid and Undersupplied: The Hidden Costs of Teaching in America.” Forbes, 8 Sept. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/lindadarlinghammond/2023/09/01/underpaid-and-undersupplied-the-hidden-costs-of-teaching-in-america/?sh=6ce492cd7f21. 

Glavin, Chris. National Teacher of the Year | K12 Academics. www.k12academics.com/American%20Education%20Awards/national-teacher-year. 

Loehrke, Janet. “Where Are All the Teachers? Breaking Down America’s Teacher Shortage Crisis in 5 Charts.” USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024, www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/03/19/teacher-shortage-crisis-explained/72958393007. 

Robertson, Nick. “The Hill.” The Hill, 3 Apr. 2024, thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4568438-jill-biden-teachers-state-dinner. 

Teacher Pay by State 2024. worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teacher-pay-by-state. 

Tony. “30 Education Quotes That Will Inspire You to Seek and Discover.” SayingImages.com, 6 Mar. 2024, sayingimages.com/education-quotes-pictures. 

Top 40 Learning Quotes (2024 Update) - QuoteFancy. quotefancy.com/learning-quotes. 

 

Image Sources: 

Admin. “Biden’s State Dinner for Japan to Feature Paul Simon and Celebrate Spring.” Irish, British and International News, 10 Apr. 2024, irishchronicle.com/politics/bidens-state-dinner-for-japan-to-feature-paul-simon-and-celebrate-spring. 

Gard, Lori. “What Makes Teachers Great? We Care.” HuffPost, 4 Apr. 2015, www.huffpost.com/archive/ca/entry/what-makes-teachers-great-we-care_b_6590090. 

Learning During a Pandemic – WPI Journal. wp.wpi.edu/journal/articles/learning-during-a-pandemic. 

“Teacher Appreciation Crystal Apple - AwardMakers.” AwardMakers, 15 June 2021, www.awardmakers.net/award-products/crystal-awards/teacher-appreciation-crystal-apple-2.