Teacher Union Voices: Daddy, What Do You Do?
(The author, a former NEA state affiliate professional employee, chooses to remain anonymous. The views expressed here are those of the author alone.)
Daddy, what do you do?
My youngest child asked me this question when she was about 5 years old. I was surprised and asked her why she asked the question. She said that the kindergarten teacher was having the members of her class share what their parents did and she did not know what to say. I asked her what she thought and she replied, "goes to lots of meetings, talks on the phone a long time, drives a cool car, and takes care of me, my brothers and Mommy."
After much thought I told my daughter that I took care of teachers and their problems and therefore I also took care of her and all of her classmates. This answer was all that she needed and we changed the direction of the conversation.
Daddy, what do you really do for a living?
This time she was 11 years old and had to write a report for her middle school English class.
This time the answer took longer for me to consider. My reply was met with more questions and even turned into an interview.
I told my daughter that I still take care of teachers and their problems.
What kind of problems?
Problems that arise from dealing with an average of 30 students in a classroom all day, grading papers and lesson assignments after school and at home, telephoning and e-mailing parents and other teachers.
Problems dealing with the principal, school secretary, janitor, lunchroom staff, school maintenance staff and a lot of people that work at other school offices called administrators.
But what do you really do for these teachers?
I give them peace of mind and comfort in that someone understands what they are going through each and every day. I give them an opportunity to yell and scream, cry and laugh and to feel good about themselves.
How do you do this?
I listen to what they have to say (really listen not just half way listen), and I try to find the answers to their questions and complaints, and help them solve problems for themselves.
Why do you do this for a job?
Because I was a teacher, because your Mommy is a teacher, and because Aunt Alice is a teacher and I know what good teachers can do when they do not have so many problems to deal with and when they can concentrate on teaching.
Because I want you to have the very best education possible and it takes the very best teachers to give you this kind of education. It takes kind, considerate, loving teachers to give you what you need to become a strong young woman who can have a good life.
Because teachers are great at taking care of others but sometimes not so good at taking care of themselves. They get caught up in helping others and forget to help themselves. They concentrate so much on preparing lessons for you that they forget to take the same time for themselves.
Does that answer your questions?
Yes, Daddy it does. I am just going to say that you are the person that makes my teacher the best English teacher in our school.
Daddy, what do you do?
My youngest child asked me this question when she was about 5 years old. I was surprised and asked her why she asked the question. She said that the kindergarten teacher was having the members of her class share what their parents did and she did not know what to say. I asked her what she thought and she replied, "goes to lots of meetings, talks on the phone a long time, drives a cool car, and takes care of me, my brothers and Mommy."
After much thought I told my daughter that I took care of teachers and their problems and therefore I also took care of her and all of her classmates. This answer was all that she needed and we changed the direction of the conversation.
Daddy, what do you really do for a living?
This time she was 11 years old and had to write a report for her middle school English class.
This time the answer took longer for me to consider. My reply was met with more questions and even turned into an interview.
I told my daughter that I still take care of teachers and their problems.
What kind of problems?
Problems that arise from dealing with an average of 30 students in a classroom all day, grading papers and lesson assignments after school and at home, telephoning and e-mailing parents and other teachers.
Problems dealing with the principal, school secretary, janitor, lunchroom staff, school maintenance staff and a lot of people that work at other school offices called administrators.
But what do you really do for these teachers?
I give them peace of mind and comfort in that someone understands what they are going through each and every day. I give them an opportunity to yell and scream, cry and laugh and to feel good about themselves.
How do you do this?
I listen to what they have to say (really listen not just half way listen), and I try to find the answers to their questions and complaints, and help them solve problems for themselves.
Why do you do this for a job?
Because I was a teacher, because your Mommy is a teacher, and because Aunt Alice is a teacher and I know what good teachers can do when they do not have so many problems to deal with and when they can concentrate on teaching.
Because I want you to have the very best education possible and it takes the very best teachers to give you this kind of education. It takes kind, considerate, loving teachers to give you what you need to become a strong young woman who can have a good life.
Because teachers are great at taking care of others but sometimes not so good at taking care of themselves. They get caught up in helping others and forget to help themselves. They concentrate so much on preparing lessons for you that they forget to take the same time for themselves.
Does that answer your questions?
Yes, Daddy it does. I am just going to say that you are the person that makes my teacher the best English teacher in our school.
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