by Kevan Simpson

Created on: April 12, 2009   Last Updated: April 15, 2009

My mother-in-law is 60 years young and spends her time scrapping and clawing thru the 30th year of her teaching career, trying her best to open the eyes of the 7th grade students that she teaches thru out the day. Young immature children disrespect her on a regular basis yet she still wakes up every morning and gathers the strength to help these children fulfill dreams that, without someone like her would be awfully difficult to fulfill. How can anyone say that teachers don't make a positive change in everyday living when truthfully we don't have politicians, doctors, lawyers, judges, computer techs and mechanics without them. Most of what we are in society is based on someone teaching us and showing us the way. As babies we are impressionable, picking up on what it is that we learn daily . Teachers don't make top dollar so obviously this is more than just a job to them, it is a passion and a feel of duty to help their fellow man become all they can be.

I really don't think society appreciates the time and effort put in by our teachers, because if we did they would be the highest paid in our economy. Doctors make hundreds of thousands of dollars yet most of their knowledge about medicine and the human body came from teachers. How can knowledge be the key when we disregard the individuals who help to give us the knowledge that's needed. Let's remember that Jesus was considered the greatest teacher of all time, and that the bible is a source of teaching that is released from the knowledge of a higher power. So without teaching what would we know about the history of mankind? The Socrates and Albert Einstein's of the world have helped to give us information over the years that continue to help us grow as a society to understand way's to improve our way of life. Teaching is a selfless act because it shows that you have the knowledge and are willing to pass it on to someone else. If teachers went on a permanent strike, we would have to teach ourselves, which in turn would make us teachers, so the cycle continues. As an African-American who studied up on my ancestors history I realized that they were not allowed an education for many years because the Caucasians could overpower us as long as we were ignorant and unable to understand what was going on around us.

Teachers are to be commended for their hard work, and recognized for their unwavering diligence. They help us to be what we are today, locally and globally. If that's not a positive I don't know what is.

Learn more about this author, Kevan Simpson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.