Rare Gratitude to Teachers by a Television Celebrity

In an unforeseen moment, public school teachers got props at the Golden Globe Awards last week.  It was a moment that will likely not be seen again, making this a rare gem to rerun on DVR multiple times.  It was a refreshing break from how teachers are normally portrayed on television, which is akin to the Keystone Cops.

While accepting an award for his show “Glee”, writer Ian Brennan said,”Thank you to public school teachers. You do the most important work in America even though you don’t get paid like it.” 

Unlike other “offerings” to teachers in the past, this one seemed genuine.  Almost as if his research for the scripts had given Mr. Brennan an appreciation he would not otherwise have.  If he had more time in his acceptance, he may have gone on to mention what it is about teaching that made it worth so much more than it pays.

Some of the unmentioned travails to having a teaching career are those that people out of the profession can never really appreciate.  Here is a list of some things that most non-teachers can usually do during the day that teachers cannot:

1 – Go to the restroom when nature calls

2 – Run to the bank during lunch

3 – Call in sick, or stay home with a sick child

4 – Submit an expense voucher

5 – Go get a coffee/lunch/newspaper

6 – Let your employer know that they are running late

7 – Leave early

8 – Take an early or long lunch, or even take the time to eat lunch

Then there is the actually job seeking.  There must be a bachelor’s degree and teacher’s license before securing employment.  In the case of many secondary teachers, that means a degree plan that is at least 135 hours, plus a semester of unpaid student teaching.  Many professions require internships, so this isn’t all that unparallel.  

But to be hired at a school, a teacher must submit a very lengthy application, letter of references, and all college transcripts….every time. They also need to submit for background checks, often at their own expense.  People seeking a vice presidency with a major company normally only submit a letter of interest and resume. 

But that is what happens when electing to spend days working with kids, which is something every teacher had signed up to do.  And thank goodness for them.