I remember once travelling though rural Turkey. I was on an archaeological study tour and so we were visiting some very unusual places, a long way from the usual popular tourist destinations. We asked our tour guide if we could have the bus stop at one of the local towns to see and experience a little of what life is really like. As we hopped of the bus, I saw a group of children playing a handball type of game and wandered over to see how the game worked and what else was happening, as it was during the day when school would usually be on. Not many of the children spoke English, but one did and she explained the game to me. Her name was Yasmin, she looked about 10 years old, and I asked about school and what life is like for the children in her town. She said they didn’t always have school as they didn’t always have teachers and that most of them had to work in their family’s businesses. I previously had a similar experience in Egypt on that same tour and these two meetings have stuck with me and impacted my thinking deeply since that time. There is no doubt that we take the educational opportunities for our children, and the amazing staff who provide those opportunities, for granted.

Last week on Friday, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day. This was a day that was inaugurated by the United Nations to help us promote and recognise the important part teachers play in our world and their value in shaping the lives of our young ones. This year is an important one for the UN as it marks the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) in which education is seen as a fundamental foundation. This message was posted on the UNESCO website this year.

 “On this World Teachers’ Day, as we celebrate teachers’ important contributions to improving the lives of children and youth around the world, we reaffirm our commitment to increasing the global supply of qualified teachers. We urge all governments and the international community to join us in this endeavour, so that all children and young people, no matter their circumstances, can secure their right to quality education and a better future." (UNESCO, 2018)

I know we can always do better, and there are times when we might be frustrated with our child’s teacher (or principal), but I would like to celebrate our teachers today. There are times I walk into classrooms and there are 25 children, all wanting the teacher’s attention. I think to myself, “How do they do this with such love, compassion, dedication, creativity, energy and insight, day after day?” If you get a chance, please take the opportunity to somehow show some appreciation to your child’s teachers. I know it will be greatly appreciated.

We don’t know all of what our teachers do for our kids, but I do know of some of the special things our teachers do for students, like the “Up and Go” drinks that are safely stored or the muesli bars, or special stickers or fruit, or donations that no one ever gets to hear about. There are also those extras that they look for and find for the student who is struggling with a particular concept, or the additional thing to challenge the clever child to stretch them in their thinking and learning and of course the hours of cutting out, preparing for class and writing reports in a way that shares what’s happening as well as lifting and encouraging the students and us as parents.

Thank you, teachers and SSOs, my hat is not only tipped to you, it is thrown high in the air with great appreciation, celebration and respect.

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B