Throughout my life, I have had many people who have influenced me. Friends, family members, enemies, crushes, bullies, strangers at the grocery store, celebrities, historical figures and activists have all shaped my worldviews and personality. Moreover, one incredibly important group is my teachers.
Our teachers have the power to influence us in ways that nobody else can. Unlike our friends, there isn’t any pressure to fit in or seem cool with them. Unlike our parents, there isn’t a feeling of being forced when you are being guided, or an overwhelming desire to make them proud.
Teachers come to school every day with bravery few have. A willingness to protect their students. Preparation to keep a straight face when something funny, but maybe not school-appropriate, comes up. Teachers need an ear to listen to stupid excuses and to also listen to their students who need help.
When I was in elementary school, I had one teacher who cared so much about her students. The district I was in was poorer than LPS, and there were a few kids in my class who didn’t always have food at home.
However, these unsung heroes in the LPS District get paid, on average, $10,000 less than the average cost of living in the city of Littleton. These people are trusted with our community’s small children, pre-teens, and teens. They teach us how to be people in our society, usually in their lessons.
Many teachers need advanced degrees and many years of experience to earn enough money to live near their place of work. This means larger student loans, furthering financial stress early in one’s career in education. Expecting those who are with America’s youth more than some parents to live in constant financial stress is unreasonable and immoral.
In the workplace, a form of appreciation is through wages- bonuses, raises, promotions, and tips in some industries. The wages of teachers do not reflect the service they provide to our country. This leaves one to wonder, why can’t more of the American tax money go to these real-life heroes?