Julie changes one student every day as he
is mentally unable to change himself.
She has to wipe, clean, undress and dress this student every single day.
Jason, after school, coaches 15 boys
basketball. He has to plan drills,
prepare his students both mentally and physically for the next game, book
hotels and busses, and ensure each player is caught up in all classes.
Lindsey listened in silence as her student
confessed that one night she drank too much and danced naked in front of other
students. After calling a counselor and
organizing a third party psychologist to come in, Lindsey watched for days as
this student dealt with turmoil, bullying, and public ridicule. Through various supports, which Lindsey
organized, this student over came this incidence and regained her mental
health.
Chris wakes up every morning at 5 am to
ensure he is at school to drive the cross-country running team on the bus. Being one of the few teachers who have a bus
license, he is called to drive the team to and from the track every
morning. While they train, Chris sits,
enjoys a book, listens, and waits for the coach, whom is another teacher, to
finish the daily training so he can drive the students back.
Brenda spent her Saturday on the phone with
local RCMP discussing the mental health of a suicidal student. She then drove to the hospital to sit with
the student, as his family abandoned him and Brenda was the closest person he
had left. Only knowing the student for 3
months, she had very little information to give to the RCMP however the time
she spent with him on Saturday may be the only reason he is alive today.
Carol has students who arrive to school
starving. Knowing that it is hard to
focus when your stomach is louder than the people around you, she cooks a
simple breakfast in her classroom every morning. Usually coming out of her own pocket, she
shops once a week to buy bagels, bread, eggs, fruit, and other simple breakfast
items.
The root word of teacher may be “teach”
however this word represents only a part of the day of a teacher. Teachers do teach, as well as act as
parents, friends, shoulders, counselors, emergency contacts, cooks, bus
drivers, coaches, and most importantly non-judgmental people.
