We as a whole at C.M. Russell High School would like to appreciate and give thanks to all the hard working teachers at CMR that help students prepare for the future. Not only do they encourage students to put their all into doing classwork, but they also have to deal with the way students treat them while working typically 54 hours a week for up to 10-11 hours a day getting to school at 5-6 a.m. and staying until 5 p.m. most of the time. Not only do teachers work through the school week, but Sundays are often used for planning and preparing for the week ahead and the school holidays are not often really holidays. 

 

By the time students leave at the end of the day, teachers are exhausted but have to stay and plan for tomorrow, grade work done throughout the week, analyze data, connect with parents of students and help their colleagues. Teachers have helped guide us through the many obstacles in life. They have taught students much more than just the subject material. They are the epitome of being a great role model in both the classroom and the community. 

 

Teachers make a huge number of decisions much like a manager but without the manager paycheck. Teachers make up to 15.77 an hour for 1 to 2 years of experience, 18.39 for 6 to 9 years, 21.12 for more than 10 years making anywhere between 35k-75k a year. Teachers don’t pick their career for money but because it is something they want to do. 

 

Teachers make many decisions, and all of the decisions are both big and small but still very important. They make decisions like how to grade papers and tests, deciding whether to use messy paint or easy crayons and whether to go outside or stay inside. Teachers make seemingly endless decisions each day. Teachers have unmatched dedication towards their students. They are always patient and willing to work one-on-one with any student in order to help further their understanding of subjects. They are flexible in scheduling, and they go above and beyond the classroom. Teachers teach you inside the classroom, but they also take part in school clubs and activities, voluntarily shortening the time they spend relaxing or with family. It’s clear that teachers are committed to enhancing their students’ education outside of the classroom. 

 

In a report In Louisiana, for instance, nearly 7,000 teachers exited the classroom last school year, about 1,000 more than usual. That’s a turnover rate of 14%, up from between 11% and 12% in a typical pre-pandemic year. 

 

We celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week because we want our teachers to know how much we appreciate what they do for us. We believe that teachers should be given more than a week of appreciation, because teachers do more than any of us could ever imagine not just giving them flowers or barely recognizing them but doing something genuinely nice for the teachers that help us plan for the future and our life ahead get us through high school and eventually college, we think it is important to recognize those teachers who don’t get recognized and treated the best by students because we all know high school students aren’t always the nicest yet teachers still help students and put up with how they get treated. Teachers try their hardest and put their all into their work and deserve more recognition than what we are giving them.