Sadly, I was working last night, so I didn’t get to see the teaching awards. but I have read a bit about them this morning. I have to say that I think it is great that something good about the profession gets to hit the headlines this morning, rather than the focus on the negative. Yes, I know that there are sure to be complaints about the fact that there are thousands of teachers out there doing a good, great or fantastic job who don’t get nominated, but, though that is true, what I have read on the website about some of the winners is both touching and inspirational.
Firstly, there’s the governor (and let’s remember governors are unpaid volunteers) who fought to bring together a divided community and to get the right head and buildings for her school. Now that the school is doing well, she takes more of a back-seat role, but apparently she is still highly supportive of the school in every way.
But the person who touched me the most was the teaching assistant who works in an extremely deprived area and who has helped parents, children and staff alike. She runs a breakfast club – nothing new here, except that it is for the staff, she accompanies parents to court, works with social services to get families help and supports those on drugs (one mother actually stated that she is now ‘clean’ thanks to this lady. She has put her money where her mouth is and shown support to the school by sending her children and grandchildren there. And those are just the things that I can remember off the top of my head.
So, yes, I am sure there are lots of people out there going above and beyond the call of duty. But it sure doesn’t hurt to be reminded of this from time to time. I don’t expect that everyone should go to the lengths that these people have gone to, but reading their stories has made me feel humble. I don’t live in an area of such deprivation where such grand things need to be done, but I am sure that there are times when I could support my school more than I do. I might even suggest a breakfast club for the staff – manned by one or two governors – even if it is only once a term. It doesn’t hurt to show our appreciation, does it?