Why "Break Even Teaching"

My wife is a Teacher's Aide at a small elementary school in Northern Indiana.  She is a GREAT aide to these kids!  I started out my career in education working in College Admissions,  but "went to the dark side" with banking several years ago. I am a Lehman Brothers survivor, to the extent that any of us really survived. Over the years I slowly lost touch, and if I am honest, interest, in what my wife did on a day to day basis.  Until last fall...

With my life on a bit of a hold while I searched out my next vocational venture, I was sitting home posting resumes and scanning employment websites when the phone rang.  It startled me, because the only people that ever called me, well nobody ever called me.  The phone sat dormant most of the day.  I assumed that this was going to be the call I had been waiting for.  The job that was going to bring me back into a cushy job(sarcasm) in education!  No, this was my wife telling me of the woes of the school.  Really selling the fact that two of the other aides were out sick and she needed me to come fill in for a couple of hours.  Begrudgingly, to say the absolute least, I agreed.

Now, first you must understand some things.  I am 48 years old and am 6'1" carrying over 250 lbs of not unintimidating corn fed human.  I don't frighten easily, and can honestly say there are very few things that I don't feel I can do reasonably well.  Sword Swallowing!  Now that is something I don't think I can do well.  Huge gag reflex, and not fond of paper cuts, let alone gaping wounds.  But one of the other few things that really scare me...little kids.

My sons have been raised and are now off to other places and adventures, so I hadn't been with "little" kids in quite a while.  So for my wife to plead with me to come and fill in, well, I really must love her to oblige. 

All that day, I waited. Patiently.  Where were the crying children?  Where were the fighting boys?  Where were the kurschmackers with the clinkedy clackers, making all of that noise, noise, noise noise!?  Sorry, but I did feel like the Grinch that day.  But regardless of all of my worst and most foul expectations, nothing bad really ever happened.  In fact, I ended up really falling in love with the kids, and the job, and the whole nine yards.  So much so, that when an opening came up as an aide at that very school...I applied.  And the rest, as they say, is History.  Well, more like current events, as I am going back for year two this fall.

To say that that one day changed me would be a grave error.  That one day allowed me to take a step in life that I would never, ever have taken.  A step that ultimately gave me back a sense of hope and happiness in my life.  But what amazed me even more, were these amazing professionals that I worked with.  From the Principal to the librarian to the custodians to the teachers, these people really cared!  I mean,  "drop everything else in your life and let's sit down and discuss how we can touch lives", cared!  Not the bank slogan type of care.

Budgets are tough for everybody these days, cuts must be made, but what will we do for the needs of the school?  I'll tell you what these people do...they pay it out of their own pockets!  I know!  That's what I said!  Until I spent every day with these same kids, that HAD gloves, because someone was willing to donate them.  These same kids, that HAD crayons because one of their teachers knew they needed them and slipped them into their desk overnight, like a little wax elf making a special delivery.  These same kids that HAD lice treatments because someone cared enough to not let them go home itching again for the third day straight!

So, here is my point and the point of this entire blog.  These educators, I am certain, are amazing, yet, I am even more certain, more typical than we care to believe.  They didn't get in to education to make money, and due to the fault of legislators everywhere, that has been more than granted.  But these people go above and beyond, everyday.

So, let's raise a glass, tip a hat, or put our hands together, for all of the teachers, custodians, administrative assistants, school nurses, Principals, and yes, even aides, that go out there every day, not to make money...but just try to break even.

I am in awe of you daily, and I salute you!

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