Tape Measures Don't Work

Each child is so important to us as educators.
We want them to have the world at his/her fingertips.
He/She is one of "our kids" and will always be.

As an educator, I have spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours working with students and teachers problem solving why a particular student is demonstrating struggles in particular disciplines. We sit in our classrooms reviewing copious notes, accessing resources, and problem solve next possible solutions on how to help the student determine the right strategy for success. Without real time during the day to conduct this work, this is a before school, after school, or late evening task for our students. We do this not because of a paycheck or even an accountability metric--we do this because students succeeding is the right thing to do. It's called integrity.

Yet, we struggle is a society on why we can't just get kids to be "at the bar". It should be easy as making a quick adjustment. Hold the phone! We need to remember, our children are not products that are built and shipped for purchase. My parents own a local sheet metal manufacturing company, and I spent a summer working in quality assurance. I would review parts fabricated, review specifications, and ensure accuracy. If the product was off by even an eighth of an inch we could make an adjustment in the process and verify the new product. Then, we could mass produce.

Kids are not mass production. We can't take out a tape measure, check the blueprints, and adjust. It is not just that simple--anyone who thinks different should spend a day with a teacher. We make broad-stroke comments about how to 'fix' education, get kids 'up to speed', and earn that school-wide letter grade of an "A" for recognition. Yet, we do not truly understand the world of a teacher in the classroom.

While you are watching your favorite TV show (maybe Scandal, Designated Survivor, or the Bachelor), just remember the teacher who lives next door or has your child or grandchild in his/her classroom, is combing over his/her notes on the child who lives across the street and just can't seem to master reading fiction texts or adding fractions with unlike denominators. As we enter Teacher Appreciation Week, take time to say thank you to that neighbor, family member, child's teacher, or other educator you know. They need our support, our appreciation, and our cheerleading.

Thank you to Chase's and Carson's teachers. You mean the world to us.