In stores, yellow school bus signs have shoved flip flops and beach balls out of the way. In their place are pens, pencils and loose-leaf paper.

It’s full-on back-to-school time for retailers and a signal to educators, custodians, administrators and support staff to get ready – the kids are coming.

I’d say 99 percent of the teachers are happy to be returning to their classrooms. Their heads are brimming with ideas and they’re excited about getting to teach a new crop of eager students.

That last one percent, however, needs to seriously consider turning in their letter of resignation.

These are the teachers who describe their school building as a prison, whine about overwhelming paperwork and complain that kids today can’t learn.

They grumble about hovering or absentee parents. They think corporal punishment should be brought back and kids are lazy. They’re walking in the door five minutes before the first bell rings and racing to the parking lot after the last bell rings.

In August, they drag out the same lesson plans they’ve used since they started teaching or ones they copied off the Internet, and they refuse to try or do anything new or innovative.

In short, they’re burned out.

If that’s the case, get out.

The educational field is unique because teachers are the ones who have a direct, day-to-day impact on young people. We all remember our favorite teachers – they were the ones who pushed us to go beyond ourselves. They smiled, encouraged and told us we could accomplish whatever we could dream.

When things didn’t go right, they quickly reorganized and tried something different. If that didn’t work, they kept trying instead of giving up. They knew their student’s names and nicknames, their home circumstances and how to read their eyes to make sure they understood the concept.

They knew if the child had undergone a divorce in the home, had recently moved to the district or had health problems. Not because those details were written in a folder but because they took the time to find out what made that child tick.

Most teachers have these super powers. But if you’re only there for the paycheck and benefits, go find another career because attitude and commitment count in the educational field.

In some professions, attitude doesn’t matter.

If you’re a mechanic and you have a brusque attitude with customers, they’ll forgive that if their vehicle runs smoothly.

If you’re a dentist or doctor, most patients forgive a poor bedside manner if you make the pain stop.

Not teachers. They must nurture, care and be willing to invest themselves in their students. They have to risk having their hearts broken when a student moves, gets hurt or brings home problems in the door.

For nine months, a child spends the majority of their day with someone outside of the family. That person should be dedicated to providing the best educational experience for children. That experience not only involves knowing how to use an iPad or writing a term paper, it also encompasses associating learning with passion, fun and a desire to know more.

If you are in the classroom, you deserve all the copy paper, Kleenex, glue sticks and monetary compensation society can bestow on you.

If you’re not willing to commit, then get out before your negativity infects the entire classroom.

To those of you who make the decision to take on this superhuman job, society and families owe you a huge debt because what’s really required isn’t written in the job description. It’s written in the heart.

Never forget – the next generation is counting on you to bring your “A” game.

You should expect nothing less of yourself.

 

This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.