7x Why we should be grateful to the teacher

In Amsterdam, sixteen schools are closing for a week to draw attention to the teacher shortage. You wonder how loudly they have to shout to ensure that more money is pushed into their drawer and that more teachers will come. Therefore, as a futile drop on a overheated plate, a small ode to the teacher and why we should cherish them.

1. Standing up every day

We trickle into our office a bit and then extensively discuss the weekend (we call that ‘inspiration’ and ‘feeling the thermometer of society’) and make another café latte, a teacher must be exactly on time and then has to shake 25 hands and probably also talk to at least that many parents. One has a little cough, another didn't sleep well, another didn't know there was a test today, and so on. It's actually like organizing an event every day but then at 8:15 AM.

2. The backpacks

Because it is encouraged to admit children who need more help into regular education, the teacher has quite a few backpacks. Of course, if possible, extra help is ‘purchased’ for those children, but first of all, that help is not always available, and secondly, you do have that extra care. You have to keep an eye on how the children feel, whether they are developing well, and whether they fit well in the group.

3. The level

As a school, you want to score well, so the results of Cito tests and the number of children who transition to havo or VWO are important. That pressure is palpable.

4. The parents, the parents

You go tell those double lawyers that their sweet child really comes into their own best at VMBO according to you. I can tell you one thing: it always depends on you and the way you teach and NEVER on their child.

5. The versatility

You have to be able to perform, you must be patient and show decisiveness, you must be good at math and language, you must be up to date with the news, you must have an opinion but also cannot be too directive, and so on.

6. Everything on that day

As a teacher, you can never just pop out to the dentist, the veterinarian, a mortgage advisor, or various other appointments that people with a ‘regular’ job can do in between, but you cannot.

7. All those extras

Teachers who craft a Christmas card for everyone or Ms. Marijke who always crochets 25 finger puppets of Sinterklaas together with her mother, that message to ask how things are going a day after your child went home sick, empathizing with that sick grandparent, guiding a child who is struggling with her parents' divorce, and so on. There are 25 private lives involved.

In short, be a little extra kind to them. Teachers do this work not for the money and fame, so let's cherish and hug them and buy an extra nice gift at Christmas. And teachers, let us know what we can do, just give us a task, we are good at that.