Teacher Money

The words below was originally recently sent to a few local-national blogs/commentaries (EdWeek Teacher, SmartBlogs, and my teacher's union newsletter).  Then it hit me:  just blog it.

And since I couldn't hold it any longer, Enjoy.  -->E.M.D

Dean, E. M.  (2012, December). Teacher money.  The Detroit Teacher, p.10.  Retrieved from http://dft231.mi.aft.org/files/dec2012.pdf

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Teacher Money by Erica M Dean, M. Ed (2012)

It’s another payday evening.

For the most part, I am satisfied with the fact that I was able to take care of my rent and car note.

I even took my cat to the vet for a nail trim.

Relaxing on the couch and reflecting on the day, I thought about the wages I had brought home…and how quickly they disappeared.

Then my mind drifted to thoughts of those in other professions:  I wondered if they worried about their wages and certain “disappearing acts”.

For a brief moment, I wished I was in a different profession.  A “big money” profession.

Before my thoughts spiraled into the realm of depression, my church-upbringing stopped me.

In fact, my church-upbringing stopped and reminded me of the following:

A)    I don’t make “lawyer money”.

B)    I don’t make “doctor money”.

C)   I’m a teacher:  I teach and make “teacher money”.

Some may laugh at the comparison, and simply say, “There is no comparison”.  However, it was my faith in God that caused me to reconsider this as the thought dropped into my spirit, deep and heavy.  Suddenly, my mind was filled with a different perspective that caused me to boldly proclaim that my “teacher money” beats “lawyer” and “doctor” money hands-down.

How?

Glad you asked.

You see, in spite of a pay cut here and there, my teacher money stretches far and wide.

My teacher money works miracles.

My teacher money can brighten up a classroom with a fresh roll of bulletin board paper, a leafy green plant, or a classroom pet.

The bulletin board paper is tacked to the wall and then covered with the hopes and dreams of a group of students.  A place where their best work can be displayed for all to see, like a mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or other relative/family friend that will hopefully come to the next parent-teacher conference.

“I hope they come too”, I gently say.

Purchasing that leafy green plant and classroom pet opens the door to exploration.

So many questions:

Why is that plant green?  Is that fish swimming backwards?  Is this plant poisonous?  Where do hamsters come from?

The questions go on and on:  “I don’t have the answers, but perhaps reading a book or doing research on the Internet may help you out”.

Books are read.  Internet research conducted.  Minds grow. 

My teacher money did that.

My teacher money can buy the construction paper, glue, and glitter that aids in the crafting of the perfect “thank-you-card” for a helpful volunteer.  That volunteer will take that card home and place it on the living room table for all to see.

Visitors ask, “Do you think I could be a school volunteer as well?” 

Yes!  There’s always a need for good volunteers at the school.  

Instant recruitment.

My teacher money did that.

My teacher money can make a student of any age feel loved through the purchase of a pair of socks, pair of shoes, or even a new coat when his or her family is unable to make that purchase for whatever reason.

My teacher money buys uniforms for a family of four, allowing them to fit in with the rest of the class and not be teased or bullied.

My teacher money always manages to give to a colleague by way of a birthday card, a condolence card, wedding or new baby card…with even enough left over to buy the principal, assistant principal, and all the secretaries something special on their respective “holidays”.

My teacher money manages to somehow remember to thank the foster grandparents, school service attendants, paraprofessionals, school counselors, speech therapists, resources teachers, attendance agents, building engineers, security guards, custodians and food service staff as well.

Yes, my teacher money stretches far and wide.

My teacher money works miracles.

My teacher money also provides for the best pizza parties in the city: let’s see, there’s the Back to School, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas pizza parties, and don’t forget the pizza party to celebrate the time when the whole class was quiet for 10 minutes.

Although it gets a little rough and uncertain in the world of Education, I still believe in my Education degrees (shout out to Wayne State University-Detroit Michigan / BA 2000 and M.Ed 2004).  I still believe that what I do makes a difference, no matter what is posted on Facebook or tweeted on Twitter about the “lowly educator”.

My career and my job still matter…and my teacher money does, too.

My teacher money stretches far and wide.

My teacher money works miracles.

Amen.
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A proud graduate of the Detroit Public Schools' Mackenzie High School (now Mackenzie PK-8), Erica M Dean, M.Ed is the ELA Instructional Specialist at Greenfield Union Elementary/Middle School, and has worked for Detroit Public Schools since 2001. She is a member of New Providence Baptist Church, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.-Rho Sigma Detroit Alumnae Chapter, and several professional organizations. Follow her @TeacherPants_01 or contact her via ericamdean.educator@gmail.com.