I had the privilege of being raised by a teacher, and yes I said privilege. My mother taught at a local high school in our county, and she worked in the same school until she retired a few years ago. From that, I learned a lot about dedication, hard work, and being passionate about something. She spent many nights grading papers and providing feedback on projects for her students. She always said that she didn't want them to pile up, and she also wanted her students to get their grades back in a timely manner. I wish all my teachers had that mentality.
Growing up, I had always wanted to be a teacher. Even though I became passionate about something else in college, I always admired my mother's selflessness towards her job. I could tell she honestly loved what she did and took great responsibility in teaching the next generation of professionals and leaders.
My mother taught at a high school in the town next to where we lived. My brother and I had gone to the school in our hometown. I am honestly thankful for the teachers I had. I had mostly good experiences with them, and I knew they cared about me in and out of the classroom. Many of them asked about how I had done at the archery shoot that weekend or congratulated me on the band placing well in competition, some of them I still talk to as a senior in college, and most cared for me as a person rather than just a student. That is what made a difference to me.
West Virginia is one of the lowest paying states for teachers, which is really sad. I think about my mother putting forth all that effort, both in the class and out, for such little appreciation by our state. Not only did she do a lot of grading at home, but she often decorated cakes for prom and the honors banquet. That was not a part of her job description, but she still did it. I also remember her making her homeroom students some snacks during achievement test week. She knew that those long exams would be exhausting and some might be a little hungry afterwards. Again, she did that because she wanted to, rather than it being a requirement of her.
I am not arguing that teachers should get paid more simply because of kind deeds done for students. However, I will argue that teachers are not respected in West Virginia as they should be. I personally know brand new teachers that have to work a second job because their salary as an educator is not enough to live on. That is what I deem as ridiculous. It is so incredible to think about all the influence my past teachers have had on my life. In fact, I probably wouldn't be writing this article had I not had such great AP and English teachers in high school. They taught me so much about writing, and it has served me well in college. I think about my mother serving in the same school for 36 years, and it is amazing to think about all the people she must have had an impact on during her career.
So yes, West Virginia, the teachers in all 55 counties are standing up for what they rightly deserve this week. They deserve more than what they have been given, and I hope you realize it soon. If not, they won't stick around. If you want the state's community to grow, it starts with investing in the youth. That includes paying those who choose a career of investment a livable wage.
After all, they do more than enough to deserve it.
