By Barbara Sapp Moose
For the Salisbury Post
May 4-10 has been designated as National Teacher Appreciation Week, with Tuesday, May 6, being National Teacher Day. Efforts to honor and show gratitude to teachers started more than 50 years ago. Typically, PTAs sponsor lunches or special treats for teachers in their schools.
I’d like to encourage anyone who reads this to take a moment to remember a teacher from your past. Although this week is geared toward schoolteachers, I think back to Sunday School teachers, piano teachers, dance teachers, mentors, Scout leaders, club advisors, adults whom I have considered role models and my parents.
My parents taught me about hard work, sacrifice, respect and generosity. I know that my parents worked hard for everything they had. I never heard them complain about working, and somehow I knew that everything they did was for my sister and me, even doing without things for themselves in order to get things for us. By example they taught me to respect everyone, especially my elders, and not to look down on anyone. They were happiest when they could share the bounty of their prolific back yard garden with anyone. My parents were the first people who believed in me, lovingly making their high expectations of me known.
I had excellent teachers at Granite Quarry Elementary, C.C. Erwin Junior High and East Rowan High School. I’ve had great teachers in college, too. Though I’d love to mention many by name, there would not be enough room for me to highlight the long list here.
None of us ever know when we may make an impact or teach by our example. A retired teacher had a great impact on me with her gift of writing, which was silenced before I had a chance to tell her how much she and her writing meant to me. Joan Ashley and I never taught together, but we were brought together in an organization for women educators. I remember Joan’s bright smile, her infectious laughter and her gift for being able to share her life experiences through writing. I miss her writing, but I especially miss Joan.
As you reflect on a teacher who has had an impact on your life, take time to let him or her know, if possible. Even better, volunteer to help a young person through Communities in Schools or the numerous other organizations in our community to teach, support and encourage our future leaders, and hopefully future teachers.
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Barbara Sapp Moose works for the Rowan-Salisbury School System and lives in Faith.