Last week, I wrote about summers’ end and all of the emotions about returning to school. The excitement and anxiety surrounding our young scholars is real and we must be sure to support them on their intellectual journey. However, in doing so, we must not forget about the teachers who are such an integral part of the development of the children in our communities.
So many teachers are starting the coming school year out of pocket and using their own resources to create the best learning environments for their students. As a fourth-generation educator, I am well aware that teaching is a calling. So many educators sacrifice their time and even financial gain to help educate the future of America. They take their jobs seriously and sometimes must deal with obstinate children, parents, and administrators as they attempt to do so.
Something I like to do at the beginning of every school year is donate to a teacher who has registered with Donors Choose at www.donorschoose.org. Donors Choose makes it so easy to donate to teachers who have listed their various needs for their respective classrooms. Some teachers need supplies like pens and markers. Others want rugs so kids can rest and play in comfort. Some request tablets for activities or a white board to assist in presenting their visual lessons, while others ask for yoga mats to help their students relax and learn how to deal with anxiety. The requests range, as do the donation levels and geographic locales.
Some years, I choose a school in my ZIP code. Some years, I’ve chosen a random teacher with my last name. I’ve even chosen schools in my beloved favorite city of Baltimore, where my late Omega uncle, Dr. Walter Amprey, was superintendent of Baltimore City public schools. What is very clear is the dedication of thousands of teachers who are trying to create the best classroom environments for their students. Not surprisingly, many of the teachers on the site teach at underfunded and under-resourced schools; however, they are keenly aware that the deficits of material goods in the classroom do not mean there are deficiencies with their students.
There is a real need for investment in our schools — something the federal government seems increasingly disinterested in. It is incumbent upon communities to keep their eye on the prize and support our future leaders at all stages of their development and growth. What so many teachers state on Donors Choose is that no donation is too small. We must resist the urge to emulate the selfishness and hoarding we are witnessing at the federal level. We know better, and we must do better. Our investment now will pay off dividends in the future. I know it.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.