Hug a Teacher This Week

From the one-room schoolhouses of the yesteryear to the high-tech classrooms of today, one thing remains constant in guaranteeing a good education---great teachers.

And although teachers are often reminded of their contributions throughout the school year, the first full week of May has been reserved as the official time to celebrate those who open minds and form futures.

Monday begins National PTA Teacher Appreciation Week, and Wednesday has been designated California Day of the Teacher.

California's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, is reminding students and parents to show their appreciation this week.

“Teaching is the most important job there is,” Torlakson said in a statement.

“Ask just about anyone about the person who made the biggest difference in their life, chances are that person is a teacher. Let’s all take a moment this week to say `thank you’ to California’s teachers,” he said.

Here’s Torlakson’s top 10 list.

For students:

1. Thank your teacher for all of his or her hard work.
2. Do your best on homework and in-class assignments.
3. Behave in class, so your teacher can devote more time to teaching.
4. Respect your teacher and your fellow students. This will create a better learning environment for everyone in the classroom.
5. Raise your hand to answer your teacher’s questions and participate in learning.

For parents:

1. Send an e-mail or a note with your children to school, thanking their teachers for their hard work.
2. Appreciate teachers for the professionals that they are, and give them the same respect you would give a good friend who takes care of your children.
3. Provide a helping hand in the classroom, during sporting events, on field trips, or at the school site.
4. Donate school supplies. Teachers often pay out of their own pockets to provide their students with the tools they need to learn.
5. Hold fundraisers and donate the proceeds to schools that have been hard hit by state budget cuts.

Wednesday is California Day of the Teacher, a day established under California Education Code Section 37222, to encourage schools to conduct exercises commemorating and directing attention to teachers and the teaching profession.

Will you or your school be doing anything special to celebrate teachers this week? Tell us about it in the comments.

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