Every teacher should participate in commencement

Picture the high school commencement ceremony at your local school district. Picture your entire Pre-K-12 faculty, wearing the robes and colors of their various institutions and degrees, silently lead the graduating seniors into the commencement hall and then staying and listening attentively while all the graduating seniors names were read.

Do you think it would help all teachers realize that they have a very important part to play in the lives of our future leaders, tax payers and workers?  Would it help all educators to see the child as a growing, developing holistic human being instead of say…..just a third grader?

I used to imagine what this would be like when I was a superintendent sitting on the raised podium.  I would look with wonder around the auditorim as students silently filed in to the sounds of the orchestra playing, and I would wonder how many first grade teachers were in the audience.  Would they recognize 6 foot tall Johnny who used to eat the school paste instead of color his art project?  Would they recognize the Honor Society member who had to go to Reading Recovery?  Would they recognize the star athlete and Academic All Star who used to wet his pants every week?

I always thought our staff would see the big picture better if they came to commencement. I always thought it would help the parents and grandparents realize what a team effort it really takes to bring along the little ones to be functioning members of society.

And…I think it would fill the staff with pride to see them cross the stage and know they had a little part in the big picture.  And….sadly enough….bring a tear to think of the 25-40% of them who started with us…but dropped out or left somewhere along the journey.