Dear Plate-Spinning Teacher,
She’s the one with all the plates spinning right now. Her hands are full. Her body is weary. Her mind is jumbled.
Is it just me or does everything, literally everything, happen at the end of the year?
Birthday parties, weddings, graduations, awards day assemblies, testing, grades due, assignments being turned in, 500 kids who didn’t do anything all year long suddenly want to turn in every missed assignment for the whole year, parent teacher conferences, field day, water day, end of the year parties.
Could we perhaps space these events out just a touch?
Dog’ on it, life is hard for a teacher who is nearing the end of a long break.
It’s as if the powers that be are looking down from above and saying, “Not so fast there, teacher who thinks she might actually finish the race.”
It reminds me of an intense game of Mario Kart where you’re leading the pack and the finish line is in sight, then that big, fat Bowser scrunched in his little, blue cart knocks you off course by aiming a dang turtle shell your way.
I’m going to say it loud and proud for anyone who is listening. “Teachers do not need anymore turtle shells.”
This whole year has been one massive turtle shell, so if you’re thinking of adding something else to a teacher’s plate right now, a word of caution, “Just don’t." If you do, there’s going to be a booming crash when ten thousand ceramic shards hit the floor, and don’t even dream of asking her to clean up the mess. She’s been cleaning up messes every single day.
Even on a normal year, I’ve seen grown women, professionals, huddled into the fetal position in corners of classrooms because they can’t take the pressure another minute. This year is that ten-fold.
So let’s be kind to teachers by thanking them for working in the worst of conditions and simply warn them, “Watch out. Do you see that turtle shell?"
-CDB