“God
Bless America’s Teachers”
By
Riney Jordan ©
(The
following comments were made at the conclusion of the 2000-2001 Teacher of
the Year banquet.
Several
of you requested a copy. )
Today we have honored forty of the state’s outstanding
teachers. To each of you, I say, congratulations! What a noble profession!
Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, American awoke to
the realization that we were vulnerable, yet at the same time, perhaps
stronger individually and as a nation, than we ever realized. On radio, on
television, at churches, synagogues, schools, on sidewalks at the town square
in virtually every city, town and village in this country, America suddenly
began singing and displaying signs that read, “God Bless America.”
So, this afternoon, as one final closing tribute, may I honor
you by reading something I have written just for this occasion, entitled,
“God, Bless America’s Teachers.”
–
I believe with all my heart and soul that America’s
greatness has come not just from her eloquent founders, not just from her
military might, not just from her rich natural resources, but also from the
classrooms across this land.
Yes, without a doubt, the teacher is truly an American
hero. You have not only taught us about democracy, you’ve demonstrated it.
You’ve not only taught us how to read and write, but you’ve shown us that our
words can be more powerful than any arsenal. You’ve been on the battlefield
and the front lines in neighborhoods where few would venture, and you’ve even
shed your blood at Columbine. You’ve encouraged us from the one-room school
houses, from the red-brick multi-story structures of the city, from the
rotting, cold shanty of a classroom in rural East Texas. From the small
adobe buildings along the Rio Grande and from classrooms equipped with
nothing more than desks, textbooks, and a chalkboard, you’ve taught us far
more than academics. You taught us morals, values, ethics, integrity,
courage, wisdom, patriotism and honor. You’ve given us ambitions and dreams
that allowed us to soar further than we ever imagined.
We’ve seen you arriving at your schools as the sun was
rising, and we’ve seen you leaving at dusk. We’ve seen you at PTA meetings,
at parent conferences, and on college campuses in the evenings, as you’ve
continued to improve your skills. We’ve watched you as you have graded, and
planned and prepared by a single lamp late into the night… and yes … we saw
you climb aboard the spaceship “Challenger.”
You’ve taught us how to be parents, doctors, lawyers,
politicians, secretaries, clerks, tellers, electricians, builders, policemen,
firemen, professors… the list is endless. And as if it weren’t enough,
you’ve arisen to the challenge of educating us about the danger of drugs,
AIDS, violence, and gangs. You found time to show us what to do in the event
of a tornado and how to prevent fires. And when you realized that we needed
clothes, or immunizations or a hot breakfast, you saw to it that our needs were
met. And then, when someone said “Let’s give those kids a test to see if the
teachers are really teaching them anything,” you smiled and met the challenge
head on.
So much of what used to be the job of the parent, you’ve
had to assume. You’ve nurtured us, encouraged us, prodded us, believed in
us, and advised us. You recognized our individual gifts and strengthened
them. You’ve been our counselor, our mentor, and our friend.
But above all of this, you loved us. Sometimes you weren’t
allowed to hug us, or let us know just how deeply you cared about us… but you
showed it in your smiles, in your actions, in your words of encouragement and
concern.
Thank you for your commitment, for your unselfish act of
compassion, done with dignity and professionalism.
Your impact will be felt for generations to come just as
their past love for humanity has strengthened us into the greatest nation in
the world.
In our books, you’re right up there with the best of them…
on a pedestal with those who have truly made America great!
God, bless America’s teachers!