Re: (Gazette, June 22)

Congratulations to our outstanding teachers and the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette for your initiative in honouring them. Only a few teachers were selected, but they are representative of all our dedicated educators. Thanks also to the support received from Staples and Camosun College, where teaching excellence and concern for the student is the top priority.

ItB次元官网网址檚 important that teachers be recognized for the critical roles they play in our communities. They not only educate our children, but in todayB次元官网网址檚 rapidly changing workplace and family culture, with both parents working and many single-parent homes, teachers, in a sense, assist as surrogate parents. How many kids see the classroom as a kind of second home?

So, societal change means that teaching, already demanding work, is becoming even more taxing. IB次元官网网址檓 reminded of business people involved in Junior Achievement volunteering to spend a few days in the classroom. Wanting to see what it was like, they quickly found itB次元官网网址檚 darn hard work. Try it sometime.

Teachers start B次元官网网址渙n stageB次元官网网址� shortly after breakfast and finish late in the afternoon or later, for many involved in school activities. Each classroom hour requires an hour of preparation, planning lessons for the next day. Oh yes, I almost forgot B次元官网网址� they also have families to raise themselves.

Teaching is different from most other jobs where thereB次元官网网址檚 a steady flow of tasks, meetings and projects. Teaching is more like being a playwright and lead actor at the same time. For tomorrowB次元官网网址檚 classes, you have to create the whole day-long scenario yourself. A teacher must keep it moving hour after hour and make it interesting, challenging and motivating for a classroom of young people; youth who also have a lot of other things on their mind, wrestling with the challenges of being and becoming.

Undaunted by the challenges, everyday teachers keep forging ahead with the interests of our sons and daughters at heart. They are vital to the enrichment of our communities and indeed, our families. Overwhelmingly they certainly deserve our recognition and continuing support.

Well done teachers! Well done Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette!

Dr. Gerry Kelly

President Emeritus

Royal Roads University