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Teachers As Builders of Society
This column is a tribute to our members who work full-time and look after their family and still find time to volunteer and contribute in so many ways to their community.
I have done a fair bit of volunteer work myself over the years. Until the Heart Fund changed its canvassing practices, I used to enjoy going door to door asking for donations for this worthy cause. Over the years, though, donations dwindled because, sadly, people had become afraid to open their door to strangers. Now I don’t think any charities canvass door to door anymore. I also volunteer in my church in the summer, when regular Sunday school teachers are given a break and volunteers like me fill in for them. I discovered that my classroom management skills came in very handy when dealing with uncooperative Sunday school students. I look forward to getting more involved as a volunteer when I’m no longer Association president.
In a recent study of work–life balance conducted by the Association, we discovered that teachers are three times more likely to volunteer in their communities than other professions are. This is astounding when you consider that a lot of teachers work a demanding 55 to 60 hours per week. (It also tells me that teachers still have great difficulty saying no.) Whether we volunteer at school or in the community, we are professionals, and we don’t like to disappoint people. We take on volunteer commitments because we believe in strong communities. And because we tend to be highly organized, we are good at them.
Alberta teachers are setting wonderful examples of citizenship throughout the province, not only for their own children but for students, parents and other members in the community. We are visible not only in volunteer work in our schools but in service clubs, as coaches for many different sports, in arts groups and so on. We are active in our churches; we are leaders in Brownies, Girl Guides, Cubs and Scouts. We sing in choirs and sometimes we direct them. We collect food for food banks and prepare holiday hampers for the poor. All of these activities encourage good citizenship, strengthen our communities and make them better places for everyone to live.
Before we know it, Christmas will be upon us. As a music teacher for many years, I fondly remember the preparations for my school’s Christmas programs. It was a time when we reinforced cooperation, patience and always trying to do our best. It was also a time when we reminded our students about the less fortunate, not only in our communities and country but also in other countries. Some examples of ways we tried to address poverty were through organizing Operation Christmas Child shoebox operations and supporting students’ efforts to raise money for safe drinking water in third world countries.
In the spirit of the season, then, I wish you a peaceful and happy holiday season. I know that many of you spend part of the holidays volunteering for such things as the Christmas Bureau or the Salvation Army, your local church or community group, and our society is better for your efforts, but please remember to take some time for yourself and your family, too.
Merry Christmas to one and all and all the best in 2013.
