Letter: True professionals

For kids at play the world of pretend and escape from the ordinary is wonderful. They emulate characters, local authority and situational settings. Cowboys, army, firemen, space explorers and even playing school house on occasion.

Now I am nearly 50 years past those simple escapes and I have been through the real jobs and careers, as most of have been, and I am playing school once again. Did I say playing? Not on your life!

I accepted the responsibility of substitute teaching a few years ago deciding I had the time and some small life experience to give. I attended school; my kids enjoyed school, how tough could it be? How naïve!

First thing we should know, a school is a building. Teachers are the liaison, referee, guide, mentor, etc. … Oh yes, also make sure that the content and enthusiasm remain exciting, interesting and current to the methods of instruction that are most useful to our community and world. To maintain these standards the teachers are in a constant state of catch up learning and professional and self adjustment. Time and preparation are nearly at odds with each other being commodities of the rarest sort. Material supplies in mass quantities dry up faster than the staff can apply for or retrieve them. The class rooms take personality through this assault and the teachers somehow pull their lessons out of credible sources and are at least ready to meet a classroom of 25-35 students. Each student is a random element individual that can take any careful plans on a journey of mind boggling proportions and mythic wonder, both good and not so.

The academic season will start and the building will be there. The teachers are amazing to watch, as they are prepare an instructional feast for us to attend. I am not in the same league with these professionals (though we, you and I, are all instructors of a sort). I have had a child’s view and that of a parent, and now to be on the other side of the teacher’s desk I am more than over whelmed by the Herculean task faced every day.

My sense of values has changed dramatically due to this exposure and the time I am spending today playing teacher.

 

David M. Chao

Austin

SportsPlus

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

One dead following afternoon shooting in NW Austin

Agriculture

FFA Week: Following the journey

Mower County

Amended version of abatement policy passed by county board

Albert Lea

Two friends, bartenders, open What’s Up Bar in Myrtle

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Man arrested during domestic incident, had loaded firearm

Agriculture

Rural Finance Authority declares emergency due to animal disease outbreaks

News

Around 14 percent of Minnesotans have filed their 2024 taxes so far

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: January Sweeps winner named

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Feb. 3-10

Education

Education Briefs

News

Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

News

Where US adults think the government is spending too much, according to AP-NORC polling

News

More than a dozen state attorneys general challenge Musk and DOGE’s authority

Agriculture

US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing

Mower County

Winter weather advisory to be issued as system begins moving in

Agriculture

Mower adds certified farmers in 2024

Education

PHOTOS: Unified fun — Austin High School hosts 2nd Unified Basketball Day

Mower County

Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota won’t seek reelection, dealing blow to Democrats’ hopes to take Senate

News

Republicans advance anti-abortion legislation during control of Minnesota House

News

Feds to probe Minnesota State High School League over transgender athlete policy

Mower County

Hormel honors winners of Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

News

MnDOT announces winners of Name a Snowplow contest