“The range of issues confronting our teachers today have made their jobs more challenging and complex then ever. A rise in students with special needs has put additional pressure on our teachers, who must manage the nuanced challenges of each student with equal care. The disturbing frequency of school shootings, unique to America, has added a layer of risk to their job that did not exist when I was a GPS student. No longer are teachers expected to simply guide our children academically, but they must also be their protectors. In some tragic cases, teachers have sacrificed their own lives to protect those of their students.
Our teachers have also become embroiled in the political culture wars concerning curriculum and teaching methods. This is not specific to Greenwich and has unfortunately gained traction nationally as a political campaign issue. Restricting our teachers’ ability to discuss important historical topics or answer students questions about topical current events closes doors to important learning opportunities.
In our household this was a big year as our son began his first year of middle school at CMS. After having a fantastic experience at Julian Curtiss, the transition to middle school, which can be challenging, has been smooth. This is in no small part due to the efforts of the incredible teachers at both JC and CMS. We will be forever grateful to all of you for helping to guide him on his path.
As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I urge everyone to find ways to express gratitude for our teachers. Contribute to a class gift or give one of your own. If you bump into a former teacher, let them know how they impacted your life. Our teachers work hard to find new ways to inspire our children’s interest in learning and to help spark their imagination to think creatively. They have an outsized impact on our lives, and they deserve our thanks and appreciation.” – Dan Quigley Continue Reading →
