Back to School Boost

Here's a message to all teachers and school leaders beginning a new school year:

You are valuable. You are doing essential work. In fact you have chosen the best possible work in life: to facilitate the growth of other people; to use your professionalism to seek out potential and to let skills and talents flourish. All success in life comes back to teachers; comes back to you. Whatever your pupils become, you will have had a hand in their achievements. Your influence reaches further than you may ever know; and you'll never know about all the success you've caused, but your choice to teach will cause success for many many people.

Remember this when the children give you grief. See them through the whole of their lives, not just on a single day. Remember this when a parent takes you to task: they care too, they've just had a little longer with their child. Remember this when the media takes a pop at our profession: you've chosen to enrich lives, they've chosen to judge. Remember this when the inspectors call: they are part of the process too, but they don't know your children like you do. And remember this at 2, 3, and 4am in the morning as you get ready to step back into school. You are a teacher. Be proud of your choice.