We live in a society that often “villianizes” teachers and fails to recognize the powerful role they play in the upbringing of our nation’s children. While I’m not saying the profession is perfect what I am saying is that this imperfection places them at par with the rest of us.  However, par is not really the goal we as one of the greatest societies in the history of the world should set for the status of the greatest catalyst for our society’s future.  So, bottom line is teachers should be positioned on par with surgeons, attorneys, professors, and corporate leaders.  Yes that’s right, on par! Here are five reasons why:

1. It is often a teacher that is cited as a life changing mentor who many attribute to their individual success. There is likely no other profession that is cited as often as teachers are as critical to the success of so many.
2. Teachers can and often do prepare young people for success by cultivating those “intangible” yet so valuable skill sets that are the markers of leadership and emotional intelligence.  No other adult enjoys the kind of access a teacher has to our children as he or she prepares our kids to become responsible and capable adults.
3. Teachers are often the only force fighting on behalf of our children when political fears and/or “educational movements of the moment” put our kids at risk. There is no other adult like teachers willing to fight as hard as we are for our children
4. Let’s face it, teachers keep our kids from going “rogue” or from going all “Lord of the Flies” on us. While it’s not always a parent’s favorite thing to hear, teachers know how to put our children in place when they break the rules.  Teachers may even be our greatest ally in our pursuit to raise children who are respectful, caring, and good to one another.
5. Finally, its extremely hard to find a teacher who doesn’t care deeply about our children.  The teaching profession is one of the most educated professions in our society and many can find other jobs that are more lucrative and certainly less challenging.  Yet they persist.  I don’t know one employer who wouldn’t want an employee who persists through the kinds of challenges teachers face on a daily basis.

Ultimately, teachers deserve a status at par with those who we place at the top tier of our society. After all, aren’t our kids and future worth it?

Steven J. Harvey, Ph.D. 
CEO & Founder, My College Max, Web Site: www.mycollegemax.com
Executive Director, The WNY Consortium of Higher Education, Web Site: www.wnycollegeconnection.com