The end of the year in a school is a time for letting go. That last month is hard as teachers prepare for the usual grief the comes with learning with (and from) and loving a group of kids for a school year. All teachers experience this, and some years are harder than others. Teachers bond with their students; they know all about their siblings, pets, joys, losses, dreams and aspirations, fears and quirks. Teachers watch students grow, mature, develop and evolve as little humans, and that is such a gift!
At the same time, students have come to trust, love and depend on their teachers. And while many kids look forward to summer months, adventures and vacations, sleeping in and goofing around, they will always look back at their tecahers with fond memories. Then there are the kids that look at school as their happy and safe place, their stable place, and their unconditional place, the place where needs are met. These are the kids that don’t want the year to end.
There is also the letting go of the kiddos that have spent more than half their lives with you when they leave 5th grade and head to Middle School. The littles that started in kindergarten with the principal peeling them off their momma’s leg and assuring them that school is safe and fun, and momma will be waiting at the end of the day while wiping tears and little blonde wispy bangs out of the way. The littles that needed to come to the principal’s office for some mid day lap time, the littles that charged in with their little red bob ready to conquer kindergarten, The littles that put on the brave face because their baby brother was watching and greeted school days with a smile. There were the littles whose older siblings were already attending school and who were excited for their first day. Can’t forget the littles whose backpacks were bigger than they were, who show off their lost teeth, and their new shoes; the littles who start the day fresh and tidy, who leave rumpled and grubby because kindergarten was amazing between the paints and the playground. There are the littles who come in reading , and the littles who have never held a book, the littles who are exhausted and need a nap during story time, and the littles who never stop. Each and every one brings something special to the school family.
Over the six years we spend with the littles they learn, they grow, they develop and they mature, and a few more join us along the way. They make what we hope will be long lasting lifetime freindships. We get to share their successes, watch them perfrom, compete in athletics, witness silliness and antics; we get to see them become big brothers and big sisters, we get to help them through tough times from time to time…and let me just tell you: It is such an HONOR to be part of the journey for these kids. It is always hard to let go of the 5th graders moving on to middle school.
Letting Go is hard.
This year, letting go has been harder.
Teachers in schools become family to each other. Just like the kids, they know all about their colleagues chiildren, pets, spouses, vacation plans, ailing parents, new home purchases…. Teachers need other teachers (Just like nurses need other nurses) because who else understands the trials, tribulations, joys, celebrations, sorrows and challenges facing teachers and public education than another teacher.
Where there used to be 20 applicants for every teaching position, in recent years we have had more positions than applicants in many school systems. This is partially due to stagnant and low pay in relation to other job markets requiring similar levels of education, partially due to the lack of support and respect for educators. Recently, the stresses of Covid have pushed many teachers towards retirement or other career choices. This means letting go.
When a teacher leaves, either through retirement or resignation, it is like losing members of the family. They leave a hole in the family structure; teachers lose their teaching partners, their lunch buddies, and their confidants. For those remaining, the gaps are hard to fill and it is hard to imagine moving forward.
This year in my little school family, several staff members are retiring, changing positions, and moving on…and letting go. We celebrate their time of service to children and teachers, we celebrate their next adventure, we celebrate their role in our school family, we celebrate change…all while holding back tears.
New faces will join the family, and new relationships will be built, the family dynamic will change and we will all be ok, but it won’t be the same. Letting go is hard.
