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As we salute the 319 graduating high school seniors who will cross the stage to receive their diplomas at Virginia Military Institute’s Cameron Hall Thursday and Saturday, we would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of teachers who made this milestone possible.
Teachers have labored alongside members of the class of 2023 in dealing with unique and unprecedented challenges over the past four years. Freshman year for this class ended prematurely due to the onset of a world-wide pandemic. When classes resumed in their sophomore year, they were held remotely. Members of the class went a considerable amount of time without seeing each other or having personal contact with their teachers.
The burden of ensuring that students kept up with their classwork fell on the teachers. It was a particularly difficult task to prevent students in families without strong support systems from falling behind academically. As challenging as it was, students and teachers persevered to get class members to where they are this week – across the finish line.
Teachers had to multitask like they never had before, imparting their lessons virtually and in-person – sometimes both – depending upon the stage of the pandemic. The last four years have represented an evolution in how to teach over the course of the pandemic. A sense of normalcy has really only returned to the classroom this past year, when masks and socialdistancing were no longer required.
Teaching can be a thankless profession. The ills of society are laid at their doorstep. They are often called upon to instill discipline in their charges that may be lacking at home. They have had to teach social skills that were not learned by students when they had prolonged absences from the classroom. Remediation for those who fell behind academically was more important than it ever was before.
Political polarization that has caused a rift in society has, unfortunately, crept into the classroom in recent years. Harsh disagreements over how certain subjects should be taught have put many teachers in an uncomfortable position. Parents have made their displeasure known occasionally at contentious school board meetings.
While they have experienced plenty of hardships, teachers can take pride in the knowledge that they have made a positive difference in the lives of many of their students. Every student who walks across the graduation stage this week has numerous teachers to thank for what they have achieved. These teachers will be recalled fondly by the new graduates for the rest of their lives.
Teachers are not monetarily compensated adequately but they are rewarded when they see their former students go on to live productive and successful lives. All of us can likely recall special teachers who have made us who we are today. Education is truly a noble profession that all of us should acknowledge and appreciate.
