As we struggle to break free of the hardships of the past year, we should take the time to appreciate those who tried their best to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Teachers need to be high on that list. Parents who maybe didn't give their children's educators enough credit should have learned their lesson this year as they attempted to tackle their children's remote learning in combination with maintaining their own careers. 

Teachers have always been underappreciated. We entrust them not only with the care of our children but also with the development of their most important asset, their minds. Long before the pandemic, teachers faced the daunting task of keeping 30 or more children focused and on task for 6 to 8 hours a day. Add to that the relatively new hazard of frequent school shootings and a rise in school violence in general, and you can see why teachers should be among the highest paid of our public servants. 

The sad truth, teachers are not well paid, nor are our schools well-funded.  It is ridiculous to consider that these folks, who have proven to be so completely devoted to the growth and welfare of our children, are struggling to make ends meet. In addition to that, many of them tap into their own meager paychecks to purchase the supplies their students need to achieve their educational goals. 

After a year or more of little or no in class learning for the majority of kids in this country, it is easy to see just how vital teachers are in the lives of our children. As we send our kids back to the classroom, let's take the time to really appreciate all that teachers do for us as parents and as a society as a whole. 

It is time for us as a society to see teachers for the warriors that they are. While they may not be fighting armed combat, (although in some circumstances it may feel like that to them), they do fight hard every day for a cause. That cause is the education and advancement of our children.  

So, next time you drop your children off at school, take the time to thank their teachers for all that they fight for. Let them know you understand that they do the best that they can with the resources provided to them and that, finally, their efforts are not going unnoticed.  

You as an individual may not be able to change the way our society treats our educators, but you can change the way you do. Set an example for those around you. Hugs and gifts go only so far, get involved in your school community, stand by the teachers while they fight for the respect they so desperately deserve.