This has been a crazy week! The week was designated by HerInsight media- Toginet Radio as a celebration to former American Idol contestants. Our time on and off the air with many of our guests was incredible. But, juxtapose to the wonderful success stories of these talented artists has been the need for Congress to pass this upcoming week the emergency funding to keep teachers, programs and safety measures in our public schools. So, as I write this post it has made me wonder what would have happened to American Idols such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, David Cook, Fantasia Barrino, Kris Allen or the many others who have competed for the top musical reality show awards if they weren’t mentored by a teacher, choir director or a parent and given opportunities within their educational settings to learn music?
My musical mentor was my Dad, the late Stan Masin. In addition to being a professional musician he studied music education and then became a public school teacher. He NEVER waivered his dedication to serving children in public schools even when times were tough in our country for educators. He eventually moved out of the classroom and in to school administration, but always had a passion about keeping the performing arts in to the schools. And as a School Superintendent in a small western New York community, he strived to have ALL students have an opportunity and desire to cross the stage come graduation day and not just the best and the brightest. To help the cause of having high schoolers want to graduate he would try to establish relationships with the youngest students, by eating lunch with first graders and children with special needs. He always said he preferred eating with a bunch of six- year olds than going out for “business lunches”.
Years later, people still tell me that they appreciated the efforts my Dad put forth to help serve the children and the community to which we lived. And it has been 33 years since I crossed the stage and was handed my regents diploma by none other than the School Superintendent , my Dad. So, this post is written for him and I hope exemplifies that teachers do make a difference – one child at a time.
So, in honor of my Dad and all the parents who spent their days teaching children other than their own, I am writing friends and continuing in my efforts to contact government officials to keep teachers employed, non-core subjects in our school curriculum, and our children safe.
Here is how we can all help to urge our elected officials to pass the Education Jobs Fund for emergency spending to preserve teachers, adjunct staff, programs and the safety of our children in our public schools.
And if you read this post to the end, then I am sure you would like to honor YOUR reading teacher by helping out TODAY!
http://www.educationvotes.nea.org
If you TWEET be so kind as to let the NEA know you are there to help by using the hashtag #EducationJobsFun
