Teaching is one profession that continues to give long after we leave school. At least this is what I've noticed.
I spent many hours in classrooms with my kids over the years. I learned very early on that the idea that this is a cushy job is blatantly ridiculous. From what I've seen, this is a most demanding profession and the thing is, they can't simply leave it behind at 4 pm and get on with their life. The demands on them continue into the evening and on weekends.
And then there's the day-to-day obligations that these professionals happily fulfill. I'm a Facebook friend with a fabulous teacher I know and after the rain/slush/snow storm we had the other day, she wrote
"sure not looking forward to a multitude of soggy snowsuits, boots, clothes socks and shoes today. Undressing is bad but helping them put them back on really sucks." Often, she brings extra dry clothing for the kids, a very loving gesture that goes unnoticed.
Most of the teachers I knew when my kids were going through the system are now retired. I know a lot of them professionally and personally. This is what I've noticed.
Their lives are still busy. They continue doing what they did when they went to class everyday. The only difference is, they aren't getting paid and they're doing it for adults.
As teachers, they learned to organize. They got really good at it, or they failed in the school system. So it's only natural that they would continue in retirement.
If you live in a condo and you need a volunteer to assume the role of secretary-treasurer, ask a retired teacher. If you're hosting a food drive and need drivers to deliver, ask a retired school teacher. If the government of the day is cutting funds to the breakfast program and you'd like to do something about it, ask a retired school teacher. If you need to sell tickets to your church raffle, ask a retired school teacher.
They remain engaged in the world around them and we're all richer for it.
