Recognizing the Importance of Educators

A Teacher’s Impact

We’ve all had that one teacher—the one whose words or support is remembered far into our adult lives. With the amount of influence we’re open to as young minds, it’s no wonder teachers are sometimes referred to as the architects of society as they mold future generations into successful young adults.

By pushing us to challenge ourselves past our own perceived limitations, teachers build a foundation for future morals to be set on. This goes to show there’s something unrequited about the importance a teacher truly plays in a child’s life.

What Challenges Do Our Teachers Face?

As mentors, role models, and guides, teachers often find their potential hindered by a laundry list of challenges that might not be obvious to an outsider looking in. Some of the most commonly mentioned challenges include: limited resources or funding, large class sizes, and balancing diverse student needs. All of these external challenges not only affect a teacher's desired impact but can lead to burnout or other negative effects on an educator and their students’ well-being.

Here are some specific difficulties Banzai teachers have mentioned:

1. Finding a balance between digital and non-digital materials. One teacher found that providing a variety of mediums and sources helped their students stay engaged.
2. Students are living more and more in a world that’s over-stimulating as they are constantly bombarded with information. As an elementary school teacher, this educator has had to think creatively to find and provide material—like games and current trends—that helps their students get and stay engaged with the lesson. 
3. If you talk more than five minutes, students tend to tune out. One educator feels like their students don't have the stamina to stay engaged, feeling like they have to do some kind of tik-tok dance to keep them engaged. 
4. One experienced teacher, with 20 years of experience, said that a good way to help teachers is by helping students learn how to use the internet in productive ways. They mentioned that while students are tech-savvy, they often struggle with looking up information they are not familiar with.
5. Just providing valuable resources. A dedicated math teacher expressed that the amount of content out there is overwhelming. Finding the best, worthwhile materials at a low or no cost has taken years.

How Can We Support Existing and Future Teachers?

Supporting our teachers is absolutely necessary if we want to truly take advantage of their talents. “The Relationship between Teacher Support and Students' Academic Emotions: A Meta-Analysis” by Lawman and Wilson in 2013 found that, with continued support, the rate of student success increases. In fact, it showed a strong positive correlation between teacher support and optimistic academic emotions in students. 

Not only this, but the more a teacher is supported, the more time and energy they have to dedicate to their students. Another study titled, “How Teacher and Classmate Support Relate to Students’ Stress and Academic Achievement” by Hughes et al. (2008) discovered that supportive relationships between teachers and students predicted a student’s efforts toward engaging in the subject matter.  Their efforts, in turn, had a positive impact on their math and reading performance. This is why it’s vital to support and recognize the hard work of teachers. Here’s what you can do as a parent or a district:

1. Invest in teacher training, professional development, and well-being
2. Recognize teacher contributions
3. Advocate for state funded aid
4. Provide resources and classroom support 
5. Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and other recognition initiatives
6. Encourage a year-round approach to appreciating teachers

After asking our wonderful educators on the Teacher Advisory Board this very same question: How Can We Support Existing and Future Teachers? we received a slew of interesting responses:

For twenty years, one teacher has had to piece together a curriculum because it wasn’t readily provided. Despite finding many resources through small conversations with other teachers, by sharing a link here or an activity there, it still requires a network of knowledge to fill in the gaps.

Other teachers have been invaluable in helping transition to a more digitally oriented teaching environment. Educators have emphasized the need to create social media groups to discuss their challenges and successes, finding answers to problems together. Many others expressed that when society supports teachers, it helps teachers support each other.

In short, teachers not only want but need our support and recognition. They are safeguarding and teaching the next generation of valuable minds—that’s worth paying a bit more attention to their needs. Consider what you can do in your community to make a difference (whether big or small) in the life of educators in your area. Even if it’s just a friendly reminder to them that their efforts are recognized. 

Want to learn more about how Banzai and our partners strive to support teachers all over the world? Visit us at Banzai.org.