Closing the loop

Life extends beyond the end of the class.

Our tutor has begun the new school year, with some returning students and several new ones.  There’s the excitement of new classes and, so far, not much panic at tests (though some students are distraught about how much they’ve forgotten over the summer).  But there is the bittersweet fact that many students have graduated and gone on to college.  That’s success, of course, and what everyone was working toward, but it means there are familiar faces he’ll never see again.

It happens to all teachers.  They invest heavily in each student, spending time and effort to produce a result that is not quite under their control, and suddenly–they’re gone.

Teachers, at least public school teachers in this country, cannot console themselves with large pay packets.  From the pay scales we’ve seen and the amount of work they put in, our tutor estimates that a doubling of salaries would just begin to recognize what they are actually worth.  Given the enormous effects they have on the future and the amount of highly-skilled work they put in, they get a pittance.  They’re not in it for the money.  Their motivation comes from seeing the students succeed.

So, if you cannot singlehandedly raise their pay, you can give them something: a glimpse of your success.  It needn’t be spectacular.  Graduating from college, getting a job, these are accomplishments; and remember, your teachers saw you as a child.  Becoming an adult is itself a success.

Some students do go back and visit their teachers.  These are generally the most serious students, sometimes not those with the best grades but those who found some particular inspiration in a teacher.  They are few.  What we’d like to see is much more general.  Pick a teacher, not necessarily your favorite person or in your favorite class, but a competent professional for whom you made an honest effort.  The visit needn’t be long and you needn’t claim world-shaking achievements; just, “Ms. X, I was in your 5th-period Algebra class.  I’m at State now, and doing all right.  Just wanted you to know I appreciate all your help.”

It would be great if you could say something like, “I remember how you taught us to do Y, and it’s helped me in my classes since.”  Any professional would also like to hear it if you have to say, “You told us Z, but I’ve found that it’s really more like W.”  Remember, teachers get no feedback about how effective they are after the final exam.  (But do act like an adult about it!  As we’ve noted, there are subjects you won’t use directly in later life.)

Of course, going back to your old school is harder than it used to be.  Years ago one of our consultants could just walk down the familiar sidewalk to the classroom and shake his old teacher’s hand.  In many places nowadays, simply being on school grounds unannounced would get him arrested.  You’ll have to make arrangements.  But for the teachers it would be worth it.