Today I'm helping with the final touches for my wife's retirement party after 34 years of teaching. We are having a garden reception in our backyard after school. She will now join me one year after my departure from teaching.
It's hard to describe what a career in education has meant for us. We began together in 1976; she in junior elementary, I in high school. For both of us teaching was in our blood; we were dedicated to it and it may be a surprise to read but it was always near the top of our life priority list. We both dreamt up viable lessons, tried to reach all of our students regardless of their ability, ignited the passion for learning, evaluated fairly and strategically, and worked far more than 'teachers' hours' because we loved our profession.
I drove to the school to get an easel and projector screen yesterday morning. I could feel the anticipation there as her staff and friends have planned quite a roast and tribute for her this evening. She has been given accolades several times already at school functions attended by parents. We have taught several generations of students and then their own children.
An example of my wife's passion for teaching came this morning. She needed to bring our spade to bury the treasure. Her Grade 2's have been studying pirates and today they're going on a treasure hunt including crossing an alligator swamp, traversing a dry desert, and confronting hidden dangers in the rain forest.
For some of you new to quoteflections I include links to several posts I gave at my own retirement in June 2008 before becoming a part time consultant. Teacher Retirement: The Top Ten Reasons,and Teacher Retirement: Top Ten Artifacts.
Many thoughts and feelings arise at this pivotal time in one's life...
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. ~William Butler Yeats
