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Garden City Teachers Association Reflecting Quality Education
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Some Food for Thought June 2007 As we near the end of this rather tumultuous school year, here are some things to consider during the less hectic days of summer. The first is that, in spite of the occasional frustration we all must contend with, Garden City is still a great place to work. The combination of overwhelmingly great kids, concerned and supportive parents and professional and dedicated colleagues, makes this a unique place. Should you doubt this, just ask people who work or have worked elsewhere. While we all have a tendency to dwell on the small handful of exceptions to this rule, the fact remains, most of our students, parents and colleagues are exemplary. In addition, as just alluded to, Garden City Schools are staffed by some of the most dedicated and talented teachers in the profession. The vast majority here is driven to consistently push themselves to their professional limits, not because they are forced to do so, but because of their own sense of dedication to their profession and to their students. The entire GC community –teachers, administrators, parents and students– should be cognizant of and take great pride in this fact. On a related note, it is important to remember that we, not administrators, are the ultimate guardians of quality in the Garden City Schools. While many operate under the misconception that the opposite is true, it should be obvious that it is we teachers who have the most direct and profound impact upon the young people of this community. While this point should give us much satisfaction, it also imposes a significant responsibility upon us. However, as our students’ exceptional record of academic achievement clearly demonstrates, it is a responsibility we all take very seriously. With this in mind, another point we should remember is that, to a very great degree, our lives as teachers are what we make of them. While many of us have experienced more than a little frustration with seemingly pointless intrusions, it is important to bear in mind that, at the end of the day, we still enjoy a significant degree of latitude in how we practice our craft In fact, the practical reality is that, even where administrators take an active role in monitoring their staff, most of what we do is up to us. Given this fact, it is a true testament to the dedication of GCTA members that we continually strive to do the utmost for our students, whether or not someone is looking over our shoulders. As our thoughts turn from lesson plans to vacation plans, we may wish to consider that as fortunate as we are to work in a community like Garden City, so too is the community privileged to have such an outstanding collection of dedicated professionals helping to shape the minds and futures of their children. It is a symbiosis beneficial to all. |
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