One of my favorite movies is A Man for All Seasons, which depicts the life of St. Thomas More, who was an English lawyer and served Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor from 1529-1532. He opposed the Protestant Reformation, and refused to acknowledge the King as supreme head of the Church of England, for which More was convicted of treason and executed. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when he says to Richard Rich, who was seeking a position in court, “Why not be a teacher? You’d be a fine teacher; perhaps a great one.”
Every one of us can recall a teacher who made an impact in our lives, and perhaps guided us toward our future careers. I knew that I wanted to be a teacher when I was in Kindergarten. I never faltered in that decision and I would suspect most people who become teachers recognize this calling early on. Working in education is much more than helping children learn to read, write, and compute. The ultimate goal is for us to help our students discover their gifts and talents, become passionate about growing and improving, and develop the desire to be lifelong learners. Not everyone is cut out to be a good teacher, but good teachers are the lifeline of a superior society. Teachers provide the foundation for every profession, and we trust them to care for our children during their most formative years.
This week we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, and schools across the country acknowledge and thank teachers for the very important role they play. In Catholic schools, our teachers and staff also contribute to their students’ faith formation, and help each of them develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. St. Michael’s School is very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of teachers and staff members committed to serving our community. Not only are they educators, but they are also entertainers and storytellers, first aiders and event planners, counselors and cleaners. Most of all they are spreaders of love and joy. And to each of them, we owe an infinite debt of gratitude.
