I recently listened to a TED talk featuring John Wooden addressing a convocation of coaches. If you remember, old sports fans, Wooden was an American basketball player and head coach at the University of California, Los Angeles. He won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period. But first and foremost, he was a man of character and wisdom.

Having been a school teacher back in the 1930’s, Wooden credited teaching as having made a big impression on him, influencing how he coached later in life. Wooden understood that grades did not define the character of a student, any more than material possessions defines success.

Wooden believed his own definition of success. “Peace of mind attained through self -satisfaction, knowing you made the best effort of which you were capable.” This philosophy is what he hoped to instill in each of his students, the message conveyed to the classroom must belong to the teacher in that classroom.

“No written word, no spoken plea, can teach our youth what they should be. Nor all the books on all the shelves, it’s what the teachers are themselves.”

It was asked of an experienced teacher, “Why do you teach?” And she replied, “I will think about that and give you an answer.” Her name was Glennice L. Harmon. And after much thought, this is what she answered:

“They ask me why I teach. and I reply, ‘Where could I find more splendid company’?”  

“There sits a statesman, strong, unbiased, wise, another later Webster, silver-tongued. And there, a doctor, whose quick, steady hand, can mend a bone or stem the lifeblood’s flow”

“A builder sits beside him – Upward rise the arches of that church he builds where that minister will speak the word of God, and lead a stumbling soul to touch the Christ. And all about, a lesser gathering of farmers, merchants, teachers, laborers. Men who work and vote and build, and plan, and pray into a great tomorrow.”

And I say, “I may not see the church, or hear the word, or eat the food their hands will grow...And yet, I may, and later I may say, “I knew the lad, and he was strong, or weak, or kind, or proud, or bold, or gay...I knew him once, but then he was a boy. 

They ask me, and I reply, “Where could I find more splendid company?”

Do we hear the depth of that answer? Do we understand the importance of our dedicated, teachers? These are not little children only that sit under the daily influence of a teacher; they are our future, our scientists, inventors, laborers, pastors, technicians, repairmen, writers and more as contributors to the fiber of our nation.

How important is a teacher!  

But here is the sad part. We have aborted over 50,000,00 of these future opportunities in the past 47 years. What are we doing? And what have we done? Look at the previous paragraph to understand what we have lost. But, let’s go on. 

We entrust a teacher to fulfill a great calling. A teacher understands the immense responsibility of nurture and education of each child, (kindergarten through high school) he or she is given to coach, teach, lead, guide, influence, and love. 

Teachers are on the front lines, doing the stuff! “All the books on the shelves? Its what the teachers are, themselves! They are major factors in determining the paths of these lives where they pour into these little heads the real values of life and learning. 

We salute you! We appreciate you. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com or juditabler@awomansview.