Celebrating Teacher’s Day and Week

By Terry Orr

"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of 

society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth."

~ Helen Caldicott, author and peace activist

"Teachers teach because they care. Teaching young people is what they do best. 

It requires long hours, patience, and care."

~ Horace Mann

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

~ William Arthur Ward

"There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race."

~ John F. Kennedy

"Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher."

~ Japanese proverb

"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards."

~ Anatole France

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child."

~ Carl Jung

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers 

and the rest of us would have to settle for something less."

~ Lee Iacocca

"Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to; convinced that on their good sense we may rely with most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty."

~ Thomas Jefferson

From all of us at KISBYTO, our families and friends –

Thank You!

(All Images from Google) 

Celebrating Susan B. Anthony Day

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest

Have you ever put a large bill in a stamp machine at your post office expecting it to kick out some one dollar bills in change only to hear the clanking of coins in the change dropper?  There is no need to fear, you are still getting your proper change, but instead of bills, you are getting a dollar coin.  These coins can be confusing, since they are silver in color and about the size of a quarter.  There is a difference though, instead of an image of George Washington, there is a picture of a woman.  This woman is Susan B. Anthony, the first of only two women who have had their likeness engraved on United States currency, the second being Sacagawea.  Who was Susan B. Anthony, and why was she important enough to have this honor bestowed on her?

(Google Image)

In 1820 a Quaker family in Adams, Massachusetts gave birth to Susan.  She would later be known for her role in fighting for women's right to vote.  Susan began her career as a teacher.  At age 26, Susan B. Anthony took the position of head of the girls' department at Canajoharie Academy, her first paid position. She taught there for two years, earning $110 a year.  Anthony called for equal educational opportunities for all regardless of race, and for all schools, colleges, and universities to open their doors to women and ex-slaves. She also campaigned for the right of children of ex-slaves to attend public schools.  She made the claims that there was no difference in the minds of girls and boys, and they should not be educated separately. In the 1890s Anthony raised $50,000 in pledges to ensure the admittance of women to the University of Rochester. In a last-minute effort to meet the deadline she put up the cash value of her life insurance policy. The University was forced to make good its promise and women were admitted for the first time in 1900.

(Google Image)

During the same time she started her teaching career, she became an agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society, arranging meetings, making speeches, putting up posters, and distributing leaflets. She encountered hostile mobs, armed threats, and things thrown at her. She was hung in effigy, and in Syracuse her image was dragged through the streets.  She went on to support and promote the 13th amendment abolishing slavery.

(Google Image)

In 1868, as a delegate to the National Labor Congress, Anthony persuaded the committee on female labor to call for votes for women and equal pay for equal work, although the men at the conference deleted the reference to the vote.  She then began to fight for women's right vigorously.  In 1869 the suffrage movement split, with Anthony and Stanton's National Association continuing to campaign for a constitutional amendment, and the American Woman Suffrage Association adopting a strategy of getting the vote for women on a state-by-state basis. Wyoming became the first territory to give women the vote in 1869.  She worked tirelessly going from state to state fighting for the women's right to vote.  She was arrested numerous times; however she was always freed to prevent her from being able to file appeals to have her issues reported on a grander scale.

(Google Image)

In 1853 Anthony began to campaign for women's property rights in New York state, speaking at meetings, collecting signatures for petitions, and lobbying the state legislature. In 1860, largely as the result of her efforts, the New York State Married Women's Property Bill became law, allowing married women to own property, keep their own wages, and have custody of their children.

(Google Image)

Susan B. Anthony died in 1906 at her home on Madison Street in Rochester. All American adult women finally got the vote with the Nineteenth Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, in 1920.

(Google Image)

Susan B. Anthony never married, never had any children, and spent her life fighting for the rights of women everywhere, claiming that they deserved the right to vote, and the right to earn equal pay for equal work, and the right to own property in their name, and have custody of their children.  She was the country's first "Woman's Libber", and she deserves not only to have a coin designed in her honor, but also this day, and the undying appreciation and respect of women everywhere

Young Reader's Day

 "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." ~ Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

By Diane Forrest

(Google Image) 

As I was preparing for this article - this joke came to mind...

The new school librarian decided that instead of checking out children's books by writing the names of borrowers on the book cards herself, she would have the youngsters sign their own names. She would then tell them they were signing a 'Contract' for returning the books on time.

Her first customer was a third grader who looked surprised to see a new librarian. He brought three books to the desk and shoved them across to the librarian, giving her his name as he did so.

The librarian pushed the books back and told him to sign them out. The boy laboriously printed his name on each book card and then handed them to her with a look of utter disgust.

Before the librarian could even start her speech, he said scornfully, "The other librarian we had knew how to write."

Working with young children first learning to read can be a very rewarding time.  When my son was born, my aunt, who is a school teacher, told me right off to read to him every day.  So I started reading to him when he was just a few days old.  I didn't have a big supply of children's books at the time, so I just read the same book over and over again, until I was able to get more.  I would make weekly trips to the store and buy a few baby books at a time.  These were mostly small books with plastic pages with colorful pictures on it.  The selections were very limited, so I ended up writing my own stories and coloring pictures for him to look at.  As he got older, I would take him to the library every week.  I had a large tote bag that we would fill with dozens of books at a time, and come home and read them all over and over again.  By the time he started preschool he had already been introduced to thousands of books and this made his transition to school much easier for him. He continued through school reading and learning, and still to this day he will read books to increase his knowledge.

(Google Image)

Today is Young Reader's Day. It is so important to encourage reading while children are still young.  When I was in school, each day after lunch my teacher would read a chapter of a book to us.  I still remember those stories today, and how she made those books come alive.  Now when there is a gift giving occasion for the children I know, I always send books so they can enjoy them over and over again, and expand their knowledge.   If you have any kids in your life, consider getting them a book for Christmas or just because.  If you don't have any young readers, you might want to volunteer at a local school, library or even church and read a story to them during story time.  Not only will you be rewarded by the smiles and excitement in their faces, but you will get the satisfaction of knowing that for brief time, you made a difference in someone else's life.

(Google Image)

Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

I remember one summer day my family traveled to a place to watch as my aunt graduated from college and became a teacher.  Having always lived in Mississippi, she along with her roommates from college, headed out to Texas in search of a teaching job. Several years later, she met her future husband, then after a while they had four children, all girls.  She became a stay at home mom and raised her children.  While the youngest was about to finish high school, the unexpected happened.  Her husband died.  Now, being home, and her last child about to depart for college.  She was home alone.  She didn't want the daily grind of having to go to work every day, and things had changed since she first began her teaching career, so, she decided to start substituting.   As you can imagine, the Plano/Dallas area is packed full of schools, so she is never without an opportunity to teach.  Only now, she can pick the jobs she wants and what days she wants to work.

(Google Image) 

My husband's wife is currently in college to become a teacher.  She is actually going to the same college that my aunt graduated from so many years ago.  The college is about 30 miles from where they live, and she only attends class twice a week.  On her days off, she started working part time at a small school where they live.  She keeps the after school program, and also substitutes when a teacher is out.  This has been very beneficial with her college courses, and helps her to ease into her career of teaching.

I remember when I was in school.  We would love to have a substitute, especially on the days you forgot homework, or were expecting a pop test.

(Google Image) 

Being a substitute teacher is not as easy as you might think.  They are not class babysitters, but they have to show up at a moment's notice, and then check the lesson plans, and try to keep the continuation of the class while the regular teacher is gone.  They are also the victims of many pranks and teasing.  They do however provide an invaluable service.   Most are very knowledgeable in teaching, and when the regular teacher happens to be sick, or have an emergency arise, they are ready to step in at a moment’s notice.

(Google Image) 

This week is Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week.  Wouldn’t it be nice if every job had a substitute you could call if you were out too?

National Teacher Appreciation Day

(Google Image) 

By Akindman

Each of these quotes are excellent topics for standalone articles onto themselves as they speak to the core of the need for high caliber teachers.  Please take a few moments to read each and reflect them.  Thank you.

(Google Image) 

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." ~William Arthur Ward

(Google Image) 

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less." ~ Lee Iacocca

"Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to; convinced that on their good sense we may rely with most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty." ~ Thomas Jefferson

(Google Image) 

"Information is the currency of democracy." ~ Ralph Nader

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." ~ Mark Van Doren

(Google Image) 

"Compassionate teachers fill a void left by working parents who aren't able to devote enough attention to their children. Teachers don't just teach; they can be vital personalities who help young people to mature, to understand the world and to understand themselves. A good education consists of much more than useful facts and marketable skills." ~ Charles Platt

"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth."

~ Helen Caldicott, author and peace activist

(Google Image) 

"The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth." ~ Dan Rather

"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards." ~ Anatole France

(Google Image) 

"There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race." ~ John F. Kennedy

(Google Image) 

We would love to hear from you.

Thanks to all those dedicated teacher past, present, and future!

(Google Image) 

Links:

http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/Teacher-Appreciation-Week-2012/

http://www.nea.org/grants/1359.htm

Susan B. Anthony

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest,

Have you ever put a large bill in a stamp machine at your post office expecting it to kick out some one dollar bills in change only to hear the clanking of coins in the change dropper?  There is no need to fear, you are still getting your proper change, but instead of bills, you are getting a dollar coin.  These coins can be confusing, since they are silver in color and about the size of a quarter.  There is a difference though, instead of an image of George Washington, there is a picture of a woman.  This woman is Susan B. Anthony, the first of only two women who have had their likeness engraved on United States currency, the second being Sacagawea.  Who was Susan B. Anthony, and why was she important enough to have this honor bestowed on her?

(Google Image)

In 1820 a Quaker family in Adams, Massachusetts gave birth to Susan.  She would later be known for her role in fighting for women's right to vote.  Susan began her career as a teacher.  At age 26, Susan B. Anthony took the position of head of the girls' department at Canajoharie Academy, her first paid position. She taught there for two years, earning $110 a year.  Anthony called for equal educational opportunities for all regardless of race, and for all schools, colleges, and universities to open their doors to women and ex-slaves. She also campaigned for the right of children of ex-slaves to attend public schools.  She made the claims that there was no difference in the minds of girls and boys, and they should not be educated separately. In the 1890s Anthony raised $50,000 in pledges to ensure the admittance of women to the University of Rochester. In a last-minute effort to meet the deadline she put up the cash value of her life insurance policy. The University was forced to make good its promise and women were admitted for the first time in 1900.

During the same time she started her teaching career, she became an agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society, arranging meetings, making speeches, putting up posters, and distributing leaflets. She encountered hostile mobs, armed threats, and things thrown at her. She was hung in effigy, and in Syracuse her image was dragged through the streets.  She went on to support and promotes the 13th amendment abolishing slavery.

(Google Image)

In 1868, as a delegate to the National Labor Congress, Anthony persuaded the committee on female labor to call for votes for women and equal pay for equal work, although the men at the conference deleted the reference to the vote.  She then began to fight for women's right vigorously.  In 1869 the suffrage movement split, with Anthony and Stanton's National Association continuing to campaign for a constitutional amendment, and the American Woman Suffrage Association adopting a strategy of getting the vote for women on a state-by-state basis. Wyoming became the first territory to give women the vote in 1869.  She worked tirelessly going from state to state fighting for the women's right to vote.  She was arrested numerous times; however she was always freed to prevent her from being able to file appeals to have her issues reported on a grander scale.

In 1853 Anthony began to campaign for women's property rights in New York state, speaking at meetings, collecting signatures for petitions, and lobbying the state legislature. In 1860, largely as the result of her efforts, the New York State Married Women's Property Bill became law, allowing married women to own property, keep their own wages, and have custody of their children.

(Google Image)

Susan B. Anthony died in 1906 at her home on Madison Street in Rochester. All American adult women finally got the vote with the Nineteenth Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, in 1920.

Susan B. Anthony never married, never had any children, and spent her life fighting for the rights of women everywhere, claiming that they deserved the right to vote, and the right to earn equal pay for equal work, and the right to own property in their name, and have custody of their children.  She was the country's first "Woman's Libber", and she deserves not only to have a coin designed in her honor, but also this day, and the undying appreciation and respect of women everywhere