Reluctant Heroes

If ESP are Ignored During American Education Week, it Could be Their Fault

By Dave Arnold

Every year, during the third week of November, we celebrate American Education Week. The Wednesday of that week is known as Education Support Professionals Day.

There are no set rules or protocol dictating how America should celebrate this occasion, which falls on the 16th – 22nd this year. As such, celebrations vary greatly across our nation. Still, I have noticed one consistency from California to Maine to Texas: ESP Day is often ignored.

This year, on the 19th, many parents, teachers and others will wonder why ESP Day is being mentioned during a week of education events. They will wonder what it is that ESP do for students.

Shy Away

When the general public thinks of school, they think of teachers and children. Children make up the majority of school inhabitants with teachers ranking second. Education support staff barely rank at all in the eyes of many.

Part of the reason for that might be our own shyness. I am a custodian at an elementary school. It takes all the courage I can muster to stand in front of a group of people and give a simple speech. But I do it every chance I get. It’s important for us as ESP to communicate the work we do for students.

Yet, many of us seldom take center stage at school or in the community. Maybe it’s the nature of our work. We don’t stand before a classroom or deal with the public like our brothers and sisters who teach. It is so rare that an ESP comes out from behind the cafeteria line, the bus wheel, or the broom closet that most ESP begin to feel that they actually belong there and only there. This is unfortunate.

ESP are full-fledged members of the community in which they work. According to research done by the National Education Association (NEA), seven out of 10 ESPs live, work and vote in the same school district. More than 75 percent of ESP do volunteer work. Yet, we are often invisible to others.

The old saying of  “out of sight - out of mind” could be applied here. This is the perfect week to let the public know WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, and WHERE WE STAND ON THE ISSUES.

Be Counted

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper naming the ESP of the Year for your school district or state. Explain what their classification is, how long they’ve been employed by the school district, and why they are worthy of some recognition.

Place posters in your local businesses and public buildings promoting American Education Week on behalf of your local ESP Association. Host a breakfast for students and/or staff, and get some pictures of it for your local newspaper. Or, invite newspaper, radio and television reporters to the breakfast. They will see firsthand the contributions we make to schools and the community.

Use your imagination, but don’t let ESP Day go by unnoticed! The National Education Association’s ESP Quality Department has published a guidebook to help schools, Associations and community groups plan ways to honor education staff.

Deserving Teachers

All recognition received by teachers is truly justified. A teacher has the education and credentials to venture beyond the education world and receive up to twice the salary. But, since so many of them love children and want to make a difference in their lives, they teach for a living.

Too often I hear some  #*#* person remark that a teacher is overpaid, or that they have it made since they get summers off. Those #*#* people have obviously not been in a classroom lately.

People who mouth off about teachers don't realize that the majority of classes are overcrowded. Consequently, teachers are over-worked. Most every teacher I know puts in an average of 12 hours a day. By the time they grade student's work and prepare lessons for the next day, they barely have time for their own families.

As for having summers off, most teachers are either back in college freshening up their skills, or taking special training at professional development institutions. They don't get paid for this extra schooling, and often don't receive a salary increase. Still, they do it to keep abreast of industry changes, attain a higher-level degree and to be better prepared to give their students the best possible education.

Do Something

About 10 years ago, on a Sunday afternoon, just outside of Los Angeles, a man tied several hot air balloons to his lawn lounger, grabbed a six-pack of beer, and went on the ride of his life. Local radar spotted him at 10,000 feet. The air force was called to order him down. He punctured some of the balloons and descended after getting tangled in wires. When a TV reporter asked him why he did it, he said: “I was tired of just sitting here.”

Friends, don’t pull a stunt involving hot air balloons and a lawn chair, but don’t just sit there on another ESP Day. Do something!

(Dave Arnold, a member of the Illinois Education Association, is head custodian at Brownstown Elementary School in Southern Illinois.)

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NEA or its affiliates.