Teaching is a profession, not just a temporary stop on the way to real life. Respect that commitment. Do not feel sorry for teachers. Every parent does not blame the teacher when little Billy fails a test. We like our students, the parents are supportive, and we are proud of the job we do.
Teachers are human.
Teacher compensation has improved significantly in recent years, but it still lags behind other comparable professions. We like but don't need any more plaques, coffee mugs, or fruit baskets at Christmas. In place of rhetoric and gifts, we would rather have your support in efforts to continue to improve compensation. Say the Darndest Things . You better believe they do, so don't be alarmed when your child reports that his or her teacher said or did something outrageous.