Teachers are the richest people in the world. Even this fact may amaze them!Although many people may equate riches with wealth and wealth with money, they are deluded by popular beliefs. Money, a fleeting asset,cannot purchase such abstracts as peace of mind, sound health and love. Yes, money can pay for treatment of symptoms and may correct a problem that leads the individual to the path of soundness in lifestyle. But the role of the catalyst cannot be neglected nor ignored; and that catalyst is a teacher. Are you rich? Thank a teacher! Even if you are a 'self-made' wealthy individual with great riches, a teacher contributed to the pipeline of your success!

Do you know that teachers are trained and highly qualified under-paid managers? What is the basic salary for a manager in a local office or a corporation? From the time a teacher enters the classroom, time management looms as a priority. Of course, for some students with a snail pace, the time is insufficient. However, the jackrabbits in the educational system have an A personality and want to squeeze every ounce of physical and mental energy out of the teacher.Have you ever heard a parent ask a teacher how he/she manages with such a large unit?

My largest unit was fifty students in a room with desks and chairs that had to be set up; and often at short notice - 'dismantled' - because it was the auditorium.The subject I was assigned to teach- Spanish- proved foreign as I specialized in English! Many of the students from that unit do not believe, even now, that it was not my major! They claim that they had fun and enjoyed the subject. Fun? With fifty students? In addition to this class, I taught Language and Literature to several other classes, some with special circumstances students!

Time management, an essential factor, challenges even the most experienced teacher.Who dares to enter a classroom without a time plan? Many students specialize in fishing; and instead of grouper, bonefish, blue marlin or yellow tail snappers, they reel in red herrings! Some pupils even struggle with whale sharks, which no teacher can abide in a classroom!

After a day of active instruction, teachers are expected to have up to date lesson plans, lesson notes, mark books with grades and notebooks marked - always ready for inspection by the Supervisor. What about class size? What about it?One time I was assigned a class of forty students and twenty eight desks.Students had to borrow chairs and desks continually. Finally , I told students that if they were late they would sit on the floor. Then I wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper.I expected the included nom de plume to be used; but my full name was used when it was published! In addition, I wrote an article on my website. A relative called and alerted me to the published letter.Within days, I had sufficient new desks and extra for colleagues in need of them!

What is the entry level salary for an exotic exhorter? You don’t know? Never heard of such a job? Teachers do. Exotic is a style; exhorter is the coach approach. Coaches are paid, usually as Physical Education Instructors. Every event at school needs an exhorter- someone who encourages and provides a ray of hope that the student can see and grasp firmly. One summer I conducted what I now call CampEbenezer. It resulted from meditation and was launched when I tutored a student who was preparing for high school.

Two boys under the nearby tamarind tree asked if they could receive help in Math and English. Boys asking for help? I agreed quickly. By the end of the week I had ‘enrolled’ thirty six students from the immediate neighbourhood and its environs. Academically, they ranged from Pre-School to Grade Nine. The final count at the beginning of the next week was forty two children!

The boys went to Basketball Camp in the morning and the girls received instructions during that time. Boys came after one o’clock and stayed until four sometimes five o’clock! We had no material initially; but we improvised and encouraged everyone. My artistic and innovative assistant that summer is now an elementary [primary] school teacher who is working towards her Master’s degree.

Camp Ebenezer gave birth to a Walk In Homework Clinic and a tutoring venture. Whenever students had homework or needed additional instruction, they came- without notice and at any time. Among the students was an orphan who lacked the basic foundation. But, he liked guineps; and they were sweet and abundant. I decided to ‘adopt’ him. He learned to count and add quickly! I taught him basic spelling words too. One day he surprised me.

“I know how to spell encyclopedia,” he declared.

Encyclopedia? Who had taught him such a big word? I tested him with twenty word including encyclopedia. He scored eighteen- a whopping ninety percent! That day he was allowed to pick as much ju ju [jujube] – a seasonal fruit - as he desired; and we talked about learning how to make a kite. He knew more about the subject than I did; but that is the joy of being a lifelong learner!

Awesome Carpenter

Teachers can be classified as awesome carpenters. Do you know how much they cost nowadays? One contractor who was hired to extend a wooden building and renovate another taught me a memorable lesson. The foundation was noticeably missing for the extension.

“When are you going to put the foundation in?’ I asked one day.

“Oh, I will put it in when the building is complete,” he assured me.

He never completed the extension nor the renovations. But teacher have to read the plan for each student and go down to the bedrock of their existence, establishing a firm and framed foundation. Henty W. Longfellow in The Architect wrote:

“All are architects of fate

Working in these halls of time..”

Later, he admonishes:

“Leave no yawning gaps between…”.

This reference is in keeping with the poem which provides the imagery of life as a progressive, upward climb. Educators as professionals and teachers in a generic sense- as well as the environment and individual- contribute to the building of the person. Do you know that some buildings sink and others crumble during a storm? Nevertheless, the awesome carpenter - a teacher- creates a firm foundation, provides sufficient steel that can be tied at belt course and contributes to the aesthetic, functional buildings we all admire in society.

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Teachers can be classified as awesome carpenters. Do you know how much the service of a carpenters cost nowadays? One contractor who was hired to extend a wooden building and renovate another taught a memorable lesson. The foundation was noticeably missing for the extension.

“When are you going to put the foundation in?’ he was asked one day.

“Oh, I will put it in when the building is complete,” he assured the inquirer.

He never completed the extension nor the renovations. But teacher have to read the plan for each student and go down to the bedrock of their existence, establishing a firm and framed foundation. Henry W. Longfellow in The Architect wrote:

“All are architects of fate

Working in these halls of time..”

Later, he admonishes:

“Leave no yawning gaps between…”.

This reference is in keeping with the poem which provides the imagery of life as a progressive, upward climb.  Educators as professionals and teachers in a generic sense - as well as the environment and the individual - contribute to the building of the person. Do you know that some buildings sink and others crumble during a storm or other disaster? Nevertheless, the awesome carpenter - a teacher- creates a firm foundation, provides sufficient steel that can be tied at belt course and contributes to the aesthetic, functional buildings we all admire in society.

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The professional aristocrats, whom many refer to as teachers, serve as catalyst consultants. In their role as an educator, these individuals make things happen - before your eyes! Criss Angel, an illusionist, fascinates audiences by transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Teachers outperform him daily!

One lesson about an imaginary, nonsensical human animal called a choodle sparked dormant art for a talented cartoonist and gifted artist. Taking a makeshift darkroom to school and using it as part of a lesson transformed one casual but fascinated student into a photographer and businessman who returned to express his gratitude. A stamp collection initiated an expensive hobby. The proud student visited me one Sunday to show me his stamp collection,which left me gaping in awe. In appreciation for my ‘help’ he gave me a First Day Cover, which I collect too. It is a valuable and treasured gift.

A former student met me at the entrance to the school. He was thankful for all the conferences. Now he is employed at a steady job, has a family and looks forward to a bright future. An insurance agent gave me a ride at a time when I needed it most. He reminded me of my counsel and its positive effect. His admonition was not to change anything for he was a tough and seemingly hopeless case! My service was priceless and free; and he is grateful.

Whoever wrote that it only takes a spark to get a fire going recognized the task of a catalyst consultant.. Sometimes the Catalyst Consultant issues a cry for help; and someone responds to the emergency. Glenthony, presently a senior at Crooked Island High School owned a computer at fourteen; and now his computer skills are steering him towards his life goals. When I experienced difficulty loading the photos from the camera to the computer and then flashdrive., I sought his assistance. Computer skills are his hobby. Within minutes the photos appeared- after a few clicks. When the movie clips did not open, he used his expertise again. Glenthony told me afterwards ," If I cannot do a task on the computer, it is time to call the manufacturer!"

What do you remember most about your elementary[primary] and high school teachers? Were there teachers who squeezed every ounce of ability out of you? Did some teachers leave you frustrated and feeling like a dirty,limp rag? Students remember fun instuctions; and employing the multi-intelligences is not new.Children of long ago sang their multiplication tables,recited poems as well as long passages from plays; and they engaged in elocution contests as well as debates. Nobody ever wrote essays or speeches without being able to defend the viewpoint.Box diagram, now graphics, summary and precis served well as did learning spelling rules..Nowadays, even with Spellchecker,many errors escape vigilant proofreaders.

Information from  more than fifty years ago remain fresh in the mind. of many learners from yesteryear. Was it rote memory that kept them keen then and acute now? Well, today, many parents, friends and relatives are still puzzled about the learning level of children  in a technological age..Those in authority want no one to be left behind..Learning has not changed..Children still need the four Rs- Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Reinforcement. Repetition has proven to be a key factor in study skills , essential for learning.

One article indicated that President Barack Obama has considered the idea of a longer school day so that children in the western world- namely America - would be able to compete efficiently with their counterparts in the eastern hemisphere. One fact is evident.The computer games that fascinate children in the western hemisphere are not invented nor manufactured by them. Is President Obama's message simply that the children in America.need to spend more time being thinkers and inventors of not only fun activities but those things that can impact the nation positively?

All the 'smart boards' and computers and other audio- visuals used during instruction cannot compensate for high level thinking skills. These media assist teachers with instructions and attention span; but students still need to study and apply their knowledge. One student who was classified as having an IQ that bordered on retardation received instuction and help at an Afteschool Program.Learning arithmetic skills was laborious for him until he was taught to use an abacus. After that, ten, twenty, even one hundred sums could be completed in a matter of minutes! Students have individual needs; and excellent teachers zero in on tem.