Op-Ed: “What Teachers Would Love For Pesach”

by Anonymous Teacher

Being a teacher brings with it many benefits, as well as many frustrations.

For example, now in Pesach season, there are BH bonuses and extra assistance for teachers and their families, enabling us to enter this expensive season with some peace of mind.

On the other hand, one of the classic frustrations that we deal with as teachers is that we hardly receive any positive feedback or encouragement for our hard work. Negative comments and flack? Plentiful. But a call or text from a parent about how happy their child is? Rarely…

This frustration is greatly highlighted during the Pesach season: Preparing the Hagada for the students is one of the biggest jobs for a teacher. From the cute, arts-and-crafts-laden 2nd grade Hagada, to the scholarly, verter-laden 7th grade Hagada, from the Pre1A Hagada with the individualized pictures of each student doing Karpas, to the 6th grade Hagada with the individualized dvar torahs from each student on Magid, teachers put in tremendous effort, with painstaking love and care, to produce a stunning Hagada for the students to bring home and share with their families at their Seder.

And indeed, the families kvell with nachas from their child’s work brought home. “Nice! There’s my tuition money at work!”, the father will proclaim with a grin, after hearing their child fluently recite the ma nishtana – in Yiddish too! – or ask an intriguing question, followed by a beautiful answer.

So, why not text the teacher after Yom Tov, “Hi, I just want to say that _______ performed so beautifully at the Seder this year. Your hard work in putting together that excellent Hagada did not go unnoticed!”, etc.? Give your child’s teacher a boost of fulfillment, inspiring them to continue their holy work!

Obviously, we teachers do not work for recognition. But it certainly goes a long way in encouraging us in continuing giving it our all.

Wouldn’t you want that?

This Pesach, give your child’s teacher what they would love – wholesome, genuine recognition!