Letter: Teachers not shown enough appreciation

Thursday, June 21, 2007 | 7:18 a.m.

Growing up , the only thing I have ever wanted to do was become a teacher. Now I'm 21 years old, majoring in elementary education.

I work for Henderson's Parks and Recreation Department, and for the past two years I've worked with 4- and 5-year-olds. Within these past two years I've started to reconsider whether to pursue a career in teaching.

Teaching is all I have ever wanted to do; it's something that I love. But how can I love something that is so unappreciated? Teachers mold students; they are there to listen, offer understanding and discipline, but they are paid less than people who park cars at local casinos.

So I have to wonder : I s it worth it?

During the past two years I've seen behavior problems in children increase drastically, and parents couldn't care less. To some of these children I'm more of a parent tha n their own. And because teachers have to deal with so many discipline problems, it makes it extremely hard to teach - and to deal with all that without making enough money to support yourself or a family.

Teachers are always in demand, and teaching has always been my dream, but if I can't make enough money to support a family, is that dream really worth it? And this is why there are very few good teachers left anymore.

Jennifer McNally, Henderson