In praise for great teachers*

Have you ever wondered what would we be without teachers? There would be no professionals, career men and women, presidents, members of Congress, judges, clergy, chefs, salespersons, scientists, military personnel, police officers, writers, editors, counselors, managers, politicians or pundits.

This is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Thus, it's appropriate to express our sincere appreciation to all teachers for their dedication, love of learning, professionalism and public service.

Thank you for being there for our students. As you continue to mold and shape young minds, may your devotion and passion inspire them to excel and succeed in the future. May God bless you and your families.

Teachers focus on ensuring their students' success, one lesson plan at a time. What they do is tremendously valuable and important to nation-building and community development. With their knowledge and expertise, they train our future leaders to operate in a changing society, a volatile world.

Budget cuts in education are always an issue in government funding, but most teachers remain true to their calling. They do what they can with whatever remuneration they receive. Though they don't receive regular pay raises, most rarely complain about it. They are too busy in the classroom, making sure that the school curriculum is followed and implemented and that their students pass the required Virginia Standard of Learning tests and other high-stakes tests and benchmarks.

Teachers deserve more than a pay raise. They deserve our respect.

Teachers are in the classroom, first and foremost, to instruct, not to police, counsel, judge or condemn. They have objectives to accomplish each day. But if they're always dealing with students with behavioral problems, they will be far behind in the implementation (and execution) of their lesson plans, and their students who are eager to learn will be deprived of learning. Parents of rowdy students should recognize the harm this does to classrooms.

Teachers can only do so much to help our students. It's our responsibility, as parents, to instill discipline on our children. We are their first teachers. They learn what they encounter at home and in the community, and what they learn they bring to school.

Teachers can bring out the best in students. With their knowledge, skills, expertise and professionalism, they challenge students to be the best that they can be.

We entrust them with our children, because we know they will guide, enlighten, instruct and influence them to be productive and law-abiding members of society.

Again, thank you, teachers---especially to my wife, who is a veteran chemistry teacher---for all the good you do.

-Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

*Appeared in the Opinion page of the award-winning Suffolk News-Herald, Tuesday, May 5, 2015. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com