My wife is a teacher. I used to not care about anyone's kids. But over the years the types of stories that I've heard and the times where I've seen her go so far beyond what you would expect, has broken me. It’s extremely common for teachers to reach out to other teachers and families looking for resources for things like glasses so kids can see, or just clean clothes. Yes, some teachers do laundry for kids that are not theirs. Daily. My wife knows the birthdays of every kid in her class and gets them a birthday balloon and I make a little balloon weight that we fill with candy. It’s not a lot but, its something.
So much respect for you and your wife. You are the real heroes. This actions can deeply affect thw future of a kid. I will never forget my 5th grade teacher. She is always with me.
I went to school with a math teacher named Mr. Salima.
He had a baseball game he invented where you kicked the ball instead of swinging with a bat. He also had so many convoluted rules that none of us knew what we were doing.
He called the game Salima Ball. We called it Salima's Balls.
I always appreciated how much work he put into his stupid game and how much we'd argue with him over his stupid rules and how much he seemed to suck at his own game.
Same …. Maybe not every single thing you listed but I don’t know how much money we spend each year on supplies / snacks and other stuff for the classroom. But hey we get to claim $200.00 in a tax deduction on our taxes. 👎
I didn’t appreciate teachers as much as I do now being married to one. I also believe the only people that should be allowed to joke about “having the summer off” are teachers and their spouses. They are the ones that know how much effort goes into being a teacher. I won’t even start on teachers that also coach …. They are another type altogether.
I ran into my son’s teacher at a bookstore tonight. Funny enough, she bought a book my son requested for their classroom collection. The best teachers are the ones that care about and value what their students say 🩷
Make sure your wife is reaching out to non profits in the community!! They will potentially be able to assist with some supplies, clothes, and possibly even follow up with and further help the family. It’s not a guarantee but it never hurts to try
Many schools maintain a clothes bin for kids who either can't afford uniforms, need something appropriate to wear, or -- usually in the case of younger children -- have an accident at school. Offering outgrown clothing via the office staff, especially if your school requires uniforms, is hugely appreciated.
We have kids that have shower at school or do laundry because their home life is such a mess and we come up with all kinds of ways to keep that from other kids so they’re not stigmatized.
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u/Sufficient_Run9987 11h ago
We really have to appreciate the teachers back then. Adulthood is not easy.