I went on a cruise this week. It was not the floating city, tourist-laden, helicopter and whale-watching behemoth so rampant in these waters. There were not thousands aboard being waited upon by more thousands, also aboard, except when they all disembark to fill our streets and skies and waters, Costco, and the ice field.
This cruise was aboard a small catamaran with about 150 people aboard for the single purpose of celebrating the careers of six very important staff members of Sit’ Eeti Shaanax, Glacier Valley Elementary School. One was retiring after a long career of teaching kindergarten, preschool and library. Another, after years in the classroom and as a reading specialist, among other things, was retiring also. Another, after a stellar career for many years when she inspired children with her artistic and musical talents, had lost her position in the school consolidation madness last year.
There were three others who had spent years inspiring children, listening to their needs, teaching them about their culture, and recognizing their individual needs and uniqueness. All of them had given of their time and talents, sacrificing their own family time working above and beyond the hours for which they received a relatively rather meager pay. They gave selflessly because they truly love the children and families they served.
As the boat slid effortlessly across the placid water, we heard their stories, told by fellow educators and even one former student of the kindergarten teacher who still remembers and respects the influence she had on his life many years ago. In fact there were at least six of her former students on the cruise, because they still remember the care and love she gave them many years ago in the beginning years of their formal education.
Site’ Eeti Shaanax Glacier Valley is an interesting school where children are taught the value of their culture through art and music. Having a program like that is priceless. It cannot be bought and paid for, no matter how much money is thrown its way. It depends on the dedication of the people involved, the teachers, para educators, janitor, office and administrative staff, nurse, and parents all working for the best experience they can provide for their students, whether they be a four-year-old with disabilities or a brilliant budding musician. It takes hours and hours of volunteer time and continued study and learning on the part of the adults as well as the students.
As unique and successful as this school is, it is not alone. Everywhere there are dedicated smart, thoughtful people working to better the lives of children. For the most part our public schools are filled with incredible teachers, both certified and para, and yes, custodians, nurses, administrative and office workers. A good school is a team effort.
It takes a special kind of person to work with kids of any age; but the young ones are particularly vulnerable. After all, a year in the life of a three-year-old is one-third of the child’s life. A year in the life of a two-year-old is fully half that child’s life just when the most important life skill foundations of language and social skills are being formed. Yet people doing this most important work are among the lowest-paid people in our society. Childcare workers are sometimes the least educated, but often they are people who have great skills with small children. Some have advanced degrees and some just have the innate knowledge and caring souls that young children need. They are never, ever paid enough money. Childcare, especially of very young children should be subsidized so that staff and materials are not just adequate, but helpful to the formation of young minds and bodies. Children should be at least as important as resource development and bombs. And make no mistake, children are everybody’s resource, not just their parents’. They grow up and take their part in society for better or worse.
All that is true of our public schools as well. Teachers and support staff should not be expected to subsidize care and education with low pay and over-the-top extra hours and effort. Yet, the care and feeding of young minds and bodies is often at the very end of our monetary priority list. Care and education is not a business. It should never, ever be expected to be for profit. And yet, in this country that is the expectation, and few blink an eye when our most valuable resource, the minds, bodies, and souls of our future citizens is never supported the way other resources are.
Although enjoyable for all, an afternoon cruise is small thanks for the amazing number of hours, days, months and years these people gave to bettering the lives of the children entrusted to them.
• Sue Oliphant is a Juneau resident.
