Teachers and Students....It's About Relationships

Teachers have been on my mind lately.  Probably because education was my career for 35 years and I now teach aspiring teachers.  But tonight, as I watched "Teach", on television I thought about education today.  We always say that education has changed dramatically.  Yes, that's true in a way.  Certainly technology has added a new dimension to classrooms.  Today we focus on teaching our students to solve problems and work cooperatively.  Yesterday, we sat up straight, hands folded in neat rows while sister talked at us.  We filled out mimeo sheets and did math on loose leaf.  But, really, education is more than that.  It's about knowing our students... forming bonds with the class and creating a community that supports each other so that learning can take place in a safe atmosphere.  I think that teachers have always known that, and the good ones have always practiced it.  So, state governments can talk about the importance of passing "the test"and districts can make decisions based on which teachers had classes that did the best on those tests...but in the long run....my money is on those relationships.  After all, it is about the kids and when we teach them that they are loved and supported and that they can succeed, we create a learning environment that will help them learn and help them to apply that learning so that they are successful not only on tests, but in life.