Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Heroism

We ask our teachers to do a great many things.  In addition to the actual teaching of particular subject matter, our teachers serve as mentors, role models, confidants and cheer leaders for our children. Our teachers do these many tasks without hesitation because they are professionals who are charged with an awesome responsibility - the education of children. While many of us think of teachers as heroes, we don't ask them to take on this particular role.  They do it naturally and without reservation. Recent events in Moore, Oklahoma and Newtown, Connecticut show that when a student is in danger, it is the teacher who immediately stands up to protect the student from harm, sometimes at the cost of the teacher's own life. This is heroism in its' purest sense.