Melville H. Nahin, 33°
1924 San Ysidro Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90210–1521

In many ways, teachers are and have always been heroes.

She was attacked twice this year, once by a purse-snatcher in the school parking lot and once by an assailant near the academic campus. Both times she was battered, and both times she fought off her attacker. She was back at school within a couple of days after each incident. Unusual? Some might say so, but, actually, this teacher and others like her face similar challenges nearly every day and still quietly persist, even heroically continue, their service to our communities and America every day of the year.

We, as Scottish Rite Brethren, can name many others we've personally known in the process of our Order's support of public schools. They are truly professionals. They know the importance of what they do, and they understand how vital their own performance is on a daily basis. It doesn't take a traumatic experience to bring out the best in a good teacher. Thousands throughout our nation realize that what they do or don't do in the classroom could be crucial determining factors in the development of future citizens, our children, and grandchildren. We as parents seem to have abdicated our responsibility and, by our non-action, transferred it to our children's teachers.

Nobody ever said teaching was easy, but I doubt that much of the general public has any idea of the demands placed upon today's teachers. A good teacher employs a highly complex management system in his or her classroom, organizes materials, and plans carefully to provide an instructional program that covers a broad curriculum and is presented at appropriate ability and achievement levels. Effective discipline strategies require the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and the energy of an Olympic athlete. Combine attending school curriculum meetings, performing committee work, keeping parents informed of pupil progress, and managing all the paperwork—and you've hardly scratched the surface of a teacher's workload.

Yet teachers still find time to prepare for non-educational activities, perhaps a staff dance before classes begin or remembering each other when their fellow teacher is having problems, or making a home call to discuss a child's problems. They pleasantly greet the extra students from the class next door when there is no substitute, counsel the troubled child at recess, and work with colleagues on writing grants for much-needed school equipment. But just as marathon runners dig into personal reservoirs of stamina to find a fresh burst of speed, so do dedicated teachers, all the way from the first to the very last day of school.

Recently, I saw a woman driving down the freeway very early in the morning. From the school sticker on her bumper, I guessed she was on her way to a local elementary school. Then, I noticed the familiar, diamond-shaped sign we sometimes see on car windows. Often they say, "Baby On Board." This one read, "Teacher On Board." She was obviously proud of her profession.

As we think about our public schools and the onslaughts teachers and principals must take, let us also be proud of our dedicated and highly professional teachers, true heroes of the classroom, and let us truly be glad that we have them "On Board."

Melville H. Nahin is an attorney in Los Angeles, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California (1998–99), Past Venerable Master of Los Angeles Valley, present Chairman of Los Angeles Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic, Past Master Ionic Lodge No. 520 and Southern California Research Lodge, and Chairman of the Board of Governors Shriners Hospitals for Children–Los Angeles Unit.