NJ Teachers Magazine

Official NJ Teacher's Publication

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A hymn to teachers

by Jennifer Mross


Last month, I valiantly tried to “opt out” of paying my bills. This month, Governor Christie has given me a new idea: I am just going to call up the electric, cable and gas companies and demand for them to tell me where in the world I shall find the money to pay their bills. And when they politely remind me that they have held up their end of our agreement, I will stomp off in a huff blaming them for all the skyrocketing utility bills…




It is so hard to feel appreciated in 2015.


True story: I actually had a former parent put a note on my car once that told me I should read some books about how to teach because I had the audacity of leaving one district for another without asking her permission or informing her second grade son. No wonder she was so irate!




As I held the note in my hand, I realized that the Governor has made us all fair game for this kind of rude, illogical, mean-spirited behavior. We are the enemy. We are the ones costing New Jersey millions of dollars. No matter that we all agreed on the same compromise of settling for nearly one-third of the salaries our private sector peers with the same education enjoy since we had a “built-in retirement and healthcare plan as part of our salary.” We are not appreciated; we are the scapegoats and I don’t see it ending in the near future.




I have had the great pleasure and experience of working within three different northern New Jersey school districts the last 20 years. We all know it is our little world within our buildings that make us feel appreciated: From the scribbled notes of kindergartners declaring their love and adoration, to the shared jokes with our middle schoolers, and the future planning and dreams of our high school seniors; the countless PTO and PTA lunches and posters and tokens of appreciation; the umpteen coffee mugs and candles from sincere parents. We realize we are appreciated and that’s what makes us get up and go back every day even in the face of political negligence and economic pressures.




It recently reminded me of the famous words of Sister Teresa of Calcutta, originally entitled “Do It Anyway.” I started hearing her words in my mind again and again throughout my workday as I was faced with endless duplicate paperwork, impossible deadlines and stacks of ungraded essays. I am sure she wouldn’t mind one bit if we borrowed her wise words and applied them to our profession:




Students are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. We need to be reasonable, rational and others-centered anyway. 


Patience and diligence do not always pay off with all our students. Students are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. 


We need to be reasonable, rational and others-centered anyway. Patience and diligence do not always pay off with all our students. 


Be patient and diligent anyway. 


The most creative lessons may never be observed. Be creative anyway.


 Ingenious lessons infusing technology will cease the day the server crashes. Plan ingenious lessons and use technology anyway. 


If you demand high standards, not all students will rise to the challenge. Demand rigorous standards anyway. 


Countless dollars will never be reimbursed in the name of ingenuity. Keep investing anyway.


 The literature and essays may be quickly forgotten. Read and write with them anyway. 


If you are kind and generous with your students, you may be accused of having favorites. Be kind and generous anyway. 


Parents may be lazy, uninvolved and neglectful. Be interested, involved and responsible for their child anyway. 


New Jersey’s teachers may always be the underpaid and under respected underdogs. Cheer us on anyway. Enjoy, happy summer and know you are indeed appreciated.




Jennifer Mross has been teaching in New Jersey public schools for


nearly 20 years. She holds a BS in Elementary Education and an MS


in Educational Leadership. She is a Frederick L. Hipp Grant recipient


for infusing literature into her history classroom. She currently


teaches middle school language arts and history in a Passaic county


public school.