'Feeling underappreciated or undervalued' is rated as one of the top eight causes of teacher burnout. (choosingtherapy.com)
Underappreciated? Undervalued?
Yes.

The teachers and moros of today have been struggling to let their voices be heard. This can't go on.

Once upon a time, teaching was looked up to as a holy profession. The 'morah families' and 'rebbi's kids' were termed so with a tone of respect, a touch of awe for what they stood for and what they were doing to shape the future of Klal Yisroel.

Why did things change?
Many people are attributing the current teacher shortage to an ever-evolving attitude towards the chinuch trade. In the words of Mrs. Debbie Selengut, assistant principal at Bnos Bracha of Passaic, '"We're not just talking about money. We're talking about the whole way we view this profession. We don't want teaching to be the 'nebach job.' Yes, we need to raise salaries, but we also need to raise esteem." (Ami Magazine)

Do we fully comprehend the everlasting impact of teachers on today's youth?
Are we aware of the scope of their influence, the magnitude of their accomplishments?
When it's your child's teacher, you care.
It's Klal Yisroel's teachers. We need to care.
Let's work together to bring the glory back to our Moros. To put them back on the pedestal where they belong and point them out as shining role models- not martyrs.
Parents, let's limit the criticism and uncap the praise. Principals, let's show our appreciation. Klal Yisroel, it's time to step up to the plate.
Our Moros deserve more.

How about a Chasdei Lev Moros division?
A universal grocery-store discount for mechanchos?
Subsidized camp rates for teachers' kids? Appreciation? Let's invest in our children's futures by giving their teachers the recognition they deserve. As a well-known Teaching Methods instructor said, "When did teaching become a shmatta job?!"

Let's stop schlepping shmattas and start shepping nachas.