once again, brave teachers risk their lives to protect their charges.

[niyad]

story after story today points out that teachers were covering students with their own bodies to protect them (just like at sandy hook). I think about the reichwing attacks on teachers, and it makes me sick. imagine a world where teachers were paid what they were really worth, and the worthless, grubbing corporate types and their cronies were paid what they were really worth.

[DCKit]

1. K&R for the kick. nt

[SunSeeker]

2. The heroism of teachers is incredible.

A truck that was tossed through the air landed in the spot where the school's main office would have been, KFOR reported. Books were scattered across pancaked slabs of concrete. 

A crying man described to a reporter how he and others pulled a car off a teacher in the front of the building and found three children she had shielded with her body. "Good job, teach," the man said, his voice choked with emotion. 

A sixth-grade teacher told KFOR she laid on top of several children in a restroom to protect them from winds that may have topped 200 mph, and all survived.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18381078-7-children-found-dead-at-oklahoma-school-wrecked-by-tornado-officials-say?lite

[flamingdem]

3. yes indeed nt

[Cha]

4. Yes Indeed, niyad! "A Teacher's Love"

A teacher hugs a child at Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south OKC Oklahoma City, OK, Monday, May 20, 2013.

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/20/in-times-of-despair/#comments

[cvoogt]

6. made me cry

I don't care about the politics here. Yes, it's because of climate change, and yes, maybe some of these people don't believe in that, but they are people and deserve our love.

[Cha]

7. Me too.. everytime I see that pic. It's heartbreaking.

[pinboy3niner]

14. Another great photo:

Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, May 20, 2013. (Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman/AP Photo)

[Cha]

23. Yes, pinboy.. these are heartwarming pics of helping the children..

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/21/rise-and-shine-478/

[freshwest]

5. The gentlest kind of heroism, seldom celebrated. Bless 'em all.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

8. Worthless grubbing corportate types. . .let's include actors, athletes, singers and those leeches

as well. No one should make the money they make producing things of such little intrinsic value for society. Teachers, LEOs, Firefighters, Nurses and Soldiers should all be millionaires.

[niyad]

12. so you think that people who give us great songs, great plays, great movies, etc. produce things

of no intrinsic value? you don't think art and music have any intrinsic value?

[bighart]

21. I agree there is intrinsic value in art and music.

But do you think those who make art and music and movies deserve to have more wealth than 99% of the population does?

[niyad]

22. nice try.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

24. Is it worth the millions they make, while teachers get peanuts?

Great songs are nice, but not worth being paid that obscene amount of money.

[niyad]

27. not that many people make obscene amounts of money making music--and, amazingly enough,

it is because people choose to pay them for that music. the arts are not really subsidized in this country, the way the oil companies and many corporations are. not all musicians are in the 1%

[Nanjing to Seoul]

28. Again. . .is it worth more than a teacher? You are not answering. You are sidestepping

and bringing up irrelevant ideas. Is Beyonce and Brad Pitt worth more than the person that teaches SPED and LD students?

If so, your priorities are messed up.

[niyad]

29. not sidestepping, since you seem to have an issue with musicians and actors

more than ceo's,. you have not answered the question about intrinsic value, but keep up the sidestepping. it is amusing, and transparently obvious.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

31. I have an issue with anyone who produces next to nothing and receives huge amounts of pay for it

CEOs, athlete, musicians, actors.

Since you feel they are worth their obscene pay, good.

I'll go back to my classroom and let you have your fantasy. I have an IGCSE exam to administer. Apparently, my value is only worth about 45,000 a year after nine years in a classroom.

Yet, CEOs make that in six minutes. And LeBron James makes that in six hours.

Ignored forever.

[bighart]

32. Thank you for what you do.

[Half-Century Man]

9. As surprising as the dawn.

Most teachers I have ever met put the welfare of the students over their personal welfare. Teachers I have been in heated arguments with, the ones who I believed were causing serious harm to my family values; I never once thought that they acted to serve a personal agenda. Their complete commitment was to the student.
Whenever in post-disaster conversations people express surprise that classroom teachers put their own bodies between students and danger, I can't help but wonder where these folks have been. Teachers do that, just like they breath, they do that. The majority of Police, Firefighters, EMTs, teachers, soldiers, Doctor's, nurses also do just that.

Lately it seems as though the human race has been thinking that "businessman" is the highest form of human life. This is untrue. Nor is entertainer, sports figure, or someone who's famous for being famous. These people are transient influences on society at best. The people who devote their lives to helping and teaching are the true pinnacles of human social evolution.

[knitter4democracy]

10. We don't even think about it, either. It's just what we do.

I teach high school, and I've had times where I've had to deal with kids fighting or whatever, and I never think of protecting myself like my bosses say I should. I just run to help my kids and keep them safe.

Sometimes my students ask me what I would do if a gunman were to come to my classroom or if there were a tornado, and I tell them every time that I'd do whatever it takes to keep them safe. I and all the teachers I know always run through scenarios in our heads, figuring out safer spots, better ways to hide students or keep them safe. It's just what we do.

[niyad]

13. I hope you don't think I am one of those surprised?

[uponit7771]

11. +1

[Pragdem]

15. Plenty of brave teachers, but it's important we keep social norms and market norms seperate.

Unfortunately, those that attack public education don't feel the same way.

[MichiganVote]

25. +1

[CatWoman]

16. I just made similar comments to a coworker

great minds and all

[niyad]

19. but of course!! from one cat woman to another!!

[fishwax]

17. k/r for teachers

[justiceischeap]

18. Glorified babysitters my ass!

In case you don't know, some people see teachers as nothing but babysitters and that's why they are "undeserving" of better pay. I bet their babysitters wouldn't shield their children's bodies with their own.

[niyad]

20. unfortunately, I do know that, and it makes me sick. and then there is the fact that sitters are,

in fact, looking after the children--one would think that would be worth something, yes?

[niyad]

26. . . .

[winter is coming]

30. Has anyone heard an update about the teacher they were afraid wouldn't make it?

The one they found under a car, shielding three students?