September 1, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville First Assembly of God held a recognition dinner Saturday night at the county complex to pay tribute to school teachers in DeKalb County for the work they do in educating the children in our community.
Pastor Iain Swisher hosted the program.
“We are all here to say “thank you”. Tonight we get to honor you and serve you because we are blessed to have you,” said Swisher
Following the meal drawings were held for gifts to the honorees in attendance donated by local businesses and others.
During his brief remarks, Swisher talked about the influence teachers can have on the lives of the children they educate.
“In my life growing up I had a 4th grade teacher and she had above her white board a message which said “just because everybody is doing it doesn’t make it right and just because nobody is doing it doesn’t make it wrong”. That has stayed with me even to this day. It is something I hold on to and try to instill in my children. Teachers you are making a big difference and having an impact on our children’s lives. God Bless you,” he said.
Swisher then read the following poem by Stacy Bonino in tribute to teachers:
“I am so much more than just a teacher,
“I am a counselor and psychologist to a problem-filled child,
I am a police officer that controls a child gone wild.
I am a travel agent scheduling our trips for the year,
I am a confidante that wipes a crying child’s tear.
I am a banker collecting money for a ton of different things,
I am a librarian showing adventures that a storybook brings.
I am a custodian that has to clean certain little messes,
I am a psychic that learns to know all that everybody only guesses.
I am a photographer keeping pictures of a child’s yearly growth,
When mother and father are gone for the day, I become both.
I am a doctor that detects when a child is feeling sick,
I am a politician that must know the laws and recognize a trick.
I am a party planner for holidays to celebrate with all,
I am a decorator of a room, filling every wall.
I am a news reporter updating on our nation’s current events,
I am a detective solving small mysteries and ending all suspense.
I am a clown and comedian that makes the children laugh,
I am a dietician assuring they have lunch or from mine I give them half.
When we seem to stray from values, I become a preacher,
But I’m proud to have to be these people because …
I’m proud to say, “I am a teacher.”
Quoting from another source, Swisher added “A teacher is a multi-tasking educational rock star who lives to inspire and loves to encourage. They’re kind of a big deal”.
“The influence of a good teacher can never be erased”.