TEACHERS SOAP OF THE EARTH, SPEAKER TELLS DISTRICT MEETING

Art teachers teach that each person has a unique perspective on the world they see.

Coaches teach sportsmanship and how to play on a team.

Science teachers teach students to respect life, all forms of life.

English teachers give students the gift of reading.

Mindy Hawkins, a teacher for nine years, spoke about her profession to teachers Friday at the Southeast District Missouri State Teachers Association's 119 annual meeting.

About 2,500 area educators attended the meeting held at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

"Anybody who went into teaching to make big bucks is too stupid to be teaching," Hawkins told the audience, adding that:

No matter what the salary might be, it couldn't be high enough. The dedication teachers bring to their classrooms can't be bought.

"I taught your babies," she said. "I took care of your miracles."

A teacher's reward isn't found in a paycheck. It is found in the eyes of a student.

"Every once in a while the light bulb goes on and you look into those eyes," she said. "They get it, and you taught it to them."

Teachers, Hawkins added, often are propelled into their profession because of the teachers they had.

"Teachers are the only self-perpetuating group of professionals," she said. "Teachers become teachers because their lives were touched by a teacher."

While dealing with children in the classrooms, teachers also deal with assorted social issues and even political issues.

"I'd bet five bucks we don't have a senator or congressman who can pass an eighth-grade history test without a briefing," she said.

These same politicians are drafting tests and developing standards to hold teachers accountable.

Often, she said, teachers are tired, frustrated and wrung out at the end of the day. But that means the teachers are doing a good job.

She also said teachers are the soap of the earth. "You clean away the tears, cleanse the soul and scrub up the self-esteem of students."

At the meeting Ruth Kasten of Cape Girardeau, Wayne Pressley of Chaffee and Dexter schools, and Roger Sherman of Sikeston schools were honored for meritorious service to education.

Also honored were Myrnita B. Grantham of Cape Girardeau schools, Mary Lou Walters of Sikeston schools and Cheryl Lynn Boggess of Dexter schools. They have been named outstanding Community Teachers Association leaders of the year for Southeast Missouri.

Jo Peukert of Cape Girardeau schools was named president of the association's southeast district for the 1995-96 school year.