Prospect celebrates American Education Week

November 16, 2011

By Meghan Doyle
Executive News Editor
Nov. 13 – Nov. 19 is the 90th anniversary of American Education Week — a week dedicated to “the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs,” according to the National Education Association or NEA’s website nea.org.

At Prospect, this translates into a celebration of the achievements of the faculty through a breakfast, little gifts from Student Council, such as post-it notes and candy, and inspirational quotes dropped in the mailboxes by the Teacher Parent Committee (TPC).

“It’s nice to feel appreciated,” counselor Dustin Seemann said.

According to nea.org, the week was first observed in 1921, in response to the illiteracy of American soldiers during World War I. NEA and the American Legion first convened in 1919 to address the neglect of education in the general public.
As the week became more successful every year, more sponsors jumped on board, such as the U.S. Department of Education, the National PTA and the American Federation of Teachers, to name a few.

Each day of the week has a designated focus: Tuesday is Parents Day, Wednesday is Education Support Professionals Day, it is possible on Thursday to be an Educator for a Day, and Friday celebrates Substitute Educators Day.

Though Prospect may not celebrate each specific day, the week is still in place to acknowledge the accomplishments of the staff. Seemann said it is hard to recognize achievements when people get “caught up in the daily grind,” but for one week it’s nice to acknowledge the raise in test scores, being the third Illinois public school in math and science and other faculty successes.

“It’s nice to remind the people that work here, from the custodial staff all the way to the administration, that people appreciate the work that they’re putting in,” Seemann said.

Click here for more information about American Education Week, including videos!

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Prospect celebrates American Education Week

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