In the last couple of years, the pandemic threw into sharp relief what our teachers actually do.
Not just teaching how to read and write, marking homework, and filling in end-of-term reports. It was so much more.
Through the whole thing, teachers never stopped. Even though school buildings closed, they made sure learning went on.
We learned that children’s mental health issues soared outside school. Neglect cases were missed.
They don’t do the job for the money, or the hours, or the praise. They do it because they care about those young people in their charge. Our children.
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Today we learn the extent of that care.
Teachers are giving desperate youngsters clothes and buying them food with money from their own pockets. It’s above and beyond. But like those other heroes of our country – NHS workers and emergency services – it’s what they do.
They are on the front line, seeing first-hand the price the most vulnerable are paying for this cost of living crisis. And they are telling us the Government must act now.
Ministers haven’t listened to the economists, they haven’t heard the cries of businesses going to the wall, they haven’t seen the queues at food-banks.
Maybe now they’ll listen to the teachers, who are seeing our children turn up cold, hungry and desperate.
The energy cap needs tackling, of course. But they need to look at widening out free school meals as more families fall into poverty. And look at giving teachers the respect they deserve for the job they’re doing.
You lit up lad's life
A bright young friend of the Sunday People died last week.
Nathaniel Nabena had a rare form of cancer and when he was found ineligible for treatment we called on our readers to help him.
You did – like you always do.
The unspent money will go to help other children in need. And Monday's funeral will be a celebration of Nathaniel’s life.
You were all part of it. Your kindness and generosity lit up his time here.
