Teacher Appreciation Week seemed to come and go with not too much recognition from the students in Coppell High School.  From elementary school students have celebrated this week annually, but is this holiday still and effective way to make students recognize their teachers?

This event was created and popularized by worldwide teacher associations and is intended to not only bring students together to show gratitude to those who guide them through years of education, but also to teach kids more about teaching as a profession and its merits worldwide. Despite the good intentions behind this holiday, this week often flies under the radar among the students in Coppell High School.

In elementary schools, students used to regularly bring teachers and administrators gifts, whether it was Teacher Appreciation Week or not, but as the years went on this trend seemed to disappear. One might feel that high school teachers would be the ones to need more recognition as their courses often include more rigor than the average elementary school classroom. Then again, gifts might not be what teachers actually prefer of students who are trying to show them gratitude. English teacher, Dr. Revelle, finds that her students don’t necessarily need a specific week to show her that she is appreciated.

“ I have a really nice group of students this year, “ Revelle said. “ They show me their appreciation everyday by coming to class and participating in the activities I set up for them and having a good attitude about the work that we’re doing.”

Though it’s not common, there are the select few students who do participate in giving their teacher’s gifts up into their high school years.

“I used to give every one of my teachers gifts every year, up until last year,” junior David Mares said. “And last year when I gave mine to Mr. Sherman I just felt kind of stupid, so I stopped.”

While teachers may enjoy many of the perks given to them this week such as student council breakfasts and door prizes, it could also be said that many of them don’t really care.

“The only thing I was happy about was getting to wear jeans all week,” teacher Michael Vergien said. “I don’t feel the holiday itself is that necessary.”

Though this celebration may seem like it is not as recognized as it was in our younger years, it does inspire some students to stop and really appreciate what their teachers are doing and have been doing for them all year.