Teacher’s appreciation day is May 5. It is one day designed to remind us to recognize the work teachers do throughout the year. I’ve let many, many years slide by without expressing appreciation to my old teachers. How long? When Nampa had just the one high school. That long.
I hope it’s not too late to list a short sample here, in hopes they might yet receive my thanks:

• To Ms. Grant, who taught us about media bias in junior high. We read reviews of the Reagan-Mondale debate from the three leading news magazines, all of which framed and emphasized different points to arrive at different outcomes.

• Ms. Fastabend, who dedicated her Friday social studies class to an open-mike-like debate of divisive contemporary issues. Somehow, she was able to provoke spirited discussion among teens while maintaining civility. Take note, pundit shows of today!

• To Mr. Shaw, who, while expertly teaching science, called out a racist joke I made. I resented him at the time, but I learned from it.

• To Mrs. Rosenbaum, who developed advanced government classes and coached generations of Nampa speech and debate students. Without her cultivating my interest in international relations, I would not have explored it as a career.

• To all my English teachers who told me to be more concise and focus on my spelling. Thanks for keeping it real. Still working on it!

I have not lived in Idaho for decades. While reading about recent turns in the Ada County “Everyone is Welcome” poster controversy, I read through last year’s stories and was impressed at the support students provided that teacher at the time. It served as an unlikely reminder from contemporary Idaho students of how remiss I had been to appreciate my Idaho teachers from my youth. While passing by old schools when I visited, I would think of a few particularly influential teachers and tell myself that someday I’d stop in and express my gratitude. But it never happened, and those teachers are not there anymore. Some likely have passed.

But there is no expiration date on gratitude. It’s never too late to say thank you to teachers who armed us with knowledge and, occasionally, inspiration. As we find time to routinely like posts and subscribe to influencers, we ought to carve out some time to verbalize our appreciation for teachers. Our praise rewards their good work and motivates more of it. Inspiration works both ways.
You have to thank people in the moment or risk missing the opportunity. Don’t put it off. Don’t be tardy. Thank your teachers today!

Joe Relk attended public schools in Nampa before stints in the military, Boise State, various Idaho media, the Idaho Transportation Department, and the Department of State.