The euphoria of another graduation season is subsiding and the school year has come to a close. But it won’t be long before local educators return to the classroom to begin growing the next crop of young people.

It’s a daunting task and one I’m sure most do not take lightly.

I took off a few days last week to attend the graduation ceremony of Biloxi High School and watched the son of a very close friend walk across the stage to receive his diploma and witnessed 363 young people move on into the next phase of their life.

There were plenty of hugs, hollars and air horns (don’t get me started on that one) from friends and family in the crowd, but I couldn’t help but notice the faculty and teachers sitting behind the graduates and how proud most of them seemed for the accomplishments of these young people.

There seemed to be just as many smiles, applause and tears from those educators and it was at that point I realized this goal is just as big to the teachers as it is the grads and their families.

Most of those in the crowd only go through the mixed feelings of jubilation and sadness once or twice, but these teachers go through it every May when they see their hard work of teaching and molding the minds of our children come to fruition. 

I’m certain that was also the case for teachers and faculty at Warren Central, Vicksburg, Porters Chapel and St. Aloysius as they watched their pupils receive their diplomas.

Their jobs are so much harder than it was 35 years ago when I graduated. They’re not only asked to educate, but also protect our children from so many more threats inside and outside the classroom.

So while I congratulate the Class of 2018, I also thank the teachers who are also deserving of praise for the job they do. It hasn’t gone unnoticed by me … you are the real heroes and part of the story that should be told during graduation.

Enjoy your summer teachers. You’ve earned it.

Rob Sigler is editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at rob.sigler@vicksburgpost.com. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.