To the Editor:

Teachers’ Appreciation Week and Nurses Appreciation Week, occurring at the same time this year, recognize two of the most important professions in society.

Education and healthcare systems continue to experience challenging times due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, inadequate funding, and inadequate staffing.

Our teachers are serving not only as educators but also as informal social workers. Our nurses are working extra shifts and are responsible for more patients.

Teachers face unjust criticism for providing factual and relevant education to their students, who are our children, grandchildren, and neighbors. Nurses are facing unfair criticism for presenting scientifically-proven information to patients to keep them well or to help them heal.

Teachers’ individual and collective efforts to teach their students the knowledge and reasoning skills that life requires go above and beyond what should be expected of them, and often go unseen.

Despite the hardships they’ve endured, Maine’s nurses have assured their patients, including our friends, families, and in some cases, ourselves, that they are receiving the medical care they need.

The Oxford County Democrats thank and celebrate our county’s teachers and nurses, and we pledge our support for you, and for your professions. We will continue to introduce and vote for legislation to provide the resources you need to do your best work on behalf of your students and patients. Thank you.

Barbara C. Arsenault

Chair

Oxford County Democrats

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