Last edited Sun Dec 9, 2012, 04:43 PM - Edit history (1)
I came across a post that I thought was interesting so I shared it in a thread. It reminded me of times when I felt invisible or voiceless. I wondered if others had experienced this, too.
I made a huge mistake not thinking before I spoke. I realize now that this is not the time to look back and think about those negative moments. This is a time to join the fight for public education. Public education in general, and teachers specifically, are in the fight of their lives. Those of us who, like you, had positive experiences on the whole, need to come together and stand for teachers, with teachers, and protect the future of public education.
Wow, what a couple of days I have had. I am new to DU. You see, I think about this stuff all the time, but this is the first time I have had a group of people to talk with about subjects that are important to me. This is the first forum I have ever joined. In this thread, I mused on something that was so myopic, I surprised myself. I guess I'm not as socially aware as I thought I was. I was unaware that I was being insulting. I embrace the opportunity to learn and improve even if it is uncomfortable. I assure you I was shaken when I saw how I had affected another dedicated teacher like yourself. I tell my kids all the time that I empathize with their discomfort when they are corrected, but what is important is what they (in this case, what I) do with that correction. Do I learn from it and be better or do I resist it and keep making the same mistake? I like learning my lessons. That way, I leave fewer bodies in my wake as I fumble through this world.
Being new is not an excuse, but I tell you because I am at the beginning of my learning curve. I will try to be better with recognizing inflammatory language like "herd mentality" and "indignities" and not use it, being ever mindful of the times we live in so that I don't unintentionally insult everyone here, and hopefully get to enjoy a lively and productive discussion that improves our world, even if only a little bit.
I will say that I have concerns about low teacher pay, loss of pensions, gutting of unions, bullying in school, charter schools, mandatory testing, loss of the arts and PE, corporate influence in schools (i.e. soda machines, advertising, McD coupons and educational materials) etc. I look forward to discussions on these topics in this forum.
Thank you for your dedication to education. By the way, I never mentioned that my mom was a public school teacher until she retired with over 30 years of service.
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