NEA Calls for Secretary Duncan's Resignation

[BrotherIvan]

38. I know exactly what you mean

All of my mother's fellow teachers say they would not become teachers today. That is a truly sad statement. NCLB is an abomination for education and it's only going to get worse.

A school can be a great focus for a neighborhood. Before schools were so afraid of liability, they would have "dime a dip" potlucks to raise money for the extras. A way for parents to get to know each other and the teachers. After school carnivals, Halloween parties, and weekend bbqs meant low income families could have a day or night of fun for very little money. They also went to regional events such as sports competitions, science fairs, math competitions, debate team, all in the cars of teachers and parents which can't be done any more.

The saddest for me is the food. Many schools now don't allow homemade food anymore because of allergies. That to me is extremely sad. In my short teaching stint, I broke the rules and did a holiday potluck with my high school students. In our small, correctional high school (that was basically a last chance), students were split along ethnic groups. Families who didn't have much to spare were excited to send in their best dishes. And let me tell you, students who had never spoken, some of whom were gang enemies, started talking to each other about the food. AA students had never eaten tamales, Mexican students had never tasted homemade Macaroni and Cheese, and nobody had tried Vietnamese or Filipino food. They started talking about their holiday traditions and what they ate. And the pride when someone complimented their mother's or their grandmother's dish!

I know it sounds like Halcyon days gone by, and they might truly be gone. I hope not. That's why I know that teachers are the backbone of a school and they must be supported. Parents and teachers working together means success. Teaching truly is a calling: nobody becomes a teacher to get rich. I learned even more that it wasn't my calling and how exhausting it was. If you care about your child, you should support their teachers because they are some of the most influential people in your child's life.