Re: [pf] public schools/ was we took...

by Jill Taylor Bussiere

11 December 2000 16:01 UTC

Diane,
    I couldn't agree more.  I used to be a teacher in rural North Carolina -
and  although it seemed that almost all the kids were loved, here was
another place where they could be nurtured.  And here also was a place where
there was food.  The children at the school were mostly extremely poor.  I
have not seen such poverty since in our country.  That was 20 years ago,
however.  I don't know how things are there now.

    Now, in my vision of the ideal world, food would not be an issue -
everyone would have access.  And learning would happen as well - in
communities, where children's passions for various learning areas would be
nurtured, and children would have a chance to explore different areas of
learning so as to better determine their passions.

    But we are a long way from there.

    My experience in the schools as a teacher and parent has taught me that
teachers work their butts off for average pay and little respect because
they love children.  Why else would you choose such a profession.

    And even though I have learned at home with my children for the last 8
years for various reasons - one of which my son was being destroyed by a
public school - I still see that the schools can do good for many in this
imperfect world.  Even those parents who have enough food do not always want
to commit to educating their children instead of the school, so it is good
to have there.

    To do away with the public schools at this point in our society would be
to drasticly increase the inequality that is currently present.

    I am not implying, Molly, that you suggested such a thing.  But I am
just in the mood to put in a plug for the public schools, until society gets
its act together.  Should we not become extinct!
                jill
----- Original Message -----
From: Fitzsimmons, Diane <dcfitzsimmons@ou.edu>
To: <positive-futures@igc.topica.com>
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2000 9:31 AM
Subject: RE: [pf] public schools/ was we took...


> Here is a story my 14yo daughter's teacher shared with us at
parent-teacher
> conference, to illustrate why she was complimenting our daughter's
behavior.
>
> An assistant principal recently left our middle school to become a
full-time
> mom.  This principal has a bubbly, over-the-top positive attitude.  She is
> known for constantly telling the students "I love you."  The nervous,
> insecure 6th-graders love her.  By the time they get to 8th grade, they
find
> her behavior nauseating.
>
> Anyway, in my daughter's 8th-grade language arts class, they were
discussing
> this assistant principal, and the kids were going on and on about how they
> couldn't stand that lovey-dovey stuff.
>
> You know," my daugher said, "we get to hear 'I love you' a lot, but there
> are lots of kids that don't.  Dr. ---- says 'I love you' to everyone so
that
> she can make sure she says it to the kids who don't have anyone else to
say
> it."
>
> That's how I feel about the public schools.  Yes, there's mismanagement.
> Yes, there's lousy teachers.  Yes, there's out-of-control kids.  But, like
> it or not, it's about the only publicly supported institution we have to
> make *some* effort to help the kids who don't get to hear 'I love you.'
>
> I'm not saying it couldn't be done better.  I'm just saying that's about
all
> we have.
>
> I went to several athletic events this fall for our middle school.  The
> principal was there roaming the grounds, visiting with kids, usually
> collaring miscreants and re-directing them into more purposeful behavior.
> Several teachers were in the stands talking with students.  Others were
> working the concession stand to raise money for the school.  Not only do
> they not get paid for this, they *pay* to get into the game to have the
> privilege of working.
>
> For this, in our state at least, they get paid a pittance, starting salary
> of $25,000 a year (that includes the benefits) in our.  I have ecen
recently
> seen a financial advising firm advertise recently a "dramatic" commercial
in
> which the firm talks about how they help a man "pre-retire" through their
> great investments so he can go be a teacher.  That seems pretty evident to
> me that someone on Madison Avenue thinks one cannot afford to live
> comfortably on a teacher's salary without a tidy nest egg drawing
interest.
>
> I am thankful there are people like Molly's sister willing to work within
a
> flawed but necessary system just so some kids can hear 'I love you.'
>
> Diane Fitzsimmons
> Norman, Okla.