Yesterday, we learned with Trevor Ragan (@train_ugly) of Train Ugly. It was a great day of learning, I can’t say anything otherwise. Jungle tigers, zoo tigers, lizard brains, and so many more pieces of research and data to push ourselves forward.
But then, there’s the collective bargaining debacle that’s leading to contact issues around the state.
But then, there’s the legislative forum where our senator and our representative listened to people say yes, they’d play higher taxes for clean water and no, we didn’t want a huge tax cut for our state, we wanted fully funded mental health services, more money for education, along with various other things. And we heard them say, yes, we’ll get a tax cut, and no, you won’t get the money for clean water from a tax that was voted on in 2010.
But then, there’s the shooting in Florida.
But then, there’s teachers blogging about how they don’t want to die at school, about putting themselves in front of their students, taking a bullet.
But then, there’s the ensuing “It’s my right to own a gun” vs. “Why do you need those kind of gun” vs. “It’s a people problem” vs. “It’s a gun problem” that’s blown up on social media.
But then, there’s the collective bargaining debacle that’s leading to contact issues around the state.
So what?
Do I ignore sound research or do I ignore life?
But then I read this from Angela Maiers:
You have just been reminded of why we are indispensable and why no one can simply walk in off the street and do our work. You are in this position of privilege to do one thing like no other person on earth can do: TEACH
So, what will I do tomorrow in the face of all that negative energy?
Teach.
February 20, 2018 at 10:08 pm
Thanks for this really important reminder. I love Angela Maier’s words.
February 21, 2018 at 8:40 am
She was the catalyst for the blog. 🙂 I do enjoy her message…
February 20, 2018 at 10:20 pm
What a powerful slice… all the repeating “But then…” Great reminder about teaching.
February 21, 2018 at 8:40 am
But then, indeed! I needed to clear my head, and I’m not sure this was the appropriate place, but it got conversations started, and in the end, that’s what I want! 🙂
February 21, 2018 at 1:04 am
I can’t (and quite frankly don’t want to) imagine what it is like to be a teacher in the US – for all of those reasons.
February 21, 2018 at 8:38 am
I’ve got an interesting mix of teachers, community members, and a few students who read this, and some of them will undoubtedly be offended. We teachers need a stiff upper lip and to continue forward regardless. I call bull on that because teachers need to be able to process through this stuff just as much as kids do, in some cases more. However, that is never talked about, which is where beef comes from. Yet, I’m in the hallway this morning, smiling, allowing students that time to talk, and being in the moment with them.
February 21, 2018 at 5:51 am
We need to just dig in and keep moving forward. It’s definitely not easy, though.
February 21, 2018 at 8:35 am
Agreed. But we cannot discount that teachers are being piled on in a big way. The status quo of “we’ll do more with less with smiles on our faces” can only go on for so long. That’s where my struggle is right now, if not the status quo, then what? 🙂
February 21, 2018 at 6:02 am
👊🏻✊🏻💪
February 21, 2018 at 8:34 am
Dang straight! 🙂
February 21, 2018 at 8:44 am
Very well said…I think we live our life to the best of our ability…in spite of the pain, frustration, and ignorance of others.
February 26, 2018 at 8:54 am
Yes, yes we do! And we actually grow in spite of it all as well! Thank you for your comment! 🙂