abaya

In some ways I agree (hence why I am not really entertaining thoughts of going back to teach full-time at all), but on the other hand... what would happen if everyone had the same attitude and just gave up on the public system? If things look bleak now, what would they look like for the next generation if they all had shitty teachers who conformed to the party line, etc etc?

I can't let myself believe that the whole system is so fucked up that everyone with a brain and a conscience should abandon it. There has to be something salvageable there... not all of the kids/parents are so reprehensible (I sure did get a lot of kids interested in Iceland back then, hahaha!). A few of them do like to learn. I think what frustrated me is that I had mostly the screw-up kids (as a first year teacher), while a lot of other teachers jockeyed to get AP and Honors kids, etc... and those were the ones who really cared, and whose parents encouraged them to learn the truth, etc. I don't know how fair those divisions are, but I do know that there was a marked difference between the average kid I was teaching, and the average kid that my neighbor teachers had, who would join Model UN and Science Olympiad and all the rest. I just didn't know how to bridge the gap.

If I did go back, I would be afraid of losing my job at times, but I would also feel like it was my responsibility to teach the truth... and if my head rolls as a result, then so be it. I'd move on. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't stop fighting the good fight... or does it??!!

Gaah, I still have one year left of my idealistic 20s, can you tell?
-----Added 4/12/2008 at 09 : 51 : 13-----
Indeed, the tribal casinos (at least in WA state) are a unique demonstration of karma.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran