Election? The corrupt vs. the cynic

Most of my younger friends in their late twenties believe there is no good reason to vote.
They believe politics are totally corrupted and a vote will make no difference.
Many torturous lunch debates in the teacher's lounge unhinge my sense of hope and justice for a better United States government-on all levels.

Having grown up throughout the Kennedy-Nixon-Carter-etc. I participated and observed how we, as a nation could step up to corrupt politics, dishonesty and illegal moves and make a difference.

We made a difference as a populist when we said enough of Vietnam.

We stood firm and rooted out the insidious infection in our top government in Richard Nixon-Spiro Agnew and the White cronies who fed off one another's lack of moral purpose and dishonesty at levels up to and including the United States Attorney General.

Our country is spiraling down a toilet bowl of fecal dishonesty-arrogant in its' demeanor-

The most frightening aspect is the blatant-in-your-face-diffidence government at all levels present corruption.

We are told it is so-and so what?
Men resign-not in shame but because they are forced to do so by other party members for fear of -not tainting them-but of getting caught as well.

I retract my outrage at my young fellow professionals.

I am not so sure anymore they are incorrect.

It is a hopelessness -a weary-overwhelming-sense of futility-tinged with grief-that touches the core of my being-this feeling inside of me-still clutching my moral outrage and sense of justice-seems almost Pollyannish is this new generation's resignation to corruption.

Each day I am in my classroom with third grade children-I remind them-some day you will be the ones responsible for the decision making in our country. It is a serious and honorable duty of citizenship. Never fear to step up to the plate and decide for what is right-
remember it will affect all of us-not just you-but your children and their children...

We must always remember we are not in this world just for ourselves-we are responsible tor one another..at all levels

It is their parents cynicism-sense of powerlessness-vague detached feelings my children must overcome.

Ironically, it is those just and conscientious citizens of the sixties and seventies who raised those cynics.

Insane incompetence ? Or the future of service??

The sign read, CLOSED
Come back in one hour....

A young woman stood at the locked door to Sally's Beauty Supply talking on a phone.

I asked, One hour from when? Now? Twenty minutes ago? When?

She put one finger up, motioning me to wait as she spoke on the phone.
As I stood on the opposite side of the door, she hung up the phone and walked away.

Okay, I thought, I'll hang out next door at Bath and Body Work for a few minutes and check back.

Thirty minutes later I returned to the unlocked doors of Sally's Beauty Supply .

As I walked in I stepped over a tangle of computer cords, two women behind the counter on the floor, one with a phone to her ear trying to figure out how to restart the computer.

An additional woman stood in the front of the store telling each person she did not know if the store would remain open because the computer was broken.

"We have to close", she whined, "our computer is broke and we can't make any sales."

"Can't you do it manually?", I asked.
"e don't hav a calculator to figure out the 7% sales tax. "
You don't know how to multiply by seven?", I asked curiously.

"We have to add more than one purchase and how can we figure out sales tax on that??" asked another worker, slightly panicked.

"Well, if it is too difficult to multiply bu seven you could always multiply by five and two and add it", I offered hopefully.

"How are we supposed to count change ??", asked the same young woman.

"Don't you know how to count up?", I asked.

Both looked at me blankly.

We don't know how to open the drawer, another stated.

Twenty people(or more roamed) the store on this busy Saturday afternoon.

The young woman announced, "Everyone is going to have to leave-we have to close the store."

She once again escorted the customers out.

I stopped in the front of the store.

"You cannot add-multiple numbers, multiply by seven or figure out a way to open the cash register?"

"Well, this is the first time this have ever happened, replied one distraught young woman.

Don't you think a contingency plan should be in place? Don't you have an operations manual to help you with certain emergencies?
Do you see how many customers are leaving?"
"Just seems really poor customer service."

All three stared.

One hour later I decide to grab a sub at Quizmos.

Sign on the door,
Our oven is broke,
We can only make cold sandwiches.

I asked, "How long has the oven been broken?"

"Since this morning", came the reply.

I shook my head and left.

In my favorite Thai restaurant after 105 degree heat and my shopping experiences, I order.

My soup and egg roll arrives.

Fifteen minutes later the hostess stops by with my bill for ten dollars and thanks me.

(This place is empty..)

"But I didn't get my food yet", I protest, resigned to the alignment of todays planets and stars...


One hour later I realize I left my ATM card at the credit union in the machine.
I call the branch.
"Sorry this is the call center-that branch must not be answering the phone."

"How can I reach them?", I ask.

"You have to keep trying this number" was the reply.

Ten calls later I drive to the credit union-

As I walk in the door I notice one customer, the receptionist at the desk is hanging out with her boyfriend-who is waiting for her to finish.

No phones are ringing. She has already transferred to the call center although 45 minutes remain before closing.

I explain my problem.

"Sorry, can't do anything about it until Monday"

"Can't you even check ?"

We can put a hold on your card and if it isn't here on Monday we will cancel it."

*sigh*

Doing business feels so painful at times.
Customer service just sucks.

My horoscope tells me not to start any new relationships today.

Well, it is Friday and I suppose I can just wait one more day to go out into the world and grab someone in the grocery store, or at the mall-to be my new best friend.

Growing up in an Italian family of eight children alone time was rare. Exceptionally rare. We shared -crossed boundaries and had no idea what it meant to be "quiet and at peace" although I knew on some level this constant erosion of noise into my brain had to be unhealthy...

We slept two to a bed. Shared the tub in twos-wore each others clothes depending on where one was in the line of inheritance-(my older sister got the new clothes-my youngest sister???-poor baby

We rode two on a bike-shared sleds-baseball mitts-ice skates-and even candy bars.

Sharing was not just a "nice" thing one learned "to do" to have people like you-

it was an imperial order from the parents as a matter of survival-

and no one complained-although we did learn to hide a few things we didn't want to share.

Each of us was different in how we felt and acted upon sharing-

My older sister was the tormentor-
if we had to share a candy bar-she was always the one who waited-a long time-
after we had all enjoyed ours-
to take out hers and eat it in front of everyone-days after the treat was disbursed-
just to torture us-watching her slowly eat her half, bite by bite-as an actor-knowing how to draw out the moment-
savoring and embellishing the actual reality-
of half a stale candy bar.

I was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Whatever was mine-which was virtually nil-was yours.
I knew I had no control over what I owned as a kid-so why be so possessive about it?

If it did you some better-why-go ahead and use it.

Want to use my skates? So did I? Let's go together and split the time.
Want half of my half?
Oh-all right-if it makes you happy...

Want to use my sweater-make-up-book-art set-new lipstick-go ahead..

In retrospect-the environment was an ideal breeding ground for codependance-martyrdom and a sense of few boundries-
as well as a developmental arena for an individual easily identified and taken by predators.

Even then, I fearlessly moved on-believing the next person would not do that-
would "share fair", demonstrate understanding and trust-show faith and loyalty-and believe in the goodness of others..

WC Fields once said something to the effect that there is a sucker in every crowd...

I suppose I am one of them.

As much as I have learned to be a little more circumspect in my judgements of human behaviors
I still believe that being true to myself means sharing, being fair and just and hoping others will as well.

Do you think that kind of attitude goes far in the world today??

Grief? Loss? Or Growth?

Warnings for water and air quality?
Living within 12 inches from my neighbors window?
Gated communities?
Amberalerts?
Bottled water
Playdates obese children?-
No recess -need more time for kids to "learn" play is not productive??!
Automobile prices at 30,000?
Houses at an average of 300,000?
Home invasions
United States as a symbol of lack of freedom?
As a symbol of aggression?
Eminent domain for business office parks , shopping malls and parking structures?
Invasion of privacy as in what books do I read, what numbers do I call on my cell phone, what transactions do I make from my bank account-my travels and whereabouts?
No butane lighter or even a nail file in my purse when I fly?
Bring your own food on airlines?
Bird flu???
Mad Cow disease?
Warnings about mercury in fish?
Oil is still a problem after the 1970 embargo and the impact it made in our country?
Global Warming as a reality
Water shortages and drought

I am old enough to feel the pain of the changes in our world -some small-some large

What really troubles my heart?
Feeling this crushing weight of political corruption and corporate greed -with no concern for the future of our kids and all humans

With increasing population, somehow, we seem to think it's all about getting ours-whatever that means
it just makes me sick inside-sick inside and sad.

Sometimes clowns make me feel a little uncomfortable.
Amidst the buffoonery, silliness, and cavorting, I always wonder -what is it about the art of clowning that entices grown men(and women) to do such a thing?? -and is there really an evil motive in some twisted mind-lurking in the group????

Just a thought...

Bush didn't learn in grammer school---keep your hands and feet to your self!!

What is this???

I mean-honestly--between the inane comments , swearing -and the back rub-have we Americans lost our minds???

Didn't Dick or Karl prep him before he went "a visitin" the world's leaders??

Doesn't this little strip of pictures make you want to cringe??

No?

That makes it twice as scary for me....

When did Teachers become the enemy????

There is something magical about my profession.
Each day I walk into a room surrounded by 24 wriggling little bodies full of ideas, hopes and wonder.

Not one of my 8 year old students start the day by remembering they live in poverty.
The boy whose mother stabbed her boyfriend last Christmas and ended in jail and now lives in child haven, the girl whose father was just deported to Mexico, the girl whose mother's boyfriend spends his time telling her how much he hates her father, the girl who tells me her family never has enough food in the house-all these children in my classroom-and I feel so incredibly honored to open the doors of their minds-

Watching them learn-working together to figure out the universe, how things work, what makes an equation-why a number works just so-

is an amazing amazing process....

this morning I read the editorial of the Las Vegas Review Journal-

once again trashing the National Education Association's platform from the annual convention.

With disgust and patronize the NEA is accused of trying to take over the world via your child's mind.

Accusations of "poisoning minds with a gay-liberal-diversity-sex education agenda--
for lines and lines it went on about how teachers are poisoning the minds of school children.

Ironically it is these writers who have benefitted from us ultra liberal lefty teachers who opened the world of critical thinking and analysis in their educational endeavors throughout the years.

Anyone who tells you teachers taught them nothing fool themselves-if only because they learned to use that mind in an organized manner-something the random little child learns to do in a structured setting such as school.

I asked myself about all the accusations as I read them-how does this fit into my classroom?

Do I teach diversity?
Let's see-90% of my kids family's are from Mexico-I have Native American, African-American, Asian and two Caucasian children in the classroom.

Each child contributes a set of family values, religious beliefs and rich cultural heritages. Bias, prejudice, sexism, and racism contribute- to the mix as well. I can hear grown-ups at times in these little voices.

Do I teach tolerance? Yes, I do

I teach tolerance and acceptance for the two students in my class who are autistic and need extra guidance, I teach acceptance for the little boy with the odd behaviors who doesn't seem to quite get the meaning of "acceptable behavior: I teach tolerance for the boy who comes to school dirty every day and needs to wash up in the restroom-

I teach acceptance for the slow readers and the struggling mathematicians. I encourage those whose academic minds quickly grasp the algorithms of formal education to help those who can't quite figure out the system.

We work together to meet the crazy mandates of formal education according to the state. My job is to open the windows of those little minds to see how it makes any sense in the real word.

Only if it makes sense will it be remembered and used in the future. Learning has to fit something in life- If it doesn't a child's mind will easily surrender it-as it should- as meaningless and useless.

Do I teach some liberal acceptance of relationships outside the male-female?
Maybe I do because I still encourage my kids to respect the fact that the little boy in my class with two dads is a human being as is his parents-and we respect all humans whether we like - approve -of them or not.

Do I believe learning should be started early in life?
Of yes, it is a proven statistic that those children who attend pre-school are prepared for education and those who do not fare poorer in the classroom, always playing catch-up.

It is especially critical for those children who come to school as English language learners-if in any way possible to attend early learning centers-otherwise the child needs 3-5 years to learn the language, making elementary school emphasis all about the English language-a huge task for a child.

Over half the teachers in our school district leave teaching by the fifth year. We have a turnover rate which leads to the hiring of over 2,000 teachers a year.

The district has lots of excuses as to why so many teachers leave.
The union does as well. Low pay, high cost of housing-a huge population of second language learners-a city with a constant turnover-leading to feelings of isolation and estrangement.


But anyone who has ever worked in a profession they love knows that people don't leave a job they love unless something happens to change that love-

The newspaper in our town seems to have a strong aversion to the teachers union-and I still remember Ron Brown's accusation of the NEA as a terrorist organization.

When did teachers become the "enemy??"

When did academics become such a threat that the government needs to control the content and the community rallies or rallies not at all-to encompass all teachers in such a negative context??

I really do feel afraid of the direction our collective society moves toward when teachers unions -thus-teachers are attacked and the feeling that public education is a demeaned institution-one not worthy of our children.

These are our schools. Are we so estranged from them we see the institution as the enemy?

Recent studies indicate private and public schools provide the same level of success. Isn't that interesting?
If you check into private schools you will find that most teachers make less money than public school teachers-and ironically, we are all trained in the same academic institutions-no big surprise.


Successful education is a collaboration. We, the teachers know this-and successful education is dependent on us working together with specialists, other grade level teachers-resource and other educators to provide the best educational opportunities possible.

We also know that a major piece of this collaboration is the parent-and the community. School districts reflect the values of the community.

As poor and disenfranchised as my school neighborhood is, it is a walking community-and each day I see parents bring their children to the blacktop to line up for school. I see baby sisters and brothers in strollers-mothers and fathers on bikes-parents who don't speak English but have the desire for their children to learn.

On Open house night 90% of my students parents show up-if a parent can't make it-an aunt or an uncle or an older sister from high school will visit.

By the end of the year I have met with most of them many times, on the playground, on the phone, in meetings, in the classroom.

It has taken effort on my part to reach parents. It is worth every minute I have taken to get to know parents. The benefits for the students are tremendous-with parent support-kids come to school with faith in the teachers-for some parents-it is one of the few positive experiences they have had with a school community.

I am sharing what it is like in one of the poorest school communities in our district.

Have I had problems? Sure-In the five years I have taught school, one child brought his older brother's gun to school unloaded-another made up a hit list with my name on it- another child who has special needs-tried to tear up the classroom one day-

It has not always been easy-I am old enough to understand how complicated the minds and lives of children can be-

What I am mystified by is the community attitude.
If we do not have the support of the political system, our media, the economic base of our community

who suffers?

For what purpose would attacking teachers serve?

Perhaps the editor who is so intent on attacking the public school system, as well as the NEA had such a bad experience in school he continues his attack to obtain some sort of power or satisfaction?

Those who criticize have been taught by those of us who believe critical thinking is essential in a progressive , thoughtful and intelligent society.
We also teach taking responsibility for those criticisms as well.

Learn more.
Get involved.
Find the truth before attacking
Consider all facets of an issue before making decisions

As we tell our students,
make responsible decisions
and then do something about it.