Yesterday My Daughter J came home from school quite depressed. It seems that all throughout the school day Teachers were being called to the Principal's office. Before students could come up with and start false rumors the mystery was solve when one of her favorite teachers explained. It seems that The Governor has slashed our school district's funding. A lot and I mean a lot of teachers were told yesterday That come September they will no longer have a Job. How they finished the school day is beyond me. I thought of them often today. A sort of helplessness and deep disappointment engulfed me. Almost all of the teachers that have been working less than a certain amount of years are out. Last ones hired first ones fired. Main subject teachers like math are being laid off. That means yet bigger class sizes I'm sure. I thought of how many other things will be cut next year. Organized sports teams including the biggie Football---out. Careers classes-out. Band and Chorus-out. Yesterday, My Daughter was sad. Today, she was angry.
"Mom, My favorite Teacher Miss A is laid off too! It's NOT FAIR!"
"I know it's not fair, lot of people all over the country are losing their jobs."
"I bet those people in the governors office aren't gonna lose their jobs."
"No, they're not."
"Well, then I'm making a petition and I'm gonna get EVERYBODY to sign it. If they see how much this is hurting people they'll change their minds."
She came straight home and wrote up a petition. Tomorrow she plans to get every one to sign. How can I tell her that it is probably futile? How can I tell her that it just doesn't work that way. I felt my heart break as she typed away on the computer. And then I thought; good for her, Damn it! She is not going down without a fight. She truly believes in this cause and she is willing to stand up and say NO! She is fighting for her Friends, for her Teachers that she admires and respects, and for keeping the good quality of the school she loves intact. I'm proud of her and I'm with her all the way.
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| Norman Rockwell, Teacher's Birthday Post Cover 1956 |
"Mom, My favorite Teacher Miss A is laid off too! It's NOT FAIR!"
"I know it's not fair, lot of people all over the country are losing their jobs."
"I bet those people in the governors office aren't gonna lose their jobs."
"No, they're not."
"Well, then I'm making a petition and I'm gonna get EVERYBODY to sign it. If they see how much this is hurting people they'll change their minds."
She came straight home and wrote up a petition. Tomorrow she plans to get every one to sign. How can I tell her that it is probably futile? How can I tell her that it just doesn't work that way. I felt my heart break as she typed away on the computer. And then I thought; good for her, Damn it! She is not going down without a fight. She truly believes in this cause and she is willing to stand up and say NO! She is fighting for her Friends, for her Teachers that she admires and respects, and for keeping the good quality of the school she loves intact. I'm proud of her and I'm with her all the way.
