This came mostly from 2019. The past week or two, I've been buying school supplies here and there, worrying about Covid in the schools, about how kids are bullied, teachers are bullied, and pubic education is under constant fire from the same people who are holding the fire extinguishers behind their backs and saying "Gotcha!"
Am I biased? You bet. I have kids who teach and a grandson still in middle school. I'm afraid for the students who may not get what they need in the future, whose school curricula may be built around political platforms instead of the truth, and who have to learn to take cover before they learn the alphabet and "Red Rover, Red Rover..." I worry about teachers ending up having to be armed, because...you know...they don't have enough to do.
I'm a mom and a nana. I got a little sick writing that. Thanks, again, for opening the Window and for reading it even when you don't agree with it.
Her name was Margaret. In my freshman year, she had someone else grade short stories we wrote, just to give us another outlook. I got great feedback--I held onto that a long time. Great feedback is an immeasurable gift.
His name was Gordon. He encouraged.Her name was Clauda. She taught both English and Latin, and I learned more about words and their origins than I ever would have thought existed.
Her name was Jane. She didn't think I'd EVER learn to type, but I did. Finally. Not well, but well enough that being a writer was much easier than it might have been.
His name was Joe. He taught Algebra and about life, and when I sold my first book, he brought me a dozen roses.
Her name was Mrs. Sullivan. She was my first grade teacher and she didn't like me, but she let me read with the second graders because I was bored. I was scared to death of her, but I learned. Every day.
On November 19, 2019, almost 20,000 teachers went to the State House in Indianapolis. They sang, they chanted, they wore Red for Ed. They carried signs, they met with legislators, they publicized the shame that is our state's stance on public education. My daughter and son-in-law were there. The support our educators received was humbling. The support they provide to their students should be humbling to the lawmakers; unfortunately, it is not.
I will get off my soapbox now. I realize it's probably not the right place for it. And yet it is. Because of those people up there, I'm a writer. I know about commas and plot and quotation marks. I know that in that 12 years with them, none of them ever told me I couldn't do anything. None of them ever said I wasn't good enough. None of them ever cared where I lived or that I didn't dress as well as other girls. They gave me everything I needed in adulthood's toolbox.
And I'm still so grateful.
My husband taught Middle School Language Arts for 40 years, and I also taught and subbed for more than 20 years. Thank you for these beautiful tributes to your teachers. We have a nephew whose two boys (11 and 13) have never attended a public school, and have always been home-schooled. I understand why he and his wife are doing that, but at the same time, I feel insulted that they don't think the public schools are good enough for their boys. So far, I've managed to hold my tongue.
ReplyDeleteI understand and applaud having choices when it comes to almost everything, but it does grieve me having public school take a back seat in education. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteThis is totally awesome! I love the content. I love the style. I couldn't agree more and it made me think of my names, too. And of the teachers that worked outside the schoolroom. My parents, grandparents, neighbors that I still learn from. Thanks for sharing, Liz!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all your encouragement and positive thoughts on education. You are accurate and relevant on everything you said. I'm a retired high school teacher, taught business for 31 years, and this subject is near and dear to my heart. Your support is most appreciated and teachers need our support now more than ever. Marti
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marti. Teachers, as you can tell, are dear to my heart. Thanks for that 31 years!
DeleteI'm ashamed of the way Indiana treats teachers. They'd rather pay for equipment and charter schools rather than support public education. I can't understand why. Great public schools make for great citizens and employees. The more "rules" politicians think up for teachers, the harder it becomes to teach. I just wish they'd respect teachers and pay them more.
ReplyDeleteI so agree!
DeleteTried to remember who each of these was: Claudia Fisher taught English and Latin: Jerry Lewis taught US History and coached basketball. He would later be inducted to the Indiana HS Basketball Hall of Fame. Can't remember who Gordon was--or Joe or Margaret. I was the beginning teacher who taught her to type and of course there was Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Beveheimer, Nels O'Neal, Keith Overton, etc. Many fond memories of my time at North Miami
ReplyDeleteJoe Wildermuth taught Algebra and probably other math. He was hurt in an accident and was in a wheelchair for quite some time. He was one of the most inspirational people I've ever known. Gordon was Gordon Heltzel, who taught English and government and made things hard, which I liked. Margaret was Mrs. Slauter, whose husband was principal. She was my freshman English teacher, and she encouraged me a lot. Other than Mr. Lewis and maybe Mrs. Slauter, they're all gone now. Thanks for coming by, Jane.
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