So, I'm a union member nowadays. Thanks to my mom's stern sentence: "Not joining NEA is unethical." So, as tiny as my salary is I shell out the $450 dues. I get nothing tangible for it, but I do have a clean conscience.
Anyway, I got a note in the mail that shows my problem with education (pay attention to the wording).
"Dear New NEA Member,
Welcome to the National Education Association, the organization that stands for great public schools for every child and never stops working for you...."
I read this sentence and got really upset. Then I realized that this word choice defined the difference between my goal as a teacher and the school systems. I want to EDUCATE my students; they want to SCHOOL them. "Educate" comes from the Latin "educare/educo" which means "to lead out". "School" comes from the Greek "schole" which means "free time". Schooling and education are separate yet connected. This philosophical difference is the crux of my frustration. I could educate my kids if I had 16-20 in a classroom, but with 32 in my room I provide them with schooling.
1 comment:
You are so awesome. I noticed today when I logged onto my blog that you are a "follower" of my blog. COOOL!! What is that? Someday when millions follow my blog (haha), I'll get to remember you as the FIRST. Ya, after I wrote to you guys about how lame I was on my assignment, I thought it was a litte bit funny, maybe. And then later I thought that I should just quick make it a blog entry and get started before I get overwhelmed with how far behind I am. So, a little massaging of content and... there we are. Hope you're doing well.
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