My whole world has completely changed over the past year. Going from having a lovely sunflower backgrounded Kansas drivers license to a Tennessee drivers license is enough change to have to get used to, but there's also the whole "becoming a teacher" thing.
I have been incredibly lucky in the past year. First getting in to Teach For America, then meeting amazing friends at my placement city, and then getting placed at an amazing school, I am extremely grateful for my luck. But this experience has also changed my thoughts and perceptions on policies and politics.
I don't get all the time I used in college, campaigns, and the restaurant business to read the news and a slate of blogs like I used to, I have to lesson plan, grade, and enter grades (and hope the webpage for the grades doesn't fail and I have to start over!). Don't get me wrong, I still read a couple of times a day the big few that I check, The New York Times, PoliticalWire, Politico, and of course Daily Kos, but I don't get to go through the comments like I like to, to see intense debate and conversation taking place.
I also spend my day with children who are becoming young adults, who are just learning the basic knowledge and skill sets to participate in lively debate and to be able to synthesize the information that is going on in the world all around them. The issues of poverty and education reform, heath care and the no renewing the Bush Tax Cuts. Instead of spending my days getting in to heated debates with friends and family, I spend my days teaching children how to read a bar graph, or a resource map. Helping students understand the reasons for colonial uprisings against not only the British but later against our new American government. Just last week we researched and had a trial of Columbus, his men, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the Tainos, and The System of Empire. The opening statements each "defendant" gave was incredible to hear, because I have had these particular students last year as well, and I can see the literal growth in thought and composure.
I have learned the hard way not to yell in a classroom when I'm frustrated, but now that has me thinking about how in the past I have yelled in frustration at others in political arguments, and if I shouldn't be doing it towards children, what makes it okay for me to do it in person. It's like I tell the kids and like TFA tells us, you have to act with respect and humility in your discourse.
I also have had the chance to coach cross country. We might not be the fastest team, but we are definitely one of the most engaging and friendliest. It's even one of our rules that our kids meet at least one person during the race and become friends. We aren't out to win medals, just build character. I look forward to running with the kids and the other coach every day after school, it's one of the times when I can clear my head and just have fun and be a kid, make jokes, and play around.
My point is, I know that we can all become consumed with politics - allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good - and we begin to attack instead of doing the same things we expect our teachers to teach to our children - 1) Look for the cause of the problem 2) Look at the effects of the cause 3) Look at all possible solutions and which one creates the most justice and promotes happiness.
This midterm election, I am hoping we all implore our friends and neighbors to just take a look at the cause of our economic problems - Bush and the GOP controlled Congress. Yes some Democrats are to blame as well, and no Democrats did not do enough (including Obama) to implement solutions to the problems, but at least they are doing things. What happens if we allow our country to go back in the hands of the GOP Congress? Will there be any forward movement? No! In fact, a GOP controlled Congress would actually be acting to go BACKWARD! We must remind out friends and neighbors that it takes some time for some of the financial reform and health reform to begin to show big effects, but there are in fact going to be effects! And we will continue to tackle these issues, and continue to go back and see how we can do things better, because that's how Democrats govern!
It's not perfect, but there is no perfect government in the way in which we think of it. Not everyone is always going to be satisfied. But we can make sure that we are moving FORWARD and not BACKWARD like the GOP Congress would do! Just think of the changes in education reform. We are beginning to make positive gains in the reforms that began a decade ago, and with the recent expansion of Teach For America we are going to continue to see more. These are not long term solutions, but they are a part of the step by step process that I hope has Teach For America and charter schools working themselves out of a job, like a good reform movement does.
So let's keep our minds focused, and our arguments articulate, and let us act as activists always should, like we expect our children to.
*UPDATE: If you are so inclined visit my Donors Choose page and take a look at my proposal. If you don't want to donate to mine I'm sure you can find a project on there to donate even just $5 to. It helps teachers do their jobs and the projects really help children learn and enjoy it! http://www.donorschoose.org/...