Surviving 9th Grade

Before I begin, I want to admit that I'm often a blind optimist; Josh often helps me come back to reality. And while blind optimism is a thrilling ride through reality, it just isn't healthy all the time. Working with students has actually removed much of my idealism, however, since no one else will be down to earth with them.

Anyway, after spoiling a meeting the other day by thinking about reality (my colleagues are wonderful people, but several readily admitted wanting to live "in a bubble"), I was happy to find this article on Slate.com this evening.

Now, I've heard of this The Secret book, but I haven't read it. The premises I've heard seem a little too outlandish and "New-Age"-y for me. Wishful thinking will change your life... for the better??? You've got to be kidding; that type of thinking is putting many of my students in danger.

Here was my response that I emailed to Slate:

As a high school teacher, I can tell you that there is one thing that would help my students more than anything else - a healthy dose of reality... for their parents. I hear, "My child would never (fill in the blank)" all the time. While that's really sweet and all, my students are failing out, dropping out, sleeping around, using drugs, abusing alcohol, and joining in a menagerie of other unhealthy activities at an alarming rate while their parents sit blindly by dreaming of the best.

If the parents would be even a bit realistic, it might rub off on their students. You know, the ones with no motivation, because even if they do fail out of high school or score so low on the SAT that they can't get into college on the first try, they believe that everything will be okay. And I have to tell you that teaching a kid with /no /motivation isn't difficult, it's impossible.

Oprah should know that; she's the one who moved her efforts to Africa because kids in America won't take your help even when you give it hand over fist. Oprah, help us out and improve our future - you might be the only one who can save it. Parents listen to you, not the teachers or the kids' friends or even the cops, but their mommas will be watching you religiously every afternoon.

Warmly,

A Concerned Teacher