3/14/06: Want To Be a Winner? Shoot Bricks
Sam Rayburn, one of our more colorful politicians of yesteryear, is oft quoted as saying: “Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build it.” No shortage of the former, look hard for and hold on to the latter. Criticism season never ends. Positive public policy is on the endangered species list. There is one exception, that “little plattoon” of hard working people known as public school teachers.
CitizenU takes off its hat today to celebrate those teachers who are truly committed to a better world.
“We don’t need no education”?
Hardly. Knowledge is power, ignorance is NOT bliss. The consequences of being misinformed becomes more and more clear every day. Recent studies predict that by 2007 only 1 in 4 households will access a daily newspaper. 1 in 2 young people now claim Leno and Letterman as their source of news. The Vanishing Voter Project has documented that one week before the National Party Conventions in 2004, 3 in 4 citizens were not aware of them. 1 in 4 can not name their own governor. Would you believe 1 in 2 do not know the name of their Congressman?
“Teachers, leave those kids alone!”
No. As others have written, our political philistinism helps explain the mess we are in at home and abroad. Our political ignorance allows the “special interests” and the demagogues to reap dubious gains. Our political illiteracy lowers the walls of our own defenses. Teachers, please teach. Worry less about the latest pedagogy, and more about the dire consequences if you don’t do anything at all.
Please, be “another brick in the wall.” It is that wall which serves as a hedge allowing this citizenry the security to be creative, innovative, and fruitful.
To all of our carpenters, teachers, we say thank you.
Tell us about some of your favorites teachers and the lessons they taught. Let’s keep building that wall and help the next generation from living on the dark side of the moon.
posted by CitizenU @ 5:47 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well put, and like said, thank you to all of the teachers who have made an impact. From a student perspective, it is sometimes very easy to distinguish between those teachers who are "truly committed to a better world," vs. those who "leave those kids alone." We, those students who live in the District 125 area, are lucky enough to go to a school where the vast majority of teachers are the like of the former, not the latter, and for that we should all be thankful. Thanks again, teachers, you have made an impact, and it shows.
I am most thankful for those teachers that talked to me as a person, not just a student. The tests were important, but it was the life lessons that have stayed with me.
Mr. Norby, Mr. Kunze, Mr. Erickson - thank you for giving me a boost when I needed it most. As to my study habits, accept my apologies.
Thankfully, certain flowers bloom late.
Man, I don't think I can even begin to name all of the teachers who have inspired me. The ones who treated me as an equal in discussions were (and are) awesome. Thanks for listening to my ideas and helping me to develop them. Those who helped me pursue my dreams, thank you. Districts 125 and 96 generally had teachers that really cared about teaching. Thank you all. :)
I just had so many teachers throughout my life that I won't give the list. I want to thank all the teachers who have helped me through tough times and whenever I was feeling down. Some teachers saw me as a human being with feelings and took the time to talk to me. I am lucky enough to go to Stevenson and have met awesome teachers who made me think about the world today.
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