Week 4 Comment 2 to Jennifer Castro

Jennifer Castro’s post:

I can’t wait to have some time…someday…to read this book again, slowly and digest all the wonderful thoughts it shares. The part this week that I really thought about was the last chapter and the WE story. Zander talks about what is best for ALL. I began thinking how this never happens anymore. The government says they do what is best for the country, but really, they do what is best for their pockets. State officials say they try to protect education, but even as I type are laying of thousands and thousands of educators due to money…we have to take pay cuts each year for 5 years, but not any superintended or state official…no, no, no, that would not be good for them. Why can’t American’s lose the evil greed monster and do what is truly best for out country, state and what is best for our children. We spread around the world trying to make the rest of the world just like us, but why? I don’t blame other countries for laughing at us and saying no way. Look how our county is in shambles due to greed. Really, why can’t WE ALL do what is best for ALL?

I think since we need to 'be the board', we have to remember that we chose to be educators, knowing that educators have never really been valued by our politicians. AND that we, as a society, voted these politicians into office. Whenever I get upset about the state of education in our nation (and that happens ALOT lately), I pull out my Sunshine Folder. This folder has all of those sweet notes from my students that tell me all of their thoughts about what a great teacher I am or how much they like my class. Some of them draw cute little pictures and some of them put their most treasured stickers all over the page. That's what being the board is all about: creating the framework where I can be proud of the difference I make in my students' lives.

Comment to Jennifer Castro:

I completely agree with you.  As teachers, we knew what we were getting ourselves into before we decided on this career.  It is hard, however, to always be positive about what is going on with the government and administration.  I think this book would be a great read for an entire staff/school district.  It might change the way a few people think about things and make everyone's environment a little better.