Ed Delabama
Active member
Good morning to all-
So both of our older kids- both teachers in public schools- are either getting ready to start their classes this year or already back in the saddle. It's a hard time, the start of school- new kids, new rooms, new routines- it's hard on everyone. But, it's very, very important, these long, hard school days.
For many kids, public school is their only hope of a better life. Learning skills, learning new things, learning to get along with a wide range of people- these are all things that are learned in public schools. I will go to my grave knowing that the public schools of the US have done more good for more people than any other public institution in history- I know this. I did this job for almost forty years, and I know just how hard it can be. I also know how rewarding it can be.
It's easy to criticize the public schools- it's a big, slow target, and those politicians in high places who have never spent any time in public school classrooms often think they know more about what should and should not happen in the public schools than those who are actually there doing the job. People who have no stake in the public schools often feel they should not have to support the public schools.
I am not bold enough to claim that the public school system in our country is perfect- I know too much about this topic to claim perfection for it. But I will claim that the public schools do a much better job of recognizing individual student needs, abilities, and potential than any other system. In the public schools an individual student's special needs and special abilities are more likely to be discovered and addressed than in any other educational system.
So, while I am glad that my days of getting ready for the next school year are long since past, I am also very, very grateful and proud of my kids and all of the other public school teachers who are doing the hard work to improve the lives of their students. Best of luck to them all.
you all be safe and keep well- Ed
So both of our older kids- both teachers in public schools- are either getting ready to start their classes this year or already back in the saddle. It's a hard time, the start of school- new kids, new rooms, new routines- it's hard on everyone. But, it's very, very important, these long, hard school days.
For many kids, public school is their only hope of a better life. Learning skills, learning new things, learning to get along with a wide range of people- these are all things that are learned in public schools. I will go to my grave knowing that the public schools of the US have done more good for more people than any other public institution in history- I know this. I did this job for almost forty years, and I know just how hard it can be. I also know how rewarding it can be.
It's easy to criticize the public schools- it's a big, slow target, and those politicians in high places who have never spent any time in public school classrooms often think they know more about what should and should not happen in the public schools than those who are actually there doing the job. People who have no stake in the public schools often feel they should not have to support the public schools.
I am not bold enough to claim that the public school system in our country is perfect- I know too much about this topic to claim perfection for it. But I will claim that the public schools do a much better job of recognizing individual student needs, abilities, and potential than any other system. In the public schools an individual student's special needs and special abilities are more likely to be discovered and addressed than in any other educational system.
So, while I am glad that my days of getting ready for the next school year are long since past, I am also very, very grateful and proud of my kids and all of the other public school teachers who are doing the hard work to improve the lives of their students. Best of luck to them all.
you all be safe and keep well- Ed
