Enough is Enough

Like most red-blooded Americans of the year 2012, I take pleasure in Facebook. I have since the day my best friend, Jen, sent me an invitation to join. Within two hours of joining, I had sent her an email stating, "Thanks for the new addiction."

To me, there is nothing better than staying in touch with friends and family across the country with the simple click of a mouse. Nothing better than "seeing" long lost friends and knowing how they are now. I enjoy the status updates, the pictures of children growing, silly videos, and jokes passed along to become part of the day's Newsfeed. Some days, that Newsfeed is better than the news on my local TV station, and news which I often find myself caring more about.

Facebook is, quite simply, a marvelous invention.

But, for the love of all that is mighty and powerful, Facebook is currently making me nuts.

Last night, the Chicago teachers went on strike.

And Facebook blew up. Status updates, links to articles, and pictures have been posted every hour since. People are so very angry about this. People from both sides of the issue are so very angry and each have their reasons to be.

I have always been a person who believes the old adage, "To each is own," meaning we are all entitled to our opinions and we need not agree, but we need to respect each other for it. Trust me, there are many, many... many... opinions out there I do not agree with at all. Some of them make my stomach turn. But, I always remind myself that the glory of this country is that we each are allowed to believe what we wish.

Where I draw the line with acceptance is when people become offensive. So, here is where I get on my soap box and shout it to the people...

What disgusts me most in this whole mess (besides the people "in charge" who are "running" the show like a bunch of spoiled brats screaming for their mothers to buy them a Walmart rollback special) is the ridiculous argument that children are missing their education.

Really?! Surely these people must know that the LAW requires school to be held for 180 days of the year. And just like when school is cancelled for a snow day, these days will be made up. Not one child will miss a day of public school education because of the teachers' strike.

These must be the people who have forgotten how much learning goes on OUTSIDE the classroom in the museums, parks, nature trails, restaurants, libraries, movie theaters, and yes, even office buildings, around this great country of ours. They must have forgotten all the quality time they spent with their children over the weekend and the summer and on school holidays exploring and conversing and learning and growing as a family.

I'm wondering if they remember that public school is not a glorified BABYSITTER. It is not a place children are sent just so their parents can put in a day at work or go to the salon to get their hair done. It is not a place of convenience.

I'd like everyone, on either side of the argument to learn these terms: SB7, Students First, Michelle Rhee, comprehensive school reform, evaluations linked to student achievement, student teacher ratios, and very most importantly, the term FAIR. It is high time more eyes are opened to what sweeping, radical changes are being proposed to public education.

The Chicago Public School teachers did not wake up today and decide to make everyone's lives miserable. They did not conspire behind the dumpsters to rob children of learning. They did not hold secret meetings in the teacher's lounge about how they'd love to stick it to everyone because they deserve bigger, fatter paychecks more than anyone else.

Actually, I'll bet some of them cried this morning. I'll bet many of them are scared out of their minds because their livelihood hangs in the balance. I know they wish they would start tomorrow in front of their most favorite people of all... their students.

What really happened is they stood up for their rights. They are standing up and putting their feet down because they do not want to be treated unfairly anymore. Because when they are treated unfairly, the children fail to receive the best education they deserve. They did what we are allowed to do in this country, just as we are each entitled to our opinion. And for their actions, I am proud to be a teacher.

Surely, everyone remembers that this is a lesson we all teach our children. Stand up for yourselves.

How quickly we forget.