"After being interviewed by the school administration,
the eager teaching prospect said,


"Let me see if I've got this right.


You want me to go into that room with all those kids,
and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning.


And I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity,
modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even
censor their t-shirt messages and dress habits.


You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check
their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self
esteem.


You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair
play, how to register to vote,
how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.


I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment,
recognize signs of anti-social behavior, offer advice, write letters of
recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect
for the cultural diversity
of others, and oh, make sure that I give the girls in my class
fifty percent of my attention.


My contract requires me to work on my own time after school, evenings and
weekends grading papers. Also, I must spend my summer vacation, at my own
expense, working toward advance certification and a Masters degree.


And on my own time you want me to attend committee
and faculty meetings, PTA meetings, and participate in
staff development training. I am to be a paragon of virtue,
larger than life, such that my very presence will awe my
students into being obedient and respectful of authority.


You want me to incorporate technology into the learning
experience, monitor web sites, and relate personally with each student.
That includes deciding who might be potentially
dangerous and/or liable to commit a crime in school.


I am to make sure all students pass the mandatory state exams, even those
who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments


Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps
get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental
or physical handicap.


And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone,
newsletter and report card.


All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer,
a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting
salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!


You want me to do all of this and yet you expect me......



"- NOT TO PRAY -"

(This came to me by email. It seems a few people thought maybe I'd lost my belief in the separation of church and state, so, this is what I posted, later. I've added it here for a an earlier clarification of where I stand. Thanks.:-)

"I was uncomfortable about the last line, too, but wanted to present the piece in its entirety. It was there to make a point about all that a teacher does, in my opinion, and was not meant as a commentary about prayer in school. You know I am a strong believer in the separation of church and state."