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<P>Here is some food for thought! Frank<BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>>The Applicant
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>>After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager
<DIV></DIV>>>teaching prospect said: "Let me see if I've
<DIV></DIV>>>got this right"
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> "You want me to go into that room with all those kids,
<DIV></DIV>>> and fill their every waking moment with a love for
<DIV></DIV>>> learning. And I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride
<DIV></DIV>>> in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior,
<DIV></DIV>>> observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their
<DIV></DIV>>> T-shirt messages and dress habits.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually
<DIV></DIV>>> transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for
<DIV></DIV>>> weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self
<DIV></DIV>>> esteem. You want me to teach them patriotism, good
<DIV></DIV>>>citizenship,
<DIV></DIV>>> sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how
<DIV></DIV>>> to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe
<DIV></DIV>>> environment, recognize signs of antisocial behavior,
<DIV></DIV>>> offer advice, write letters of recommendation for
<DIV></DIV>>>respect for the cultural diversity of others.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> My contract requires me to work on my own time after
<DIV></DIV>>> school, evenings and weekends grading papers. Also, I
<DIV></DIV>>> must spend my summer vacation at my own expense
<DIV></DIV>>> working toward advance certification and a Masters
<DIV></DIV>>> degree.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> And on my own time you want me to attend committee and
<DIV></DIV>>> faculty meetings, PTA meetings, and participate in
<DIV></DIV>>>staff development training.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> I am to be a paragon of virtue, larger than life, such
<DIV></DIV>>> that my very presence will awe my students into being
<DIV></DIV>>> obedient and respectful of authority.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> And I am to pledge allegiance to family values and
<DIV></DIV>>> this current administration.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> You want me to incorporate technology into the
<DIV></DIV>>>learning experience, monitor web sites, and relate
<DIV></DIV>>> personally with each student. That includes deciding
<DIV></DIV>>>who might be potentially dangerous and /or liable to
<DIV></DIV>>>commit a crime in school.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> I am to make sure all students pass the mandatory
<DIV></DIV>>>state exams, even those who don't come to school
<DIV></DIV>>> regularly or complete any of their assignments.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with
<DIV></DIV>>> handicaps get an equal education regardless of the
<DIV></DIV>>> extent of their mental or physical handicap.
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by
<DIV></DIV>>> letter, telephone, newsletter and report card. All of
<DIV></DIV>>> this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a
<DIV></DIV>>> computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile
<DIV></DIV>>> AND on a
<DIV></DIV>>> starting salary that qualifies my family for food
<DIV></DIV>>>stamps!"
<DIV></DIV>>>
<DIV></DIV>>> "You want me to do all of this and yet you expect me
<DIV></DIV>>>NOT TO PRAY?"
<DIV></DIV>
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