Education

It is, unfortunately, necessary for my family's finances that I work. I was able to stay home with Spencer until he was about 8 months old. At that point, I received my college degree, my husband came home from Iraq, and it was time for me to re-join the work world.

What does this have to do with education? I am a teacher. I currently teach 11th grade American History at an inner city school. I love my students. I love my co-workers. And I love the money (which outweighs the other two) which is ultimately why I stay.

I am at an educational conference right now. Two ladies, former teachers, are trying to teach me better ways to present materials and, therefore educate, my students. I know that I am not infallible. You will probably see a multitude of errors just in this blog entry. I am a first year teacher and have about a million areas I can improve on. However, I must say, these ideas suck. They would work in some schools, but most of them will be vastly unappreciated and ineffective in the school I work in.

The state of education in this country is becoming dire and I lay a lot of fault in standardized testing and the mindset that brought us standardized testing. You didn't hear a whole lot of complaints about our children being "left behind" in the good 'ole days. Back then those teachers realized, as I do, that not everyone is the brightest crayon in the box. Some kids are meant to go on to be astronauts, lawyers, brain surgeons, some kids are meant to go on to McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. Recognize it and move on! Not every child is going to go on to greatness. I once told a friend of mine that I was so worried about the future; I only had 1-2 students from each of my classes that I thought were going to go on to be successful. Know what she said? That's ok. There are more fry cooks in this world than CEOs. I have wise friends. :-)

Before I had a child...

Before Spencer arrived in my life, I knew how I would parent. I knew the correct things to do and say. It is how I was raised. The more I read and research, the more I realize the way I was brought up was wrong on so many levels. Am I horribly emotionally stunted? No. I think I came out on the other side just fine. But, at the same time, I am bound and determined not to make the same mistakes with my child.

I am a hippie (minus the drug part! LOL). I am addicted to cloth diapers. I am a "breastfeeding nazi." I don't vaccinate my son and he is not circumcised. I believe firmly in baby wearing and tote slings and wraps with me to and fro. I hate to leave him and the thought of my upcoming European vacation leaves me with pangs of guilt b/c it means leaving my child with a grandparent for a WEEK! I think co-sleeping is wonderful if it works for your family and we co-sleep part time.

With my ever increasing crunchiness comes ever increasing judgement. I used to be a "whatever works for your family" type of girl, never to cast blame or doubt on a parent unless the committed the worst of parenting faux pas (like putting coke in a bottle). But with time, research, and age, I have come to realize that there are actually wrong ways to parent. It is very difficult for me not to point fingers and tell people they are wrong. Very difficult.

I hope that, in this blog, I can express how I feel, with research to back it up, of course, so that I don't actually end up pointing any fingers. I don't want to make people feel bad, that is never my intent. I just wish people would research and make their own decisions instead of doing what society (or their doctor) says is the right thing.