I was away from blogging as I was disheartened in many ways to see the failures in the systems irrespective of whether they were concerned with the health of an economy or a community. When the health of next generation of kids are at stake, I could not keep quiet anymore.
We know why the health of an economy is not as we expect it. Advocating change is one thing, but when change alone cannot do it, transformation is needed and it needs more effort. There are two fundamental differences in how an economy can be reinvigorated. One school of thought takes it to self-destruction and the transformation that ensues from it. The recovery period might be longer or shorter – no one would really know. The other school of thought takes it to preventing the destruction from happening – which would then call for everyone to be part of that recovery. It’s a shame that the country’s economy is being victimized by these two different schools of thoughts.
Of course, we can claim that country’s economy is much more difficult to fix as it is intertwined with the international economy. However, no such claims can be made for the shame brought by Chicago public school teachers. Please don’t get me wrong here. I hold teachers with utmost respect when they are teaching and not so when they are striking. Whatever may be the reason, their service to the country from inside is equivalent to the sacrifices made by the soldiers from outside. What if the soldiers go on strike? Is it not a shame?
What if the next generation is dependent on what teachers sacrifice today? Sacrifices made within the teaching profession is equivalent to the sacrifices made by parents for their kids. Whether they have the job or not, don’t they give all their time, effort and attention first to their kids? Please don’t accept the teacher’s profession just for money sake, please accept it for the love of teaching – no matter what.
I am sure the sacrifices made by a soldier is recognized by the community in one way or the other. The same will go with the teachers too. The community will rally behind them for their cause, but not when teachers themselves take that in their own hands.
When education in 21st century itself is ripe of destruction and distraction from the connected world and the ease of access made by the technological advances, the role of teachers will change and the adaptation is the key to gain the support and respect of the community they serve. It is appropriate to draw some parallels here to the sacrifices made by my father as a teacher who taught as many as he could without any rewards except to see the joy of learning that he was able to cultivate in young minds.