Tonight was curriculum night at my son's school. I live for this shit. Any chance that I can have to peer into his world, meet his teachers, his friends, or just terrorize him a little makes my day. But I love knowing what he is going through so that I can be as supportive as I can. Except math. If he struggles in math I will just break out the plastic and offer up financial support in the form of a tutor. How he came to be so at ease with that subject baffles me to this day. He surely didn't inherit my math skills and for that I hope to someday shake God's hand and thank Him.
But let's talk about his teachers. He has a good crop of them this year. He has the same teacher for both math classes (I swear he's my kid) and of course the same band teacher for Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. That's half his load right there. I can't say enough about his band teacher, or for that matter musics teachers in general. I had a very quirky orchestra/band teacher and our choir director was an amazing educator. They both were. So as a former orchestra/choir/marching band geek I am thrilled to get to know his band teacher and to hear what he has in store for the year. I just wish they did a field show (let it go Desiree...let it go).
As for American History, this guy was pretty typical, although my son did earn participation points for me attending. I'm happy I could help him closer to a high B, but pray he squeaks by in the A range.
But let's talk about his physics teacher! This was the stand-up comedy of the evening. This dude hails from North Dakota and has the midwestern, Fargo-esque accent to go right along with it! I loved this guy. I took notes during his 10 minutes. Those notes contained quotes like, "make hay when the sun shines!", "flipping awesome", and "gahldang". Yep, yep, yeppers, it put me right back into a good ol' Minnesota-nice kinda way, ya know? Yah sure ya know! You betcha! Or maybe you don't.
But the part that made me sad (yes, here's the lesson), was when I entered the American Literature class and there were only five parents to represent the seventeen students. This young lady (maybe she's 27) is fresh out of graduate school, young, energetic and excited to be there. But there were only five parents in attendance.
As I type this, the entire Seattle School System is on strike. Thousands of students are at home. Parents are trying to figure out how to balance work and get their kids to a safe place while teachers try to negotiate much deserved pay increases.
The one class that carries the heaviest weight into adult life, literature, and I'm sitting in a classroom that is half empty. I didn't intend to take my post in this direction this evening. However, the more I type, the more angry I am becoming. Angry for that teacher that has the burden to teach our kids how to write college entrance essays. Teach our kids how write a decent argument. Pass along the joy of reading! However, most parents decided to cut-out. Not show up. They need to be reminded of those teachers on strike and of students who sit in over-crowded classes while our kids have the luxury of 1:17 ratio!!!
Show up for your kids. It's the least we can do as parents to show them we care and to show the teachers we give a shit about their job. A job most of us would never do. Could never do.
That is all.
