The View from Buzby Beach

The ship is the SS Public Education. She is storm-tossed, burning, and sinking. Her attackers have stripped her of any means to move forward, set her on fire, and left her adrift while telling those who sail her that they have to make do with what they've got. What brought this image to mind? I had an idea about doing some remote tutoring over the summer, so I posted on ZipRecruiter to get an idea of what sort of remote tutoring positions might be available in our area. Remote because, as long as I have wifi or decent cell service at the campground, I can connect and work with students. Tutoring because I want to help individual students where and when I can. How did this lead me to consider the image above as representative of public education? Since the end of the school year, the number of open teaching positions in my area has gone from a small handful a week to dozens every day with new positions being posted all the time. Veteran teachers who might have pushed off retirement ...

  O ne of the nice things about teaching at the school where I do is the generosity of the parents and kids when it comes to gifts for the teacher at Christmas, during Teacher Appreciation Week, and at year-end.  Last Friday and on Monday, I enjoyed lunch at a local grill near our school courtesy of a gift card from a student. Today I am lunching at a cafe in town on my way to have the Beast serviced courtesy of a different student. I am truly humbled and honored that my students and their parents think enough of me to be so generous. It helps remind me that being a teacher in today's America isn't all stress and strife and isn't always a thankless job.