Forward: NOMINEE FOR "EMAIL OF THE YEAR"!!!
After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:
'Let me see if I've got this right.
'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.
'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.
'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.
'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.
'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.
'You want me to do all this and then you tell me. . . I CAN'T PRAY?
OK. I am normally not that interested in forwarded emails. Oops! Did I just make an open confession. This email, however, has just "hit the nail on the head" ---and it should be the forward of the year.
Teachers are hard workers! They don't get paid enough for the "jobs" they do that fall under the broad category of teaching. Yes, if anyone should need prayer in schools it's the teachers.
I'm a mom who cares and my opinion counts! Thank you to all the teachers who make a difference in the lives of our children. Teachers are everyday heroes!
Also, for any of my past teachers who may read this, my grammar still sucks! This is not your fault....it is mine! I was an average student who had much more potential.
You made a difference in my life because you cared. You pounded great amounts of information into my head, demanded too much homework, ran my day like a warden, expected me to be able to sit for long periods time and appear somewhat interested, had me clean the chalkboard, take-out the trash, dust erasers, respect school property (even the Math book that was first issued to my Grandpa), made me stand in corners, whacked me on the hand with a ruler, called me by all my siblings names first-----because you shaped their lives,too! I thank you, not bash you or hate you (OK, maybe back then...there could have been some feelings...well, that were not so ??) Let's blame that one on immaturity.
On the flip side, you helped to shape the strong woman I am today! Some of the positive things I picked up along the way: the magic of a good book, to persevere, dogged determination, an ability to try to get along with others, the importance of a schedule, knowing right from wrong and how not to say everything or maybe even the first thing that may come to my mind, a interest in vintage items, how to be a productive human being, patience (still working on a formula to have more), to take pride in my accomplishments, what respecting myself means--and then others, to have goals in life, the need for volunteerism in my community, how to pay attention to the important things in life and to let go of so much more.
Thank you friend for forwarding this email!
