And so, I think it’s time to take my blog back and get back to my mostly light and fluffy blog posts about life, the universe and everything – from the perspective of one person, one parent, one wife, one friend, one woman, one citizen, one taxpayer, one voter, one American, one Mid-Western girl twice removed – from me.
Political activism is exhausting. Who knew?
It’s not to say that I won’t follow up on the lunacy that I’ve learned is going on behind closed doors, just down the street, in the classrooms and meeting rooms in my little town, but for now, I rest. I’ve learned a lot.
I’ve learned that the students in our towns are phenomenal people who support their classmates and have integrity, character, compassion and a strong sense of pride.
I’ve learned that the parents of those kids are intelligent, respectful, civil and neighborly. With very few exceptions, those who engaged in discussion on this blog have done so in the spirit of healthy debate. Kudos to you all and thank you for your contributions.
I’ve learned that no matter how often the mainstream media and so many of our public figures like to espouse their anti-American rhetoric — we are still, as a country, on the whole, flag-waving patriots who support our soldiers and embrace the principles of freedom for which those soldiers sacrifice to protect.
I’ve learned that the common sense and common decency of the common man has little chance of defeating the bureaucracy of big unions. I’ve also learned that the Massachusetts Teachers Association will bankrupt every town and every city in this state before we finally question and challenge their existence. Talk about the power of the machine . . .
I’ve learned that it is true that one voice can be heard and can make a difference.
I’ve learned that the misguided, misplaced voices and actions of two teachers can have profound and lasting effects on not only their own community, but on the world. And how sad and terribly unfortunate that they have so poorly [mis]represented their peers, because . . .
I’ve learned that there are far more teachers in this country (and I heard from teachers from all corners) who honor, respect and take very seriously the responsibilities of their chosen profession than those who put their own interests first. These teachers work hard every day to uphold the basic principles of putting their students first, of teaching and not preaching, of educating and not indoctrinating, of facilitating a student’s ability to learn how to think and not what to think. There are great teachers here and elsewhere who I respect a great deal.
I’ve learned a lot. Thank you for coming along for the ride.
Evolution Happens . . . 