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Camel Because I Don't Have A Goat.
Oct. 25th, 2011 10:24 pmFrom The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have.
For spirits carried in human form, it is a blessing and a curse that we don't always know our calling. Part of our migration is the finding out.
I've talked at length elsewhere about the politics involved with teaching, politics that often gets in the way of what could be seen as a 'calling' to those in the profession, devoted to the education and welfare of children.
I mention it today once again, because today at work, I was going from class to class to class, covering for the teachers while they went to their pupil progress meetings. For those not in teaching, this is where teachers go and talk to the Headteacher and Senior leadership team about the progress of the children in their class, and to justify and explain why little Johnny R, who lives with a lone parent, is often left alone because his parent is out working three jobs to bring in just enough money to pay the rent, comes to school hungry because a fourth job is out of the question so of course they can't eat is still unable to write at level 3 and is chronically disaffected at school, while his peer, little Johnny S, who lives with both parents, who have good jobs and can work flexible hours, spent plenty of quality time with their son, and extend his hobbies and quality of life when and where possible, has managed to achieve level 5 in writing and is always keen to come to school, (Stereotypes, and deliberately extreme – I'm making a point here… stay with me)…
Anyway… I got home, and had some kind of discussion with Dad, about kids, and schools and teachers – and kids called Liam who always seem to be on the naughty end of the spectrum… and from there we got to talking about Facebook, somehow, ah, I remember – he asked me if I saw what Callum had posted the other night, and I told Dad that no, I hadn't, because I'd had to decline friending Callum, (and also the requests of many ex-pupils) because it wasn't professionally appropriate to be Facebook friends with people who may also be friends of children I could very well end up teaching. I bemoaned the fact that teachers had to be so damn careful – and said that the days when teachers were known and respected community members were long gone… and Dad said that no… long gone were the days when teachers were allowed to be mentors for kids, like they're supposed to be – helping them to grow and develop as responsible members of society.
Maybe when /that/ was lost was when teaching truly became the scapegoat profession, and not the calling that those of us that feel its pull hold hope in our hearts that it will be once more.
Every year, around the scalp of the planet, the caribou run the same path of migration along the edge of the Arctic Circle. They are born with some innate sense that calls them to this path. And every year, along the way, packs of coyote wait to feed on the caribou. And every year, despite the danger, the caribou return and make their way.
For spirits carried in human form, it is a blessing and a curse that we don't always know our calling. Part of our migration is the finding out.
I've talked at length elsewhere about the politics involved with teaching, politics that often gets in the way of what could be seen as a 'calling' to those in the profession, devoted to the education and welfare of children.
I mention it today once again, because today at work, I was going from class to class to class, covering for the teachers while they went to their pupil progress meetings. For those not in teaching, this is where teachers go and talk to the Headteacher and Senior leadership team about the progress of the children in their class, and to justify and explain why little Johnny R, who lives with a lone parent, is often left alone because his parent is out working three jobs to bring in just enough money to pay the rent, comes to school hungry because a fourth job is out of the question so of course they can't eat is still unable to write at level 3 and is chronically disaffected at school, while his peer, little Johnny S, who lives with both parents, who have good jobs and can work flexible hours, spent plenty of quality time with their son, and extend his hobbies and quality of life when and where possible, has managed to achieve level 5 in writing and is always keen to come to school, (Stereotypes, and deliberately extreme – I'm making a point here… stay with me)…
Anyway… I got home, and had some kind of discussion with Dad, about kids, and schools and teachers – and kids called Liam who always seem to be on the naughty end of the spectrum… and from there we got to talking about Facebook, somehow, ah, I remember – he asked me if I saw what Callum had posted the other night, and I told Dad that no, I hadn't, because I'd had to decline friending Callum, (and also the requests of many ex-pupils) because it wasn't professionally appropriate to be Facebook friends with people who may also be friends of children I could very well end up teaching. I bemoaned the fact that teachers had to be so damn careful – and said that the days when teachers were known and respected community members were long gone… and Dad said that no… long gone were the days when teachers were allowed to be mentors for kids, like they're supposed to be – helping them to grow and develop as responsible members of society.
Maybe when /that/ was lost was when teaching truly became the scapegoat profession, and not the calling that those of us that feel its pull hold hope in our hearts that it will be once more.
