As I played on Facebook tonight I was listening to my iTunes on shuffle and "To Kill A Mockingbird" came on by Elmer Berstein.
My brother turned me on to the song while in Alabama mourning the loss of our grandmother. There was something very soothing about the instrumental song as we drove through a very beautiful wooded part of the south towards Laverne, Alabama.
It was a beautiful song in a beautiful part of our country.
It seemed fitting. As my brother, sister, father and I listened to this song play in the rental car all dressed up in our Sunday's best, we were quiet. It felt like we were watching her soul leave us quietly and peacefully into the sky.
It was Forest Gumpesque to be honest.
The following year when my wife and I lost our baby, I found myself listening to this song a good bit again. It felt right to mourn the loss of the little one we never knew with this song.
Part of me wanted to believe she was sharing space in the afterlife with her great grandmother.
I don't know if ironic is the right word, but earlier in the day, the book, "To Kill A Mockingbird" came up in my class. I actually had a 5th grade student who recognized it. Not to go off in a tangent but I came to the realization that I could read it to my students and they may actually appreciate it. In addition, they expressed interest in another personal favorite, "Lord of the Flies." I really love this class.
I have little purpose for this post other than sharing my appreciation for this song and book.
It still moves me to hear this song. I miss my grandmother. She made my experience with "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Lord of the Flies" in high school so much more enjoyable than it would have been without her.
We would call her weekly and talk about what was going on in our lives before she moved up to Ohio. She loved discussing these books with me. One winter break when we visited her in Alabama, she supplied me with enough information to impress my English teacher to a point where she pushed to give me an A as a final grade even when I was supposed to receive a B.
I also still mourn the loss of our baby, Mallory. But it is much easier when I see our littlest one walking around with my oldest and think how she embodies what could have been.
I doubt too many other people have so much wrapped up in one song.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My Facebook Rant
My wife posted something on facebook regarding "Waiting For Superman" and I ended up going on a long winded, unprepared rant from my heart. I thought I would share it. I would love to hear feedback, but understand I ripped this off quickly with no forethough. So there may be some parts I should explain.
I hope this thread hasn't died. While money isn't a reason necessarily, it is an indicator. From what I've read (and heard) the father's income is the best indicator of a student's performance. The higher the income, the higher the success...or chance of success I should say.
Jenn, I think as a nation we need a complete shift in values. Many people like to "say" education is important and teachers are important and should get paid more (while there are plenty who don't) and sports stars should be paid less but then levies aren't passed and sin taxes for new stadiums and arenas are. Full disclosure: I am one of these people.
In addition, schools need more volunteers. I can now speak first hand about failing schools and successful schools with experience in both. The biggest difference I have seen, and the most effective, in my mind, is the support staff and parent involvement. Therefore, as a nation and individually, we need people to get in the schools. Companies need to allow time for employees to get in there and help. I've seen some companies "adopt" schools and send in volunteers. MORE of that is needed.
Parents need to show support of teachers. They need to read with their kids, talk to their kids, respect their kids and demonstrate respect for others in front of their kids BEFORE the kids even start school. They need to involve their kids in decision making around the house. They can do this by counting things, discussing why things happen, discussing what they think will happen. INTERACT with their kids.
Now this is where people will yell at me. This is where I get called fascist and un-pc. Teenagers need to quit having babies. I know I shouldn't jump on people's reproductive rights, but I feel we need to promote birth control and make it accessible to people who can't afford it. We need to make it "cool" to be protected in some form. I do realize many are trying. I really think schools need to be ground zero with this. There are all kinds of male enhancement pills and hair loss pills, but we need a male birth control pill. We need parenting classes. They need to be accessible for everyone.
Men need to man up. I think I have owned up to my manhood so if I sound preachy, deal with it. I am tired of seeing irresponsible men populate this planet and do little if nothing about it. I've said before and I'll say it again, in my experience it is amazing how frequently my good students (in the impoverished areas I have taught) had dads present regularly and those who struggled didn't have dads around at all or routinely. I know, I know I know. There are exceptions. Thank God there are. But it is consistently the case. Men need to step up and either don't have kids or quit being lazy and irresponsible. One or the other.
Rant...over.
I hope this thread hasn't died. While money isn't a reason necessarily, it is an indicator. From what I've read (and heard) the father's income is the best indicator of a student's performance. The higher the income, the higher the success...or chance of success I should say.
Jenn, I think as a nation we need a complete shift in values. Many people like to "say" education is important and teachers are important and should get paid more (while there are plenty who don't) and sports stars should be paid less but then levies aren't passed and sin taxes for new stadiums and arenas are. Full disclosure: I am one of these people.
In addition, schools need more volunteers. I can now speak first hand about failing schools and successful schools with experience in both. The biggest difference I have seen, and the most effective, in my mind, is the support staff and parent involvement. Therefore, as a nation and individually, we need people to get in the schools. Companies need to allow time for employees to get in there and help. I've seen some companies "adopt" schools and send in volunteers. MORE of that is needed.
Parents need to show support of teachers. They need to read with their kids, talk to their kids, respect their kids and demonstrate respect for others in front of their kids BEFORE the kids even start school. They need to involve their kids in decision making around the house. They can do this by counting things, discussing why things happen, discussing what they think will happen. INTERACT with their kids.
Now this is where people will yell at me. This is where I get called fascist and un-pc. Teenagers need to quit having babies. I know I shouldn't jump on people's reproductive rights, but I feel we need to promote birth control and make it accessible to people who can't afford it. We need to make it "cool" to be protected in some form. I do realize many are trying. I really think schools need to be ground zero with this. There are all kinds of male enhancement pills and hair loss pills, but we need a male birth control pill. We need parenting classes. They need to be accessible for everyone.
Men need to man up. I think I have owned up to my manhood so if I sound preachy, deal with it. I am tired of seeing irresponsible men populate this planet and do little if nothing about it. I've said before and I'll say it again, in my experience it is amazing how frequently my good students (in the impoverished areas I have taught) had dads present regularly and those who struggled didn't have dads around at all or routinely. I know, I know I know. There are exceptions. Thank God there are. But it is consistently the case. Men need to step up and either don't have kids or quit being lazy and irresponsible. One or the other.
Rant...over.
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