I finally read Alice in Wonderland and Treasure Island this last week. I wonder where these books were when I was in elementary school? Why weren't we forced to read some of these classic greats? Why am I finally getting to them now?
I had this amazing teacher in second grade, Mrs. Besch. I have always felt that she was some kind of revolutionary teacher. She read us Uncle Tom's cabin (what a brave move, looking back) and it was literally from that point on that I developed this passion for books. She influenced my love for writing, telling my Mother to frame one of my first little pieces of writing. Her teaching style focused developing our reading and writing skills, or maybe that's just what I remember about her class because that was my favorite subject. She was an absolutely brilliant teacher.
She was also so incredibly compassionate, a rare find in teachers that I have had throughout my life (from elementary school onto college). I remember the morning I woke to find our family dog had passed away. I broke out in tears during the first hour of school. She hugged me so hard, what seemed like an hour until I was calm enough to return to my desk. I loved her. I really loved her.
I've been dying to see the documentary, "Waiting for Superman" about our failing public school systems (my pirated copy should arrive next week, thanks IT guy!). I discuss this for hours- from feeding our kids minds with crap, and then feeding their bodies with crap during school lunches. It's no wonder that the general public makes me afraid for my country. We are raising mindless uneducated creatures, who just get by. I take public transportation, I witness the aftermath on a daily basis.
My children will attend private schools, for sure.
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