Summer Koester: Your boy and girl are blessed with a wise, insightful and, most of all, caring, loving mom. That comes out very clearly, not least from the Khalil Gibran poem.
Education— Destroy, which seems to be the prevailing way in the GOP — destroy, destroy. In this case, destroy education. That way all are receptive to the GOP.
Thank you, Armand. In Alaska, gov wants to take $ from public education to pay for private schools. Same ole song. Same thing we had to deal with in Orange County, CA. Same reason we teachers actually went on strike (because they flat-funded us and our wages as well, classes of 45-50, same thing). And we won.
One of the things I love about your writing: you manage to be critical and poignant at once, and also funny. I sincerely hope Alaskans will demand more for kids and teachers...I am feeling hopeful that we are shifting (in the federal election) towards believing we can afford to be humane towards American citizens. We shall see. Sending love and good thoughts to you. Thank you as always for your important work.
Wish I could give you some sage. No not advice but the herb to burn to cleanse your world. I pray you will persevere in these horrendous circumstances.
Wow, what a shit-show. I am so sorry this is the state of education in your state. The GOP knows that education leads to Democrats so they want none of it.
Gratitude helps because it opens your heart and help you focus on the good, rather than dwelling on the bad.
The only thing I find I can do after reading this is to simply hit the heart button. Because THIS was all heart.
As a former 33 year public school teacher and administrator, I get angry, still, at how our teachers and our schools are demeaned. Education is not a political toy—education is our kids and the lovely adults who have devoted their lives to serving them, including those who unpack their rooms on weekends, those who find the 5 or 6 stools so at least all their students can sit, and those who get up the next day or come back the next year to do it all again. Because they love kids, they love teaching, and they love learning. Oh, and I used the Gibron parable a lot when I worked with the parents of my students. I used this too:
“The day will come when our children are truly first, as measured by our love and caring. / The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness the energy of love. / And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, / we shall have discovered fire.” ~ Attributed to Pierre Tielhard de Chardin.
Ooooh if I could smash the fire emoji right now I would! but i'm on a laptop. That is SO GOOD! Thank you, Kert! and thank you for your service of 33 years! I realized that this is my 20th year, so I'm catching up! lol
Bless you all. I used to work for our state department of education. The inequity in schools across the state horrified me. Your situation is beyond acceptable, yet here we are. Thank goodness your children have you!
Right?! and if I had a full-time job my daughter would have drowned already. The only way we kept her afloat was my and my mom coming in almost every day to help her with transitions and math.
The comment of "horrendous" describes the situation perfectly. It blows my mind that the education of our children is so low on the priority list of funding. Our children are the people who will be the leaders in our world in the future. Don't they deserve the best start in life? I think the size of classrooms (and not only in Alaska) is criminal. I have worked in classrooms with almost 40 children, and it is absolutely overwhelming.
I keep saying that too. Isn't this criminal?! We all shrug. I blame our governor, those who voted for him, and people who think like him. Thank you for your comment.
Interjecting sarcastic humor as you rail the system is what I’m sure gets you through the day. Such a horrible way to treat those who teach and those who learn. The state’s priorities are definitely misaligned.
Wow. I used to do substitute teacher gigs in Helsinki, Finland over ten years ago. It was pretty good, but now, for the one wanting to move there - well, the government is cutting money from everything, so, the class sizes have grown etc etc. I wish you strength.
Summer Koester: Your boy and girl are blessed with a wise, insightful and, most of all, caring, loving mom. That comes out very clearly, not least from the Khalil Gibran poem.
Education— Destroy, which seems to be the prevailing way in the GOP — destroy, destroy. In this case, destroy education. That way all are receptive to the GOP.
Thank you, Armand. In Alaska, gov wants to take $ from public education to pay for private schools. Same ole song. Same thing we had to deal with in Orange County, CA. Same reason we teachers actually went on strike (because they flat-funded us and our wages as well, classes of 45-50, same thing). And we won.
One of the things I love about your writing: you manage to be critical and poignant at once, and also funny. I sincerely hope Alaskans will demand more for kids and teachers...I am feeling hopeful that we are shifting (in the federal election) towards believing we can afford to be humane towards American citizens. We shall see. Sending love and good thoughts to you. Thank you as always for your important work.
Thanks so much, Heather. And yes, may it be so!
Wish I could give you some sage. No not advice but the herb to burn to cleanse your world. I pray you will persevere in these horrendous circumstances.
Haha! Good idea. Might go burn some sage and palo santo, thanks for the idea! And thank you for the love <3 back atcha
Powerful essay, Summer! Hang in there!
Thanks so much, Larry!
Wow, what a shit-show. I am so sorry this is the state of education in your state. The GOP knows that education leads to Democrats so they want none of it.
Gratitude helps because it opens your heart and help you focus on the good, rather than dwelling on the bad.
So true on both accounts!
The only thing I find I can do after reading this is to simply hit the heart button. Because THIS was all heart.
As a former 33 year public school teacher and administrator, I get angry, still, at how our teachers and our schools are demeaned. Education is not a political toy—education is our kids and the lovely adults who have devoted their lives to serving them, including those who unpack their rooms on weekends, those who find the 5 or 6 stools so at least all their students can sit, and those who get up the next day or come back the next year to do it all again. Because they love kids, they love teaching, and they love learning. Oh, and I used the Gibron parable a lot when I worked with the parents of my students. I used this too:
“The day will come when our children are truly first, as measured by our love and caring. / The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness the energy of love. / And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, / we shall have discovered fire.” ~ Attributed to Pierre Tielhard de Chardin.
Ooooh if I could smash the fire emoji right now I would! but i'm on a laptop. That is SO GOOD! Thank you, Kert! and thank you for your service of 33 years! I realized that this is my 20th year, so I'm catching up! lol
🔥🔥🔥
Hittin’ it for ya, sister!
May your year be amazeballs! Your students are lucky to have you in their lives.
What a horrible reflection on American culture when schools are so underfunded. Good luck with it all, Summer.
Thank you, Diana!
Bless you all. I used to work for our state department of education. The inequity in schools across the state horrified me. Your situation is beyond acceptable, yet here we are. Thank goodness your children have you!
Right?! and if I had a full-time job my daughter would have drowned already. The only way we kept her afloat was my and my mom coming in almost every day to help her with transitions and math.
Thanks for illustrating how nonsensical it is to underfund education today.
Yep. Thank you, Jill!
I have been wondering how the education cuts would play out. Alaska's governor is an IDIOT.
First-class IDIOT. :(
The comment of "horrendous" describes the situation perfectly. It blows my mind that the education of our children is so low on the priority list of funding. Our children are the people who will be the leaders in our world in the future. Don't they deserve the best start in life? I think the size of classrooms (and not only in Alaska) is criminal. I have worked in classrooms with almost 40 children, and it is absolutely overwhelming.
I keep saying that too. Isn't this criminal?! We all shrug. I blame our governor, those who voted for him, and people who think like him. Thank you for your comment.
One is glad to be of service, my liege. 😉🌹
No one’s gonna give you the knowledge to overthrow them.
This ☝️
Interjecting sarcastic humor as you rail the system is what I’m sure gets you through the day. Such a horrible way to treat those who teach and those who learn. The state’s priorities are definitely misaligned.
Totally! I heard it's the same with emergency room personnel: a hefty dose of twisted, sarcastic humor. Thank you for your comment <3
It is nonsensical how much we spend on military versus education.
I didn't know you were a part-time teacher. Much respect to you and everyone else in the field.
I don't typically read poetry but that Khalil Gibran poem about children is really beautiful.
Thanks for sharing and good luck with the start of the school year. My daughter starts kindergarten in 10 days.
Oh my! so excited and scary and bittersweet! Good luck to her! and you!
Wow. I used to do substitute teacher gigs in Helsinki, Finland over ten years ago. It was pretty good, but now, for the one wanting to move there - well, the government is cutting money from everything, so, the class sizes have grown etc etc. I wish you strength.
Oh wow, even in Finland, which has the best school system in the world? Dang!
Sheesh, it’s wild this attack on education, the burden handed to teachers. May the tides change soon.
In the meantime, my heart goes out to you and the other dedicated educators guiding young minds and hearts through these crazy times.
Thank you, Holly <3
Summer, Sweet Honey in the Rock have a beautiful rendition of the poem you cited. I am very sad to hear about the state of education. May you prevail!
Thanks, Shana. Okay now I'm looking up that song. Thanks for the rec!