God created us for His glory, yet there are days when I feel so inadequate. Like a cat on a ferris wheel (Yep, I've been watching too much Cosby Show--Thanks, Theo!), I'm fearful. I'm like a child anxiously waiting with excitement. However, in this case it is also like a new pair of shoes; it hurts...
There is great excitement and pride with a new administration for our nation. Yes, it shows that we're a country that has moved from some of the antiquated thinking and ways held by some of our Founding Fathers. And, as expressed by Beyonce', looking at our President makes me want to be smarter. Better. And, not for my people, but for my community, my country, my world.
The reality is there are still those in the nation harboring much anger who will never accept the reality of a Black President. There are those who desire to see him fail and speak of it regularly, shedding tears about the state of our country. And, I will accept that such scenarios exist. I am not as consumed with them as I am about the state of our educational structure.
Budget cuts have hit our schools quite hard in a number of states and will be setting us back in some ways by 5 to 10 years. We're losing funding that has assisted with technology and positions are being taken anywhere possible. This will increase class sizes, perhaps lose funding for certain (needed) programs, and essentially hurt the process of teaching and learning. Yes, it hurts and bad!
But, I don't think that is what hurts like the new pair of shoes...Because as a lady, getting a new pair of shoes is one of my pastimes. I get excited because of how it will match a certain outfit, the ooohs and ahhhs from my fellow peers, and, of course, I wear shoes well! In buying that pair of shoes, there is pride in finding them, getting perhaps a great deal, and maybe knowing there was only one left in that size. You come to the day that you're to put them on and you check yourself out in the mirror: Yes, you're dressed to kill...Every response desired is given, but at midday the toes are hurting. The feet are cramping up and you're ready to throw on another pair of shoes---no, forget shoes, your feet want the freedom to breathe and be naked. They're in pain!!!
That is how I feel about the state of education.
I'm so hungry for the purchase. I love children. I enjoy and have passion when it comes to the idea of helping kids to learn, teaching them something new, and seeing their excitement when the light turns on...I'm more sold on finding these experiences than the actual excitement of buying the shoes! For real!!! Tapping in to places with kids wanting to learn is just like the shoe shopping experience. I'd take a flat shoe, tennis shoes, heels, stilettos, boots, sandals, etc. Similarly, I help all kids no matter the age, venue, color, etc. So, why does it hurt like a new pair of shoes?
We have kids who are not learning. Students are not being served in our current structure. I watch and know of students who are responsible, sweet and respectful kids, who are not getting anything out of the teaching methods. I also know of some of the rudest, most ungrateful children who feel the school organization has nothing to offer them--never has and never will. I could blame parents, but that is not always the problem. I can only work with what I know and that is the educational organization. Somewhere in the mix the child that starts off at an early age loving the idea of learning and knowledge quickly takes a turn and is able to form the words, "I hate school." What creates that? There is a barrier or something wrong. These are kids who know they disdain the thoughts of having to go to a schoolhouse by the time they are in first grade. Usually, these are students of poverty, color, special needs...You cannot tell me that there is nothing wrong with our educational system. And, I'll take it a step further by adding the category: male.
What hurts is that the number of jails being built gets determined by the reading level of black males in grades 3 and 4. Truth. What hurts is the debate of there not being any issues with regards to our educational system and offense being taken when the topic of race rears its ugly head.
I'm certainly not trying to come off as decadent or corrupt, but something has to give. It is a problem that our students of color are not enrolled in Advance Placement classes. Dr. Donna Ford spoke of the disparities that exist in this world when it comes to black youth. The numbers are startling for the number of blacks recommended for Special Education but hardly ever for Gifted Education. And, let's not even begin to give the numbers for our dropout rates or percentages for those who are graduating.
I'm on a mission to save kids like I love buying shoes. Call it an insane, pointless, thoughtless thing to do, but I can't help the purpose and love He's placed in my heart. I find myself eating on ideas more than actual food itself. And, I wish every person who came to the table to serve kids could have that type of love, drive, and motivation. I see it in some, but definitely not enough...I'm ready to think outside the box and make use of a system that is being underused and taken for granted. The state of education has become what the woman buyer sees as an ongoing sale for shoes. She knows she can go in whenever she needs to and can get a deal; it's taken for granted because it's such a good deal where perks never cease. She needs something new to rekindle the spark and thrill given when the words: SALE ~ Buy One, Get the Second 1/2 Off appear. I don't want the feeling to hit me on an occasional here or there. I need the fix to overtake and engulf me so much that I could persuade others.
Let's let the shoes hurt! Trust me. If worn a few times, the shoe will break in...Especially, if it is a good leather, durable pair. That's the beauty of a good shoe. It will endure for a lifetime.
No pain, no gain.
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