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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RON BL who wrote (70561)	11/11/2000 7:32:27 PM
From: lexi2004	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Ron, I think you're sincere in your questions, so I'll answer you. Number 1, I have not sat by while things have gone on. For three years I was in a major leadership role in my county but finally had to resign due to it affecting my health. I gave my all to it. My doctor told me to stop. I did fight for the rights of kids, I protested inferior curriculum, large classrooms, and any other number of things. I couldn't change everything. But, everyone who knows me said things were greatly improved in our county while I was a leader. In regards to the special needs children using profanity and being able to stay in the classroom, I addressed that too. I worked with my local association to address it and on the national level. I organized teachers so that kids who came to school ready to learn didn't have to have their educations interrupted by kids who didn't want to be there and had no respect for the rights of other kids. I was the first teacher in my county to invoke the Teacher Protection Act, which allowed me to remove a disruptive student who kept other kids from learning and me from teaching. Regarding the "F You"... for the first time in my career, I had a kid mouth those words to me. I demanded, yes, demanded that he be suspended. He got 5 days external suspension, often kids don't get that for fighting or worse. Now, I'm no saint. But, I've worked very hard in my own way to do all I physically and mentally could do for kids and education. Is the NEA without fault, absolutely no. But, did good things come out of it, yes. Now, regarding the striking, in many of the states, striking is no longer allowed. I did picket in protest with 700+ teachers in our county. Was it for a pay raise? No. It was because our county office wouldn't allow teachers input into what was happening in our classrooms. Now, I'm not going to debate public education nor NEA anymore. Just by being a teacher doesn't mean I like everything about public education and the NEA. It also doesn't mean I should stop being a teacher because things aren't perfect there. I can't tell you how many days I've thanked God on my way to school that I've had a career that I love. I don't plan to teach for much longer, but, I'm leaving my replacement. My daughter should be a teacher in 2 years or so. IMHO, there's nothing like working with kids and feeling you're making a difference. Best Wishes, Doribee