Comment on Lindsey's Comment

I made a comment on Candi’s blog entry here.

This is the response I got from Lindsey:

To genx teacher,

So let's talk about what hindered your progress during the year of your faithful volunteerism with the WTU.

What projects did you recommend? What activities did you particapte? what happened?

How is it possible that in the democratic decision-making process/--the egos and powershifting (as you call it) can impede progress. Weren't you working with a group?

We need to quit belly-aching about how hard something is and just do it.

I can image that it is easier to tutor your students in your cushy environment called a classroom....to some kids who look up to you and believe everything you say just because you said it and because they do not know they can challenge you.

Try, working with the bigger kids (called adults) to help make meaningful change for all.

November 6, 2008 2:55 PM

Before anything else, thank you, Lindsey for sharing your thoughts.

I will not presume that I know who you are and what you do for the system and for our kids. I believe that all of us do our share and even though we may be on different sides of the fence, I BELIEVE that they are of equal importance.

If it is not too much to ask, I will request the same benefit of the doubt— because on the same token YOU don’t know me or what I do for the system and our kids.

To answer your questions, let me correct your understanding FIRST to what I said about “ego-tripping” and “power struggling”. Please do not confuse my words with your own terminologies “egos and powershifting [sic]”. Power shifting is cyclical nature of governance. It is NECESSARY. Power struggling on the other hand is a human tendency to preserve one’s PERSONAL agenda. AND “ego-tripping” and “power struggling” WERE, ARE, and SHOULD NEVER BE a part of democratic decision-making process. In Rhee’s own words: they are “ADULT ISSUES”.

NOW, on the YOU & ME portion:

YOU: “What projects did you recommend? What activities did you particapte [sic]? what [sic] happened?”

ME: I will not go into details as I do not want to be identified. Why? Because I do not see the need to be identified. What I can tell you is what happened after I left. The “team” was divided into two groups to accommodate the power-strugglers. Up to this date, I have not seen any concrete outcome from the divided team. Yes, one of the teams is still inviting me to be a part of it. I humbly declined the offer.

YOU: “ I can image [sic] that it is easier to tutor your students in your cushy environment called a classroom....to some kids who look up to you and believe everything you say just because you said it and because they do not know they can challenge you.”

ME: Please do not discount what our elementary educators are doing. It is NOT CORRECT that kids just “look up…and believe everything…” our elementary teachers say because “they do not know they can challenge…” them. This comment is demeaning in twofold: (1) you are undervaluing what our elementary teachers are doing and going through on everyday basis and (2) you are undervaluing what our elementary students are capable of.

YOU: “Try, working with the bigger kids (called adults) to help make meaningful change for all.”

ME: What gave you the impression I’m working exclusively with “smaller” kids?

Lindsey, please note that ALL of us has his/her role to play in this system. EVERYONE—including teachers, parents, children, and yes—even WTU. Everyone should work the BEST s/he can. NO EXCUSES.

Many educators and parents may say they do the “better” and “bigger” role, but I will REFUSE to accept that. OUR ROLES MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN ONE'S ROLE IS BETTER OR BIGGER THAN THE OTHER. The same reason I REFUSE to tell my arms that they are more important than my legs and vice-versa.

When someone says “Try, working with the bigger kids (called adults) to help make meaningful change for all.”— it makes my conviction stronger that Rhee was right when she said that OUR public education sucks and crappy because we, ADULTS, cannot seem to overcome our own issues (ego-tripping, power-struggle, etc.).

Dear EDUCATORS, if you have to tutor your kids, DO SO.

If you have to do a home-visitation, DO SO.

If you have to volunteer to WTU, DO SO.

HOWEVER, if you are facing an ego-tripping and power-struggling adult— PLEASE do not engage them. It is a lose-lose situation. Express your opinion ONCE, if you must. Then move on.

And even Lindsey might disagree with me, I ENCOURAGE you to walk away. Walking away from non-productive endeavors is not cowardice. It is humbling and wiser. Why not do something more productive— like tutoring?