I feel like an actual teacher. I have been planning the entire day since last week. The week after Thanksgiving is my last teaching week. I am assessing the students, teaching them, re-teching concepts that I can tell they don't understand, correcting their homework, and very important, talking to their parents at parent conferences. I have been translating for those parents who only speak Spanish and have communicated very well. I was even complimented on my Spanish by parents! It has been so wonderful to be able to communicate with them.
It has been an experience of a lifetime to be exposed to all aspects of this job. The family problems that directly affect the students in the classroom are amazing. You can read about them a million times but it doesn't quite hit you until you see those students' parents fighting it out while you wonder how the student ever finishes any homework. Other parents are so focused on their child's education that you wonder how you can be like that for your children. It's a very interesting, sometimes sad, profession. I would not change my job for anything.
Last night we scored a two for one at one of our favorite movie theatres that The Palm which shows some of the most interesting flicks. We saw Motorcycle Diaries which was about Che Guevarra and his friend's journey through South America on bike (and foot). I love the story of Che but this movie was not just a documentary on his life. It was more about how a journey with someone on the same road can change a perosn's life in so many different ways.
It starts with him and his friends wanting to take a vacation, with shallow goals of meeting girls at the beginning, and their cleverness to find food when they run out of money, and then their eyes are uncovered to so many unjustices.
It's amazing to actually discover all of that from traveling. So many are so privileged that often it is hard to see how lucky you really are. Until you travel and experience how other people live first hand, you are missing that knowledge. I believe that lives are devided once you discover your privileges. You can either use those things that you are blessed with to benefit those who do not have or are being taken advantage of, or you realize what you have and fight with all you have to make things stay that way. Some people prefer to continue that separation of goods (the haves and the have nots). They will do all that they can to keep someone down so that they can stay up top. That is injustice. That type of thing should not be happening in a country where all people are said to be given equal opportunities.
Che was on the opposite side. Once he experienced all of this, he could not live to let the people be beaten down. He had to do what he could to help those people who needed help. He was in a good position to do that.
I could absolutly relate to his heart for the people, especially since I am learning about the injustices in education. That is why I teach. These children, who don't have any idea that their lives are being toyed with in policy after policy and change after change, cannot fight for what they don't know yet. They fight going to school or fight to get to school but school is what will break the cycle. But I will be there everyday for them. They can break the cycle of those who can afford education and those who need to fight for a pencil in their schools. My fight is for education. Those kids, if they choose, will only be free if they can take learning for themselves.
I have to give a shout out ot my big bro Brian on his 30th birthday. What is the perfect gift for a great big brother that only his wife can give him (stop thos enasty thoughts!)? Another little girl. Madeline was born this morning at 11:10 and is 6 pounds and 10 ounces. Not as much hair as the first little girl. I guess she is adorable. I can't wait to meet her, tomorrow. Babies are great.