After being interviewed
by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, "Let me see if I've
got this right: You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct
their disruptive
behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits,
censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning. You want
me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually
transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.
You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and
fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a
checkbook, and apply for a job.
You want me to check
their heads for lice, recognize signs of anti-social
behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams. You also want
me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and
communicate regularly with their parents in English and Spanish by letter,
telephone, newsletter, and report card. You want me to do all this with a piece
of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a
starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps. You want me to do all this
and then you tell me . . . I CAN'T PRAY??"
True
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