If ONLY Teachers Could Be More Like Hitler

So I was watching a program on CNN late the other night. I was hoping to find a program that would bore me into the land of Nod. Luckily I came across a special hosted by Soledad O'Brian. I like her, and surely this would be interesting. It featured a panel of noted and accomplished guests discussing the state of the Blacks in America. The host stated some stats and identified some problems and one thing led to another and the next thing I know- the lack of quality education was being cited as one of the principle problems. Well, a grassroots organization determined to reenroll inner-city highschoolers who'd dropped out during their junior or senior year had embarked on a door-to-door campaign to round up these youth and personally walk them through the re-enrollment process. Kudos to them.  Upon greeting one shirtless saggypants youth at his front door the well meaning strangers explained the purpose of their visit. This young man appeared to be between 18-21 years old and had obviously been roused from his sleep upon their arrival. The incredulous look on his face showed just how much he appreciated it. He quietly allowed the small group to attempt to champion him back to school. All the while he rubbed his sleepy eyes a few times, shook his head, and twisted his locks.  Finally he turned and slowly went inside, slamming the door on the people and the cameras. He uttered not a single word the whole time.

Now flash forward to the panel of prestigious noteworthy experts, and community leaders. They shook their head in disappointment as they viewed the clip of the unsuccessful mission. Then,with no warning a panelist said "See, there's a fundamental problem with the schools in his community that he would have such an attitude about school and his education."

GASP!! At this point, I had jumped off my bed and gotten up in the speakers face (as they sat in tvland) and began to hurl insults and rebuttals about what I had just heard, and seen as an indirect personal attack. "many of those parents are on drugs and alcohol, and can't be expected to do the schools job," another panelists said. At this point I was feeling a rage blackout coming- and my spouse would need to call 9-1-1 to revive me. SURE, blame it on the schools again.

His mother never taught him to wear a shirt when leaving the house, or speak to adults, then let him lay up in the house after becoming a drop out- and somehow it's the school's fault. Of course mom is providing a greater incentive (free room and board - with no hard work involved) - yet, why should we allow the public to think his parents had anything to do with this behavior?

Johnny doesn't like to go to school, because there are some rules there, and he'd have to act like a civilized person--- blame it on the schools. How dare they actually make 'rules' that protect others and inhibit his expression of his God-given personality and impulses.

Johnny would rather hustle on the streets for cash than get a legitimate job--of course that's the school's fault too. Somehow, if we were better teachers, we'd have  invented "new math" and shown Johnny that $6.00/hr. times 40 hours a week at Generic Burger really does equal more than $200.00/hr. times 20 hours a week at HustleCorner.

And even though Johnny's mother was his first teacher, who reinforced her importance in his life, with food, clothing, affection, shelter, and love (or solidarity)- Schools get the blame, for not being able to be more important and influential in a child's life than the parent. Schools get the blame for not being able to undo and reprogram corrupt ethics, low morals, indifference about the future, and disinterest in education inspite the fact that studies show that schoolsare not, nor have ever been the greatest  influence on a child's life.

I guess, if there were more highly qualified teachers who gave a damn, we'd be able to command blind obedience and cooperation from our pupils and make them learn, even if they didn't want to. The critics would have the public to believe that if schools and teachers were doing their jobs correctly, no factor or issue prevailing in a child's life would prevent him or her from attending school and earning academic achievement  at or above grade level. I wish I could be this suprteacher. I wish all the other teachers of the U.S. wouldn't be looked upon poorly because nature and teacher training did not give them the edge of extraordinary psychological control over the will, and obedience of man that evil geniuses like Hitler and Professor X seemed to possess and use so freely. I guess most of us will never rise beyond being the caring, kid friendly, do-gooders, who believe the children are our future, seek to inspire, and hope for the best for our students (we're such simpletons huh?)

But, I'm willing to bet that if the time comes in which teachers and schools do have a greater influence on the thinking and behavior of a child than his parents or upbringing, that'll be the day that A- Church and state are no longer separate entities in public education, and B-Schools and teachers will then be accused of implementing cult-like practices over the poor innocent minds of the babes of America. Either way, I've lived long enough to notice that when it comes to successful children parents will always get the credit. And when it comes to failing unsuccessful children- schools will always get the blame.

No more late night CNN for me.