Teachers as Policemen?: Don't Add it to our Job Description

It's been a long time since I have written in this blog. No excuses except that I have been busy writing my books: NARC! A John Doyle Mystery and Precious Package: A John Doyle Mystery and their follow-ups in the series. But something brewing in education has been eating at me lately and that is the movement in my state, Texas, to arm their teachers.

I'm a retired teacher. When I began teaching in 1971 I never went into the profession to be a social worker, a parent to those who had none or a babysitter but because of changing times I took on all those roles. Add to that the role of a psychologist, a priest, a paper pusher and computer technician, all of which I gladly accepted. But to become the law enforcer and 'pseudo' cop in the school was something I didn't sign on for.

I can't even imagine going into my classroom, a la John Wayne, packing my weapon on my person or in my briefcase and still being able to create a positive environment for learning. What do I do? Lock the gun up in my file cabinet. That'd be a big help if my school was being attacked by some student we probably let down in the first place. Do I strap it to my ankle like a FBI agent? That would be a burden and I could never cross my legs when teaching. It would scare the 'crap' out of my students. There has to be a better way.

I have never owned a gun but I'm not anti-guns to the extent I could ever believe they could be eliminated. That would be too Utopian. The United States was created by violence and perpetuated throughout its development by the use of force to solve its problems. A race was subjugated and enslaved by the use of guns and the threat of violence while another one was almost extinquished in the name of progress by the same violent force. So we are trapped into the belief that guns solve every problem. It's in this nation's DNA! It's fine to have guns to hunt with and perhaps even target practice. It is okay if someone feels the necessity to own a gun to protect their family at home but there needs to be a limit. Enough is enough. It's like the old Nuclear arms race. How much do we really need to kill the world?

My neighbors pack their guns and more are being purchased as I write. I don't know who is carrying a gun in their car while I drive with them or in the grocery store where I shop. We have created a society that says it is Christian yet we break the commandment of 'Thou Shall Not Kill' daily. Now someone high up in our State's government wants people whose professional responsibility is to teach the children and hopefully instill values into them to carry a gun in the classroom. What kind of double standard is this to our youth? What message would we be sending?

They are holding classes in Texas for teachers to disarm and stand-off a shooter. I cannot picture many of my former colleagues even attempting this. Perhaps a coach or a very young teacher who could handle the stress and physicality necessary to complete the manoevers. I suppose it's better than shooting the person and perhaps injuring someone else in the process. Like many of the programs I was coerced to learning while I was a teacher it too will go by the wayside. Teachers, isn't it wonderful how all those great programs we had to learn end when the money from the grant dries up. They were wonderful and state of the art until the funding ended.

I want our schools to be safe. I want them to be sanctuaries for the children. I think we need to create atmospheres in schools that negate the use of force. We need to better identify the students who have tendencies towards violence and we need to educate our staffs on these tendencies. We also need to allow the police forces that our schools have had to invent to carry the guns, not the teachers. Notice that school shootings take place in upwardly mobile schools not in the ghettos and underprivileged schools. Those places are the safest areas their students often have during the day. We need to instill values in ALL students that killing isn't the answer. We need to bring GOD back into our schools. I am proud to say that HE never left my classroom.

If I Ran the Schools there would be one teacher who would not carry a gun- ME!

My Christmas Angel

This is a true story that happened to me and my family one Christmas Eve about 15 years ago.

My Christmas Angel

Every Christmas season the television is filled with magical shows about angels. Hallmark and Lifetime movies schedule shows almost continuously that play out that theme, almost to the point of being numb to their messages. I used to think that some of those story lines were ‘hokey’ but a few years back my mind was forever changed and now I see things differently.           

Everyone has an angel. At least that’s what I’ve come to believe. There was a time in my life I never would have believed in angels, or at least would be a die-hard skeptic but one Christmas Eve about fifteen years my whole take on angels changed drastically.

          I live in Texas, about 1500 miles from my Canadian family and my wife Lynda’s family. We hadn’t been able to go back to Ontario, Canada for Christmas for the past three years for various reasons. My dear old blessed mother was suffering from Alzheimer’s and we didn’t know how many more Christmases we would be able to have with her. I needed to be home to see her.

With that in mind we decided to purchase tickets to Detroit where we would rent a car from Thrifty Car Rental, head across the border into Windsor and then drive to our home town of Aylmer, Ontario. With that accomplished we packed our suitcases and with a high level of excitement and anticipation my wife, our daughter Deanna and myself drove to the San Antonio Airport.

          Things were going well. We got to the airport on time, actually early, and got checked in. That was easy since it was pre- 911. We found ourselves sitting in the waiting area directly across from the food area in the San Antonio Airport. The smells of aromatic fresh coffee and baked bagels were infiltrating our senses so my wife got up to get me a coffee and she and my daughter a hot chocolate. She returned to our not so comfortable seats with two rich steamy hot chocolates, a large hot cup of coffee for me and three bagels with cream cheese on the side.

          We ate our small but delicious breakfast and the lady at the Continental desk announced that Flight #4053 to Houston was ready for departure. We got up, hurriedly got together our carry ‘ons’, which were full of Christmas presents and souvenirs of Texas to give to our friends and families back home and then took out our tickets. Our tickets told us that we would change planes in Houston and then head to Detroit.

          Unknown to me my wife had downsized her large brown purse she usually carried and changed it to a small blue one that held her cash, credit cards, identification and most importantly her ‘green card’, her way of crossing the border. In her haste she left it on the seat where she was sitting.

          We hustled down the gateway into the plane where we conveniently found our seats about one third of the way down the plane, a Boeing 707. We sat down in our assigned seats, all of us occupying one row in seats DEF on the right side of the plane. It was at that moment my wife realized she had left her purse on the seat. Everything about this day was drastically going to change.

“I can’t find my purse. It was with me when I was in the waiting area...when I got us our breakfast. I think I left it there.”  She was frantic.

“Are you sure? Is it in your carry ons?” She quickly searched her small piece of luggage she had brought on with her. She shook her head. It wasn’t there.

“What are we going to do? We can’t leave without it. It has all my important papers in it.” Her voice was trembling. A green card to an ‘alien’ is like blood to our bodies. Without it you are literally ‘dead’.

“I’ll go out and find it.” I championed the cause. Should be easy, I thought, since I pictured it lying on or next to her seat.

I rushed out against the flow of passenger traffic telling the stewardesses that I had to get back in to the waiting area where my wife thinks she had left her purse. They allowed me to go but only with a caution to hurry back because the plane was ready to depart, and being the day of Christmas Eve, they wanted to make sure people made their connections.

          That I understood so I rushed to the area where we were sitting in the waiting area, the smells of coffees still lingering in the air. After a cursory search there was no purse to be seen. At that moment ghastly thoughts entered my head and it was not of the ‘fairy plum fairy’ variety. Had someone stolen her purse or was it just picked up by the airline personnel? I left all our pertinent information with the pleasant and understanding lady at the airline desk. I then I decided to return back to the plane, not wanting it to take off without me.

           Since this was pre-cell phone I couldn’t immediately call the special number in order to cancel the cards so someone wouldn’t fraudulently use them. Could I do that when we arrived in Houston? Did I need to take out ‘handfuls of cash’ from the ATM machine when we arrived in Houston so I could pay for our car and all the other things we needed on our trip? I had, thank God, brought some extra cash with me as had my daughter. Could we get my wife across the border and back without her ‘alien card’? Too much confusion clouded my brain.

          With all those thoughts rushing through my head I re-entered the jet and we headed to Houston. I explained to the family my plan for when we arrived there. We had ample time to accomplish it if all went well. After our short hop the plane touched down, taxied to the jet way and we disembarked, looking everywhere in the concourse for a pay phone and an ATM machine.

Both were in sight and I hurriedly ran to them while Lynda and Deanna went to the next departure gate to wait for me. I made my call and immediately all our cards were cancelled.  I then took out the requisite amount of money from my bank, as much as they allowed me. I felt a deep sigh of relief when that was over as I pictured some crook already in North Star Mall, maxing out our cards. The cash that she had in the purse, I knew, was long gone and never to be recovered. I met them at the gate.

          Take off, flight and landing went smooth. We all were more relaxed as I sat in my seat, my wallet full of cash, some of it also divided between my wife and daughter. There was nothing I could do about the border. Surely they had her information on a computer file and if nothing else, perhaps I could bluff our way through it. Our thoughts returned to visions of cooked turkey, pies, candies, cookies and of course my mother’s welcoming smile.

          After retrieving our luggage we walked out into the arctic blast that met us and shivered in it until the tiny blue van marked “Thrifty Car Rentals” made its way towards us. It seemed like an eternity as we stood there in our ‘not so winter’ wear, hands in pockets and puffs of white frosty air puffing out of our noses and mouths. It was cold, even for a native Canadian. Had the years of living in Texas thinned our blood that much?

          Finally the van picked us up and drove us off the airport to the rental ‘hut’. We got out, bags in hand and I went up to the desk to get our car. It was now about 4:00 pm. I took out my driver’s license and cash and spoke to the agent at the desk.

“Reservation for Mark Elley” I stated. I handed him my license.

“May I have your credit card Mr. Elley?” He barked at me from behind the desk.

“I don’t have one that is presently functional but I do have cash.” I sheepishly said this as deep in my heart I hoped he would believe me and allow me to pay in cash as I planned.

“We don’t take cash Mr. Elley. Are you sure you don’t have a card?”

“No, I had to cancel our cards in Houston since my wife had her purse stolen this morning as we boarded the aircraft in San Antonio.” I explained to him loud and clear but in a pleading voice what had transpired.

“I’m sorry but I can’t rent you a car without a credit card.”

I thought for a second. “My daughter has a card. Will that do?”

“How old is she?” he queried.

“She’s twenty...will be twenty one in January.

“Too young” he said in a scolding voice as if I was supposed to know better.

“Then what shall I do?” I asked.

“I’ll call some other agencies and see if they’ll rent you one.” My spirits began to perk up with this faint glimmer of hope. He got on his phone and made some calls. It soon faded as he announced.

“No one will rent you a car, Mr. Elley. Most of them have no cars available. It is Christmas Eve, you know.” I shot him a look of disgust as if to ask him if he thought I was a moron or something. Of course I knew it was Christmas Eve. Wasn’t that the whole point? What kind of Scrooge was he?

“You could try the bus to go across the border but you’ll have to go back to the airport to catch it.” He looked at the bus schedule he had taken from the long counter between us, rolled his eyes and said “I’m sorry the last bus to go across to Canada just left.”

“Then what am I to do...we are to do...” I pointed at my wife and daughter who were sitting there on their plastic blue chairs with a sullen look on their face and with a small tear ready to roll down their cheeks.

Deanna cried out “Dad what are we going to do? What about Grandma and Christmas?”

“Mr. Elley, you need to get out of line. There are others wanting to get their cars.” What about my car, I thought? I would try one more tactic as I was running out of options.

“Could I leave the cash here and then you can let me have the car? Please...I need to be at my brother’s house in three hours. I haven’t seen my mother in three years and she’s dying of Alzheimer’s disease. I need to be there. There might not be another Christmas for her. Please let me have a car. We have no other way to get there; we are out of options!” I had gone from rationalizing to pleading.

“I’m so sorry Mr. Elley...next person please!”

Then from a corner of the small room a voice rang out. “Wait a second here. I’ll rent him a car. Use my credit card. Put it in my name.” A man dressed in a long winter coat held up a credit card in his left hand.

I turned to the voice. “Are you sure? You don’t even know me. I’m good for it but are you sure?”

“Yes, my wife and I have been listening to your pleas and your story. We thought losing some luggage for a short time was unpleasant but what you and your family are going through right now is horrendous. I’ll rent you this car and you can pay me back later.” I was taken back by this ‘saviour’s’ behaviour. I was a total stranger to him. Why would he do this for me?

Again I asked. “Are you sure? We need the car for a week.”

He looked at his wife and she shook her head in agreement and he went over to the desk and handed the agent, who was only doing his job, his credit card.

“Thank you” my wife insisted.

“Thank you so much...you have saved Christmas for us” added Deanna.

          We all shook hands with our benefactors. I wrote down my name, address and phone number and gave it to the man. He was from Boston, Mass. and worked for Coca-Cola there. I took down all his particulars also. I made a mental note to write the Coke Company and tell them what a wonderful and generous employee they had. The transaction was completed, documents signed and I gave my cash to the agent and watched him place it in an envelope and seal it in his safe. I had insisted that he figured out the rental to the penny before I accepted the man’s generosity.

Before we left we shook hands and said our “Merry Christmases” to each other and in my mind I determined I would never rent from Thrifty again.

          When we got in our rental car I turned to my family and said “This might seem crazy but I think God just sent us an angel this Christmas Eve. That has to be the only explanation that this man and his lovely agreeable wife were in that rental office when we were there. God works in extraordinary ways and this was one of them.” There was no other explanation. Why would a perfect stranger risk his credit and his money to give me this Christmas gift on that cold and snowy Christmas Eve?

          We crossed the border without problem and God rewarded me with another blessing as my dementia stricken mother’s eyes lit up when I entered my brother’s house that Christmas Eve. I held her in my arms and she mouthed words that I hadn’t heard for years... “I love you Mark”. This time I wiped away a tear on my now moistening cheeks.

          To this day I believe in angels and the marvelous works that our Lord and Saviour bestow on us. Your own angel is out there waiting to help you in your time of need. Hopefully there is a little angel in every one of us. It was an angel that guided Mary and Joseph. It was my angel at Christmas that saved us that evening.

          So now when I watch those Christmas movies with the angels in them I flash back to my Christmas angel experience and wonder who he’s helping now. Somehow I think he’s still with me.





"O Canada": This Couldn't Be Happening Here

Last night I watched on my local East Texas sports a view from Vancouver I couldn't believe. I started to cry and this morning am still shedding a tear for my native land. People in  this fine Canadian city, not long ago the host of the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics, were rioting in the streets after the Boston Bruins soundly defeated the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup, the symbol of National League Hockey supremacy. In my book, NARC!, the main character, John Doyle, is sitting on the University Hill in 1968 watching and participating in a peaceful protest against the makers of napalm, Dow Chemical. He commisserates about his country, Canada, being a peace loving country and that they don't solve their problems by rioting, but by peaceful means. This was not the case yesterday in Vancouver.

Times have changed. This is the second time that Vancouver has done this over a hockey game.
Now I will admit that hockey in Canada ignites a passion within Canadians much like soccer in South Anerica or Europe. Winning a title is important, especially since it hasn't happened in Canada for a number of years. But it is not the reason to riot. Filling yourself full of Molsons, Labatts or any other popular Canadian drink and destroying vehicles, lighting fires and looting stores does not make you a man or help you forget the loss.

I taught high school in Canada for 10 years and I know that this is not what Canada was all about then.Schools are still in session in most parts of Canada and if I ran the schools I would be using this as a teachable moment, extolling the virtues that the country once held and has obviously forgot. If I ran the Vancouver schools I would be mobilizing the older students to clean up the mess and bring this beautiful Canadian city back to normal. Perhaps there will never be a normal in Vancouver again.

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"!

A story appeared in the San Antonio Express News that gave information on one of the state's latest proposals to lighten the burden of school districts in the school financing fiasco. They are giving school boards the options of lowering teacher pay and restricting teachers' furlough or sick day time. "Passing the buck" is not an admirable way for the state legislature to come up with a solution to  the state's mismanagement of the education funding process that took place a few years back and has led to the recent state of affairs in Texas school funding.

Many small school districts already do not pay their teachers very well. When I moved to East Texas and looked into the pay scales of school districts here I was appalled. I have to commend the Northside ISD where I was employed for paying at a high level. Most teachers here already make less than I do in teacher retirement. How can they afford to cut even further? These are the districts that will be hit hardest when the final education bill is passed in special session. How are we going to encourage fine young teachers to enter the profession if we treat them this way?

If you have been following my blog you will soon be seeing many of my predictions coming to fruition. Programs are now being cut. Even in NISD, a large district, the Gifted and Talented program as we once knew it will never be the same in the Middle and High schools. How do we expect the top 5-10 percent of the nation who are the ones who have to compete with other countries in the world to be equipped with the skill and advanced knowledge to be able to do so. Class sizes will be enlarged which will soon resemble the sizes of classes in the late 50's and 60's. With a growing special ed. population and the movements to include these children in the regular classroom environment you are inflicting a tremendous burden on the teachers. Some students will be seriously neglected. Perhaps they will be your children.

Yet only 200 parents and teachers are showing up in Austin in protest. You ALL should be there. To borrow the idea of Ronald Reagan with his trickle down economics theory, just you wait for the trickle down effect of the 'NEW EDUCATION' in Texas schools that will take place. Shame on you for not getting involved.

Now I believe in the Texas educator to do their best in the face of this horrific situation they will be faced with come the end of August. If I ran the schools I would be starting to prepare my populace for this change that will sweep down on top of them. As the song goes- "You ain't seen nothing yet"!

To My Conservative Friends

I have many conservative friends whom I love dearly, correspond with on email and Facebook regularly and converse with at my church and fitness center when I'm there. Many of them have been very upset with the numbers from our recent census. It showed some alarming statistics for my conservative friends.

"More than half of the growth in the total U.S. population between 2000 and 2010 was because of the increase in the Hispanic population. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew by 43 percent, rising from 35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010. The rise in the Hispanic population accounted for more than half of the 27.3 million increase in the total U.S. population. By 2010, Hispanics comprised 16 percent of the total U.S. population of 308.7 million".

Along with that it showed that the black or African-American population totaled 38.9 million and represented 13 percent of the total population.

Now what do they find wrong or alarming with these statistics. For one thing they are worried about their 'white' world being taken over by the minorities. They have a reason to be worried because of this growth they someday may be the minority. With a fast growing Asian population, rapidly growing Hispanic population and a steadily growing Black population they indeed will be the minority in a few.

They find minorities causing most of the problems in American society: crime, health care, welfare, drugs and education, just to name a few. They watch this unfold on Fox news and at Tea Parties. They listen to it in their churches and Junior League meetings. They talk about in their clubs and organizations. They blame the 'tax and spend' liberals for these problems. For some of this they may be correct.

However, since this is a blog about schools and education I'm going to blame my conservative friends (who after reading this I might have few) and their colleagues for the problems they want to blame others for.

Let's look at the logic.  I believe education is the key for all that ails in America. It is a well known statistic that prisons are filled with young black and hispanic men and women. It is a fact that millions of the people in America who have health care have to pay more because there are so many uninsured minorities that don't pay at all for their health care when they use the hospitals for their primary care. It is a fact that minorities are on welfare at a higher rate than are the 'white' population. It is also a fact that minorities sell and use drugs at an disproportionate rate than people who look like me.

If my conservative friends are so worried about their world then we need to educate the minorities at a greater rate than whites or at least the same. Educated people don't fill up our prisons; educated people have jobs and health care; educated people don't need to sell drugs and use them because they are, on the whole, busy at work and have other recreational activities. If my conservative friends are so alarmed at the increasing minority growth then lock onto this statement. Educated people don't procreate at the high rate that uneducated people do so if you are worried get out there and march in favor of educating minorities. Get passionate about it.

Now comes the rest of the story. You won't do that because that would be a break in tradition. Over the past two centuries the US has been trading, whipping, chaining. enslaving and deporting our minorities. That hasn't worked out too well, has it?

Why then if education solves all these problems do all my conservative friends continue to support politicians who continuously have a slash and burn policy towards education? Cutback education funding, my friends and wait and see what the uneducated do to your future. If I ran the schools I would protect America's future by building up schools and funding them better instead of taking away their monies and firing their teachers. Now is not the time to regress but a time for progress.

So my conservative friends, the next time you complain about too many taxes, big government, or entitilement programs look in the mirror because you have caused it by voting in politicians who only want to put the answer to all of these worries-education- on the chopping block.

Business Aiding Schools- A Win-Win for Texas!-One Man's Opinion!

Texas schools are in big trouble. The government is currently at a loss for money due to the economic downturn and is unwilling to raise taxes and to dip into the 'rainy day' reserves (about $9.4 billion). There are reports of up to 100,000 state education employees who will be let go. Incentives for early retirement and attrition will help some of this but not most of it. My best guess is about 80 percent of it will happen.

As I have previously written this causes problems. Check my earlier blog where I examine these issues. The reality of this situation is that it will happen. Young teachers, the lifeblood of the school system will be let go. No one will replace them. A state that once advertised all over the nation for teachers will not be culling the education departments of our colleges looking for new teachers. Why? Because there will be NO new jobs available. What are these young minds to do? Where will they go and what will they end up doing? This is serious and we must think of ways to head it off at the pass.

I've been thinking about what might help here. Some districts are getting creative and are selling advertising, trademarking mascots etc. and that might help somewhat but I feel will only be a drop in the bucket. I've got an idea that just might work but it will take some work and creativity to get it done.

What would happen if the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor would ask their buddies, big business, to get involved in supporting education? I don't mean just advertising or mentorships but strings attached grants. Just think- business gives money, lots of it; schools educate according to the needs of local business and everyone flourishes. This is not only a risk for the business but also a chance to invest in their future. Throw in a tax break for participating corporations and I think you can sell it to them.

I've often felt that education should be more contemporary. That is if a corporation had a need, for example, computer programmers, then schools start emphasizing computer studies that would directly impact that corporation. For every dollar spent by the corporation on math, computers and science they would get a multifold return by hiring those students who have been successful. These students could be sponsored to go onto colleges to hone their skills and knowledge. They would glean the best minds available and minds that have been cultivated in their mold. Or an oil company stressing engineering, chemistry etc, in order to have a better worforce. Texans know how to get things done and I believe with some creative management of funds then this can happen. It will be a win-win situation.

Now multiply this by numbers of corporations that have an interest in a more educated and therefore more competitive workforce and we have jobs subsidized by the private sector. Maybe this will help. I haven't got it all worked out yet but with your help, if I ran the schools we could get it done. Anything is possible if we just dream and then turn our dreams into reality. 

Time For the Uprising to Take Place

Dear Texans;

Your state government is in the process of changing your children's lives forever. The legislature is proposing deep cuts to education in order to offset the shortfall the state is presently taking place. Geachers, parents and students: you did NOT cause this to happen. You do NOT need to take it on the chin. This could lead to a reduction of 100,000 teachers next year and a cut in many successful and needed programs. Just think of the number: 100,000. That is the size of a medium sized Texas city. There is talk of making elementery school class sizes with a ratio of 30:1 and high school classes that have one teacher to every 45 students. Any program that isn't fully funded by the federal government is in danger of being axed.

Let's examine the programs that are on the chopping block. Fine arts is one of them. Can you imagine a school without band, orchestra, choir or theater programs. Children who participate in those programs have a greater chance in becoming successful in other pursuits as well as in the leadership of this country. Another program could be your child's gifted education. Where do they go for enrichment of their valuable minds if not to the GT room? Language classes that are low in student numbers will be gone as well as any advanced program that doesn't meet the magic of the state 'number crunchers'. There is even talk of abandoning extra curricular activities as a result of these education cuts.

I can see so many detrimental effects of the state plan. Crime, for example, will undoubtedbly be on the rise. Students will be more bored at school than some already are. We will never catch up to our Asian competitors and all the President put out to us in the State of the Union will be to no avail. What will Texans do if there are no more 'Friday Night Lights'? The top students will not advance and the poorer student will not be able to be remediated properly.

What do you Texans need to do? I say it is time to storm the 'Bastille', come together to tell the legislators that you will not sacrifice your children's future just because the state has not figured out the proper funding of  education. It is time for all the so-called teacher's organizations to bind together, accompanied by parents and students and go to Austin and 'walk like an Egyptian' and take your schools back. Texas is a 'right to work' state so you can not strike but you have other ways to get your message across.

You are teachers! You have the brains and know-how to teach your students but lack the motivation to fight for your rights. You are parents! You allow your students to go to school everyday but have no idea of how the school is funded. You are students! You have the right to a future yet you sit there and your voice is not heard.

It is time Texans to take control. Don't let Austin do this to you. Don't just bend over and take it! Get your heads out of the sand! If I ran the schools I would be right beside you. Get it done!