This is one of the reasons….

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For those of you that have never met my husband, Let me give you a little back round.  Mr. T is a teacher, but he was not always.  He went to college right after high school and got a degree in political science, which means he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life!  After a few jobs in the “corporate world”, he became burnt out. He often said to me, “I feel like a trained chimp could do my job.  Why am I doing this?” (My answer was, “uuhhh, because we have a mortgage and two babies, that is why!) But I understood his frustration.  Doesn’t everyone wish that they could find their true calling?  Doesn’t everyone wish that they loved their job, and that they felt like they were really doing something for the betterment of society?  He felt like he was missing out on something, like he had more to offer.  I encouraged him to go back to school (and yes, I am taking credit for this one. Go ahead and ask him yourself…) and get certified to teach.  I knew he would be great at it. My husband is the most kind, easy going and patient man I have ever known.  And he loves kids. Of course part of my reasons for encouraging him to go into teaching were slightly selfish.  I wanted one of us to be home with our kids during summer months, during Christmas break, during time off from school. The thought of sending my kids to a babysitter all summer long was heart wrenching for me. Not to say that we would not have done it if we needed to. But really, in my eyes, one of the many benefits of being a teacher is being on the same schedule as your own children. 

Well, he did go back to school, which meant a crazy life for us for many years.  He had to work days and went to school at night. We rarely saw each other and when the weekends rolled around, he was either holed up in the den studying, or attending a study group.  Two Masters Degrees later and a student loan larger than some people’s mortgage, I can say it was worth it. I know that for sure.  And not just because when summer comes, I know that he is taking the boys golfing, or swimming or to the park to play ball.  But because of all of the other kids that  benefit from my husband’s compassion.  Mr. T. works in the inner city, the “heart of the ‘hood.”  It is a neighborhood that is riddled with gang violence, drugs, abuse, prison, and neglect.  He has been at this school for nine years now, and you know what? He would not want to be anywhere else. He truly loves these kids. Kids who are sometimes hard to love.  Kids that come from broken homes, kids who often have one or more parent in the prison system, kids that have been neglected, and have behavior problems and often get set aside because of their parents drug problem. My husband inspired me just the other day when I was listening to him have a ”friendly debate” with someone about his school, and his “kids”. The person he was “debating” with could not believe that our city has problems like this, and came right out and said that he felt that it was not the teachers responsibility to “raise” these kids.  Why are the teachers going to the homes and checking on the kids?  Why are the teachers bringing in hand me down clothes and winter coats for these kids? Is that not the parent’s responsibility?  My husband smiled and calmly said, “the parents have problems that I cannot fix. But I can help the kids see a way out. I can help them see that they can have a future, if they stay away from the gangs and drugs.” He told the “debater” that “it is NOT about the color of their skin…it is their culture. This is the only thing these kids have known their whole lives. Who is going to show them?  If not me, then who?  Who will show them the way out?”

Well, here is one of the many reasons I love my husband.  He sent me this video that I wanted to share. This sums it up in a nutshell.  The video is of a young man in Dallas Texas, giving the Convocation speech. Convocation is the first day back for teachers. Sort of a “pep rally” if you will, to get the teachers and staff ready for the upcoming year.  This could easily be one of his students.  Teachers can make a difference. They may not be able to save the world, but they can maybe make it just a little bit better each day, even if it is just for one kid.  Watch this video. And then, thank a teacher!

http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

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