The Paradox of School in America.

What is a paradox? A paradox is a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. To say that schools are succeeding in America may be just that, a paradox. However, in taking a look around our educational landscape, who's to say that schools aren't serving our children to the best of their ability. Some say teaching is easy. Some say, "the corporate world would not have such lenient firing practices." Summers off! Not to mention 2-3 weeks for Christmas, 1 week for Thanksgiving, and 1 week for Easter Break. With all this time off, isn't this part of the problem contributing to the notion that education is failing in America. I would beg to differ. What other profession is scrutinized so closely by those who don't know lick about it. Do teachers go around and say, "what's with the cubicles, computers, hour long lunch breaks, and water-cooler talk?" No, because they don't hate on others. That's why they're teachers. They chose a profession to help youngsters make sense of their life, family and selves. They chose a profession that demands that you work first and ask questions later, which is way later. Here's a simple brain teaser; Try standing in front of a classroom of 25-30 students and be lazy. Now try standing in front of that classroom with those same kids 2 weeks in a row and try to be lazy. Now, try standing in front of those same kids for 3 months straight and be lazy. The students will make sure you're not standing if you don't care. So, we come back to the paradox of education at the time being that schools are succeeding. Well, of course they are, how the hell else have you made it to this blog post!

- Anonymous Teacher