Suffer the Children

In June 2012, I will retire from teaching 30 years in the public schools.  One thought is to focus the first while on writing my thoughts about the changes I've seen in that domain.  My heart will always be there. My mind is troubled by much of the dominance of testing and choking the life out of teaching and learning in the name of "focusing on education."  Heaven help us.
I will write from the viewpoint of a veteran teacher: background qualifications: graduate of Wheelock College, Master's degree from the University of Massachusetts, and National Board Certified in Early Childhood Education in 1999. While within the system I felt some loyalty to support it (although I worked fervently with other NBCTs against the high stakes testing when MCAS came along---though the big business of testing rolled on as if we were nothing but annoying mosquitos.)  Once I retire, I will feel free to express my love and my distress at the dis-abling of public education via the mandate of endless testing.

I tie this into my path as a person of faith, who has been given a burden to bear, but a burden to share too. It is not mine alone.  I might invite other teachers to write to me with their own thoughts and experiences and with their permission to include them in this book that needs to be written.

Other thoughts for "retirement" are to start an organization called "A Space for Grace." There would be support groups for those living with chronic illness and their caregivers. There could be an "On Call to Care" central office for those needing assistance getting to doctor's appointments, or an able-minded companion to listen to and record the doctor's instructions. Alternative healers might donate a few hours a week to those who come without money.  Suggested donations could support the mission but not line the pockets of those who donate their time to serve. Companions for children or adults who are healing could be called upon to come over to visit, play games, keep company so that their primary caregivers could take a break, run errands, or do whatever needed doing...

There could be writing groups/book groups for different categories---for elders, care-taking adult-children, teens.  There could be Open Mic Nights for reading our work, for poetry or songs of struggle and support.  There could be interfaith children's classes in developing their spiritual natures, called "Divine Seeds." There could be a children's chorus called "Sing Your Heart Out!"for the joy of opening their mouths and singing, songs selected because they have something worth singing about!

One Journey, the Healing Circle Singers, involvement at First Congregational Church of Amherst, the Journey Home Singers, and more training through hospice and Reiki and deepening my personal spiritual disciplines from prayer and study and Munay Ki and Chi Gong are all on my list. Just thought I'd write some of this down!