Miracles Every Day In School

To the Editor:

I have been teaching secondary English for 37 years. You should ask yourself why. Why would someone do that? Because at 5 am in the morning, I still want to get up and do what I do. Because I get to share the great works of literature with kids who were not convinced they could ever read them; because every time one of my students has an insight, I get excited; because I love kids, and I want them to love learning and inherit the same quality of life that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy; because there is nothing in this world more invigorating than watching a child learn to devour difficult text or compose an essay.

Our governor has suggested that all we teachers have to do is show up. I invite you and him and anyone you want to bring along to come to my school and spend the day with me or any one of my gifted colleagues. I want you to experience the miracles that happen in our school every day. I want you to see the patient special education teacher who has finally succeeded in teaching a disabled young man to count change. I want you to share the music that comes from the hearts of our chorus members; the Socratic circles in history and English where kids analyze and debate and discover their voices; the calculus student whose gifts will one day advance the construction of a bridge or a building; the careful counseling that can turn a potential conflict into tolerance and respect. And then I want you to return to Hartford and tell the truth.

Change can be exciting and refreshing. Every institution needs to revisit standards, policies, and procedures, but never at the expense of diligent, dedicated professionals who have given their lives to helping others or schools and programs that have turned despair into hope. We need to bring the very politicians, including our governor and all those who are ranting about our schools and teachers, into the classrooms where they can thoughtfully observe the incredible and very complex dance that takes place within.

All they have to do is show up.

Penelope C. Odell

1 Johnnie Cake Lane, Newtown                             February 23, 2012