Every Student Has A Right To Learn

I wrote the following essay many years ago when I was still teaching at the junior high level.

Every student has a right to learn, every teacher has a right to teach. Reality shows us that a "regular" junior high public school has a diverse representation of adolescents. They come from different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, socio-economic levels and value systems. Some do not have very acceptable manners. They are rude or hostile and/or full of rage. Education is not a high priority for them. Or, more accurately stated, being educated may be a priority, but the process involved in obtaining that goal may be something that the youngster is either unwilling or unable to do. Self-control is an essential ingredient toward obtaining an education in a public school. Without it, chaos knocks at our door. Chaos is not welcome in my classroom. Chaos producers are welcome, only on the condition that they produce no chaos. I am a teacher. I must be allowed to teach. Every student has a right to learn. I have a right to teach. Perhaps I should say that learning is a privilege and not a right. Every one of my students is important. Fun, rather than learning might be the priority of some students. My classroom is an academic room. Teaching and learning go on. At times learning can be "fun," but for the most part, learning is work. To receive a formal education a student needs to listen, he/she needs to be quiet. It is difficult for some youngsters. I am here to help. Of course, while I help, time that belongs to many is used on one or few. I do realize that to help one, many can benefit. What do I mean by "help"? My job is to help. My job is to assist students in obtaining their education in the given subject I teach. Is it my job to police, discipline, scold, babysit and correct unruly and disrespectful students? Or is it my job to teach? Do you want to know? It is a combination of both. I teach middle and junior high school students. I teach a level of students that are undergoing mental, emotional, and physical changes that are greater than at any time in their lives. These changes might interfere with concentration and a focus on academics, and shift the concentration to fun, friends, popularity, looks, dreams, image, style, guys, girls, music and chewing gum. But none of this means that these youngsters can't be taught. It only means that I, as a teacher, must be aware that it is necessary to have certain expectations academically and certain policies and parameters regarding conduct. These students deserve no less. They have a right to learn, I have a right to teach.

Critics And Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. Although he was weak and asthmatic as a child, he became a driven and robust man. And although blind in one eye, he was still athletic and courageous. He was a scholarly man. He was a man of faith. He was a Christian. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. He knew the Word of God. He had studied and taught it as a young man. Roosevelt had enemies. He had critics. On October 14, 1912, he was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He was campaigning for a third term as President. While he was making a speech, a man shot him in the chest. It was aimed at his heart. He was wounded. He spoke for a whole hour while wounded. He had lost a great deal of blood. Just before he finished speaking he said: "I am going to have to stop now, the inside of my boots are full of blood, it takes more than one bullet to stop a bull moose." At the end of his speech he was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. He survived, but he was defeated for the Presidency by Woodrow Wilson the following month. He was a tough man. The following is a paragraph written by him as a response to those who severely criticized him.

"It is not the critic who counts, not that man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doers of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Some Quotes From Margaret Sanger

Margaret Sanger is the founder of Planned Parenthood. She does not seem to me to have been a very kind person. She made many racist and heartless quotes. Here are two:

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its' infant members is to kill it."

"We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the negro population."

Planned Parenthood is responsible for millions and millions of abortions. It does not sound like the current membership has strayed very far from the philosophy of its'founder.