People always say, "Just be yourself" and that has always, since I was a child (and I'm an old lady now), caused me to scratch my head wondering really, what actually *was* "myself". Now I know and have found my identity--fiercely independent, belligerent a-hole--and I intend to be true to it to the end of my days.
People always say, "Just be yourself" and that has always, since I was a child (and I'm an old lady now), caused me to scratch my head wondering really, what actually *was* "myself". Now I know and have found my identity--fiercely independent, belligerent a-hole--and I intend to be true to it to the end of my days.
The teachers at school told my parents that I ask too many questions. My parents commanded me for it and told me to keep it up much to the disdain of my teachers 😝
From 2006-9 I worked as a part-time tour guide in a NYC children's "farm" visited by 3500-4500 visitors average a day during each season, mostly public school kids. One teacher apologized to me because the kids were "asking so many questions." I had to remind her it was my job to answer them...
(Ask me exactly why I know how bad education is in public schools these days, and which teachers are worst to minority kids.)
Nothing opened my eyes more than that. Schools are an absolute gang factory.
The preschool-kindergarten age black children were the most delightful little kids I'd ever seen. Wanting to hold my hand right off the bus; enthusiastic about everything; asked wonderful questions; thought the world was a thrilling and wonderful place. By third grade they knew grownups weren't worth listening to.
My best days ever were when the black daddies accompanied a class. Since it was an extremely crowded and chaotic environment where we needed to keep to a tight schedule so the kids would get to do everything possible, I always asked that a parent stay at the very back of the group so I knew I had everyone and that we got moving as soon as I indicated. The black dads were wonderful. I just needed to catch their eye and they had the kids perfectly in hand and they had zero attitude about working cooperatively with me.
I do hate to stereotype but the white dads were useless limp mini-bearded artsy pieces of overboiled spaghetti and they made my life miserable with their complete failure to comprehend simple requests and follow 'em. (Keep in mind this was all in NY. The white parents were middle-upper middle class. The black dads who made time for school trips were dads who gave far more than a damn about their kids.)
And I've never seen anyone as vicious to little black boys than black female teachers. Shocked me at first. Kept shocking me. You don't get used to it.
Summary: Don't blame the kids. They've been failed so badly God has to keep that Big Tandoor in the Sky on blast whatever the eternity equivalent is for 24 hours a day.
I've always hated generalizing but after six years, two-three seasons a year, avg. 4,000 people per day and it always works out the same...
...and don't get me started on the morons in charge of kids with severe autism. "Oh, he won't do..." as I take a kid's hand and we head right off together to have a good time. I understand that my 3 hours with a child weren't exactly enough to understand the whole picture. But add that to the reasons the term "experts" makes me vomit.
You made me laugh, because it was exactly the same with me! Even today I've had people laugh at all the questions I ask, like they think it's an odd thing. Well, I don't care, and it's how I learn a lot of useful things!
People always say, "Just be yourself" and that has always, since I was a child (and I'm an old lady now), caused me to scratch my head wondering really, what actually *was* "myself". Now I know and have found my identity--fiercely independent, belligerent a-hole--and I intend to be true to it to the end of my days.
The teachers at school told my parents that I ask too many questions. My parents commanded me for it and told me to keep it up much to the disdain of my teachers 😝
Love to your parents!
We took our son out of a school in which the teachers complained that all he wanted to do was read
Right on!
From 2006-9 I worked as a part-time tour guide in a NYC children's "farm" visited by 3500-4500 visitors average a day during each season, mostly public school kids. One teacher apologized to me because the kids were "asking so many questions." I had to remind her it was my job to answer them...
(Ask me exactly why I know how bad education is in public schools these days, and which teachers are worst to minority kids.)
Oh! Totally asking right now. both parts. do tell!
Nothing opened my eyes more than that. Schools are an absolute gang factory.
The preschool-kindergarten age black children were the most delightful little kids I'd ever seen. Wanting to hold my hand right off the bus; enthusiastic about everything; asked wonderful questions; thought the world was a thrilling and wonderful place. By third grade they knew grownups weren't worth listening to.
My best days ever were when the black daddies accompanied a class. Since it was an extremely crowded and chaotic environment where we needed to keep to a tight schedule so the kids would get to do everything possible, I always asked that a parent stay at the very back of the group so I knew I had everyone and that we got moving as soon as I indicated. The black dads were wonderful. I just needed to catch their eye and they had the kids perfectly in hand and they had zero attitude about working cooperatively with me.
I do hate to stereotype but the white dads were useless limp mini-bearded artsy pieces of overboiled spaghetti and they made my life miserable with their complete failure to comprehend simple requests and follow 'em. (Keep in mind this was all in NY. The white parents were middle-upper middle class. The black dads who made time for school trips were dads who gave far more than a damn about their kids.)
And I've never seen anyone as vicious to little black boys than black female teachers. Shocked me at first. Kept shocking me. You don't get used to it.
Summary: Don't blame the kids. They've been failed so badly God has to keep that Big Tandoor in the Sky on blast whatever the eternity equivalent is for 24 hours a day.
That's a lot to absorb. Explains a lot. Terrible. I've met a few of the bearded noodles in my time, usually married to Karens.
I've always hated generalizing but after six years, two-three seasons a year, avg. 4,000 people per day and it always works out the same...
...and don't get me started on the morons in charge of kids with severe autism. "Oh, he won't do..." as I take a kid's hand and we head right off together to have a good time. I understand that my 3 hours with a child weren't exactly enough to understand the whole picture. But add that to the reasons the term "experts" makes me vomit.
You made me laugh, because it was exactly the same with me! Even today I've had people laugh at all the questions I ask, like they think it's an odd thing. Well, I don't care, and it's how I learn a lot of useful things!
may that be decades from now
Yup to that too.
Yup.