There have been several posts and comments lately about how public schools are the enemy and indoctrinating the children. As a public school teacher myself, I have some thoughts.
Do you want to know what I did last night when I couldn’t sleep? I prayed for my students by name. While I am privileged enough to be trusted to know some of their struggles, there are many more that I don’t know. I am a safe space for my students and someone they feel comfortable talking to when it feels like everything else is falling apart and they don’t have anyone to listen to them. When I prayed for my students, I lifted up the troubles I know as well as the ones I don’t. I prayed for ALL my students, not just the “good” ones but the “challenging” ones as well. It wasn’t just my students that I prayed for, I lifted their families up as well – some of whom I know by name and others I don’t. Just because I can’t pray WITH my students in school doesn’t mean I can’t pray FOR them privately. My students know there is something different about me and speak freely to me about what they’re doing in church and often bring me bracelets and keychains with spiritual quotes and bible verses. I sit there and smile trying to let them know I understand without verbalizing anything that could cost me my job.
When it comes to “indoctrinating” children, I guarantee you that I’m more concerned about my children learning and understanding their fractions than I am about their political beliefs lining up with mine. The only ice I’m teaching my students about is states of matter. The only foreigners and immigrants we’re discussing are the Founding Fathers and early settlers. The same can be said for the teachers I work with who also just so happen to be gay. They’re not trying to “convert” students to be gay, “brainwash” or “come to the dark side.” Instead, they’re sharing their love of math, books, arts, etc. with the students. They are seeing the students who get overlooked, calling them by name, even sharing their own personal books, art supplies and instruments with them.
Growing up, I went to Catholic school through 8th grade. Guess how many gay teachers I had there? One. This teacher didn’t hide it from the school and was very open with the faculty and staff about their relationship and was still hired. Never once did they mention their sexual preference to us, try to sway who we liked or act as a sexual predator. I went to public high school. Guess how many gay teachers I had there? One. This teacher didn’t hide it from the school and was very open with the faculty and staff about their relationship. Never once did they mention their sexual preference, try to sway who we liked or act as a sexual predator. These teachers were hired based on their gift and passion for teaching.
I am begging you, as teachers we are already living under a microscope and being scrutinized; between pressures from school boards, districts, parents, social media, news and even ourselves, the last thing we need is to be attacked even more. We are doing the best we can with the limited support we are given. We are spending our own money and time outside of the classroom to pour into these students. We are carrying their burdens with us. We are caring for them. We are seeing them. We are loving them. We are encouraging them. We are supporting them. We are teachers, NOT the enemy.
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