Greetings blog readers one and all. I am Jim. In those three words, I am Jim, I am telling you more than you will ever know ... so let me help you know some of it.
I live in Milwaukee, WI. I grew up in a housing project on welfare due to my father leaving my mother when I was very young. Once I started school, my mom started working as a file clerk, first through a jobs program sponsored by the local welfare office, and eventually getting hired on her own merits.
I came of age in the 80's. I remember someone saying to me during the election of 1980 when I was the tender young age of eleven "we have had four years of the clown, it's time to give the cowboy a chance." Up to that point, I was aware of the fact that Jimmy Carter was President, I even vaguely knew about the hostages in Iran, but that was my first exposure to actual politics.
I repeated the cowboy line to one of my teachers at school, and she told me Reagan was a warmonger who would destroy the planet. Far several years after that I would, when faced with a political discussion, repeat the platitudes that I had been indoctrinated with by my teachers.
After high school I joined the Navy, saw the world and had my eyes opened. Having seen the world in all its need, I went to a Bible College/Seminary after my tour in the Navy. I wanted to save the world. After two years there I became disillusioned with the idea of ministry as a way to save the world and left, returning home to Milwaukee.
After a couple years of working in a job where I came into regular contact with public school teachers, I decided to go back to school ... twice. Once to get my degree, and then to teach, which I do to varying degrees of success depending on the kid. I am known in my building as our "resident right winger" but I have been told by more than one teacher that they appreciate me being vocal about my politics to the rest of the staff (I keep my own politics out of my teaching, I present both points of view fairly to students and try not to tip my hand as to where my beliefs lie) because I am their voice. I have learned that there are far more conservatives in public schools than we realize because they are drowned out by the teachers who are a part of the 35%.
A fact about teachers and teacher's unions that unions do NOT want to get out. I have learned that only about 35% of teachers are actually active in union activities and poilitics. Even among liberal Democrat teachers there is a lot of consensus that the unions have lost their way, but it is the system they are in and they don't know how to change it without dismantling the entire system, and they may be right. I have long been an advocate of de-certifying our union and creating a new one based on principles of pragmatic (dare I say conservative) approaches to education. I do this openly in my building and when I have a chance to talk to other teachers, and you would be surprised at how many of them agree.
My belief about public education in an urban setting is this: schools have not failed our children, the lack of a proper family life has crippled the ability of children to learn. Society has promoted the wrong ideas and values, leading students to not value the gift of a free public education that has been in the American psyche since Benjamin Franklin.
So, what will I blog about? Well, definately education, but the short answer is whatever I feel like I have something to say about that is worth the time of others.