For Teachers
By Lisa Lauritzen.
I am a New York City public high school teacherThe whole thing here.
Do not look surprised.
Do not feel sorry for me.
Do not pity me.
Do not offer me your condolences.
Do not pat me on the back, shake my hand,
Cross yourself or speak of my bravery.
Do not ask me if I receive combat pay
Or wear a bulletproof vest.
Do not ask me when I plan to get a real job,
Apply to law school,
Or what my first career choice was.
Do not assume my head is in the clouds
And I have no grasp on reality.
Do not sympathize, empathize,
Or tell me about the job opening in your cousin’s business.
Do not suggest that I join the Peace Corps.
Do not ask if my parents were teachers.
Do not ask if my parents were hippies.
Do not assume that I am a saint, naive, innocent,
Searching for my childhood,
Living for summers off,
Home by 2:15,
Use a red pen,
Play the Lotto,
Wish for the glory days of the past
Or would rather teach in the suburbs where I could *really* teach….
Pretty good. I liked the second half of the poem better than the first half.
Comment by Nithya — September 5, 2006 @ 4:14 pm
Very interesting. Could be applied to many other professions as well.
Example: I am an investment banker.
I am an investment banker.
Do not look surprised.
Do not feel sorry for me.
Do not ask me how I manage to survive on 3 hours of sleep each night.
Do not ask me if I am doing it only for the money.
do not ask me if I am greedy and ruthless and a liar.
But ask me about my work.
About me about how my soul soars when I get a deal done.
Ask me about the adrenaline.
Ask me about Wall Street and how to get your money in shape.
Ask me how to become an i-banker.
Comment by neela — September 5, 2006 @ 4:19 pm
Liked this. Thought it might have been more effective if the second half had been more concise - it kind of rambled in the end, overstating the point.
Comment by Anu — September 6, 2006 @ 1:57 am
Neela, that’s very good. Don’t forget to add something soulful about the bankers killed in 9/11. Incessant travel. Hedge fund insecurities.
But, more seriously, thank you, Uma.
Comment by Amitava Kumar — September 6, 2006 @ 2:49 am
absolutely lovely. an important poem. a defiant poem. thanks
Comment by annie — September 6, 2006 @ 9:56 am
Loved it! Putting Vote.
Comment by Gauravonomics — September 6, 2006 @ 10:03 am
Loved it! Putting Vote.
Comment by Gauravonomics — September 6, 2006 @ 10:06 am
I have taught at an inner city school. Although it was in Ohio and probably not quite the same as Harlem, it is a scary situation in which to ply your trade. An education is the last thing on the students’ minds, and unfortunately, the same can be said of the school’s teachers and administrators as well.
While it could be true that a teacher could really teach in a suburban school, it is the inner city where he/she is needed the most. And thus we enter a cycle that can be broken only by those who are idealistic and/or have little to lose.
I hope I’m not being cynical.
Comment by Sumant — September 6, 2006 @ 10:30 am