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BUILDING A BETTER LIFE THIS LABOR DAY  [View/Download PDF]

My ancestors migrated here, including my Native American relatives, and in their own way they have contributed positively to the development of the county. They have been soldiers, teachers, preachers, farmers, bankers, builders, and the list goes on. Our nation was formed out of the fires of Revolution – that cost lives, possessions, and even a way of life. America was built on the backs of immigrants, including those forced by slavery to come to our shores.

Labor Day has many meanings, but one meaning is that we must recognize the incredible effort it took to build this great country. We must remember those men and women who came before us and sacrificed for all of us on this day.

In 1980 President Ronald Reagan delivered a memorable Labor Day speech at Ellis Island. Reagan said it was fitting that on Labor Day that he speak “beside the waters of New York harbor, with the eyes of Miss Liberty on our gathering and in the words of the poet whose lines are inscribed at her feet.”
Reagan, the great orator, painted the picture when he said: “through this Golden Door, under the gaze of that Mother of Exiles, have come millions of men and women, who first stepped foot on American soil right there, on Ellis Island, so close to the Statue of Liberty. These families came here to work. They came to build. Others came to America in different ways, from other lands, under different, often harrowing conditions, but this place symbolizes what they all managed to build, no matter where they came from or how they came or how much they suffered.”

Almost thirty years later, President Barack Obama said in his first inaugural address about our settlers: “It has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor — who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.”

For centuries, our country has attracted people in search of a share of “the American dream” from all corners of the world. E Pluribus Unum (From Many, One) remains the national motto, yet it is true that there no longer seems to be a consensus about what it should mean. Our evolution from the margins of society to the forefront of political change is all the more remarkable when we realize we are a melting pot of cultures. In our public schools today, there are many different cultures on full display not only in our urban communities, but increasingly in our rural communities as well.

Today, our country is divided politically. We see conflicts, in our streets and in the media. We see the “us versus them” attitude that prevents us from collectively working to improve our communities, our state, and our nation. Rather than compromise, we choose to not collaborate on hard issues and pass along our problems to our future generations. Lack of leadership, whether at the local, state, or federal level, means our problems only grow larger. Anytime a voice is silenced, it eventually finds a place where it can be heard. Unfortunately, too many voices drown out those who offer attainable solutions to real problems.

However, it is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize that despite those differences, we have more in common than we can imagine. Nothing brings us closer together as a nation than when we face adversity, whether it is a natural disaster or man-made catastrophe. “What unites us is far greater than what divides us,” as John F. Kennedy said. Our great strength as a nation comes in our unity, which is the critical component of America’s perseverance.

We have seen our nation pummeled by this global pandemic. We can see economic conditions worsen. We have seen illness and death in communities across the nation. However, we have also witnessed the amazing efforts of Americans working together to fight this pandemic. We have seen the generosity of the American people to give and share with their neighbors. The way we respond to these unpredictable challenges is only part of what makes our nation great.

It is a quintessential American trait that our citizens will never stop working to build that perfect union. History teaches us we will come back stronger than before, as long as America’s men and women today have the same courageous vision, the same audacity and indomitable spirit that made us a great nation in the beginning.

The majority of Americans still want what those first Americans wanted: a better life for themselves and their children. We must commit ourselves individually, and as a nation, to pass the baton of liberty to the next generation in this melting pot of cultures we call the United States of America. This Labor Day, I am reminded of the true value of freedom, the unique heritage of our nation, and the effort so many people who came before us put forth so that we could enjoy the fruits of our labors.
 

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WALKING POINT ON INDEPENDENCE DAY  [View/Download PDF]

I just returned from a visit to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The visit reminded me of my own military heritage and history. I remember those with whom I served and friends that are no longer here with us. A strange catharsis brought me needed renewal and restoration. Although 35 years had passed since I had last been to Camp Lejeune, it was as if I was 18 years old again. Time stood still for a brief moment. It was a good reminder of why freedom has always been important to me personally and to our nation just in time for Independence Day.

As I thought about my own life, I thought about the significance of life itself. Life is no longer valued as a result of changing norms, values, attitudes, and customs. Examine the suicide and murder rate in some of our urban and rural areas. I have seen the data on the large number of American veterans who take their own life, many crying out for help and not finding it. I lost a very close friend earlier this year who took his own life because he was “no longer wanting to be a burden”. It is a sad loss of hope. People have seemingly lost faith in our own capabilities to take care of ourselves, as well as in our institutions to help meet our societal challenges. A nation that can send an 18-year-old to war can afford to take care of them after the war.

The words of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence taught us, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Do we still believe in that premise? Are we witnessing the political demise of our great country, following a similar self-inflicted harm?

Each July 4th, Independence Day, our nation commemorates the Declaration of Independence of the United States. “Ever honored will be the day which gave birth to a nation, and to a System of self-government, making it a new Epoch in the History of Man” according to James Madison. It is worth remembering the story of Benjamin Franklin as he exited the Constitutional Convention when asked what sort of government Americans would have; his answer, "A republic, if you can keep it."

Jefferson reminded us: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, – That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”

In military jargon, “walking point” means to take responsibility for the first and most exposed position in a combat military formation. The person walking point is literally the person most at risk for death or injury during confrontation with the enemy. It is critical that every member of a ‘fire team’ or platoon know the duties of the other team members, and in turn, they must be ready and able to assume the duties of their next superior. Walking point is a challenge and a responsibility for every Marine or soldier.

Every American has to walk point during their civic life. Our nation, our republic, is unquestionably dependent upon the active and informed involvement of our citizens. This Independence Day we must remind ourselves, as Ronald Reagan did: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” What sacrifice would we be willing to make today for freedom? That is a question we should ask frequently. 

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A Reflection on Father’s Day  [View/Download PDF]

Children do not come with an instruction guide; it would be much easier if they did. So much time and effort go into child-rearing, it is beyond a full-time job. Let’s be honest, being a dad is actual work—it is difficult yet rewarding work.

Too many men in society today want the title of Father, but they want to put in the work of a part-time casual observer. Men who fail to invest in their children miss the wonder of life. The men will likely reap the results of that part-time status. If not in their lifetime, then in the lives of their children. It is a vicious and unnecessary cycle, that we perpetuate from generation to generation.

Too often, children are subjected to fathers who do not know how to love them or who are just not there. The absent fathers and the emotionally distant fathers create more lasting problems, much more than physical abuse. Not that physical abuse is ever acceptable. Wounds heal, emotional scarring could last a lifetime—if you let it.

We know that childhood abuse and neglect cause so many people to embark on lives of drugs or prostitution, sometimes even worse. The absent and emotionally distant father helps create adults full of bitterness and anger. A man who takes the title of Father seriously helps create children that are confident and secure as adults—they break the generational curse of men who fail to father their children.

The writer and missionary, Floyd McClung, Jr., suggested that as people consider their past, that they “forgive their parents for their faults.” That is a deep thought. As I came to grips with my own strained relationship with my Dad, it made me realize that I, too, had my own shortcomings as a parent. Self-reflection is bittersweet but necessary. Reflection benefits our souls.

You wake up one day and twenty years have gone by. I wish I had spent more time with my own daughters, listened more to what was going on in their lives, and been slower to criticize their youthful expressions of their generation. I wish I had held my children closer and longer. They were in a hurry to grow up, and truth be told, it was what I assumed was the natural passage of life. To take them into my arms as children again and sing to them in my off-key voice is a dream that can never be fulfilled. My children are what mattered most in the world, and while I was out making a living, I missed parts of their life—and deprived myself of enjoyment that was Fatherhood.

This Father’s Day, embrace your children for as long as they will let you. For those with a Father, forgive them for their shortcomings. The grace you give will return in your own children. For those without a Father, recall the good times, and work toward moving past the hurt and pain. You will not regret investing in your relationships, and few are more important than the image a child has of a Father.

Some of us still need emotional and spiritual healing, breaking out of judgmental cycles, and dealing with the inevitable disappointments of life. When we go through life with a distorted image of what a father is or what it means to be a father, it means we miss one of the most critical parts of our lives. We can grieve and fail to recognize our internal pain or that of others.

We must acknowledge our life experiences for what they were, and recognize what should have been. Yes, life is unfair. All men may be created equal, but not all fathers are up for the difficult challenge of fatherhood. The good news is that if you are a Father or have a Father who is still alive, you still have time to rebuild together.

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Everybody Loves Mama  [View/Download PDF]

It might not always be true, but it is as close to the truth as you might find on Mother’s Day: Everybody loves their mother. For the longest time, my customized ring tone for my own Mom was Merle Haggard’s song “Mama Tried”. The song was an ode to all of us out there, who didn’t always listen to their moms. No matter how much you thank the woman who does it all for her children, once a year is never enough.

Mother’s Day is certainly one of the most celebrated days of the year, and rightly so. Mothers hold a special place in our hearts. There is an unbreakable bond between Mother’s and their children. The prophet Jeremiah wrote about being set aside even before birth. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”

Mothers know and love us as we grow inside of them. They love us even before they meet us. It is a love that goes beyond explanation, it brings out the strongest emotions in the human soul. Her raw feelings will run deep and certain, she will expose her deepest emotions to protect her children. She knows the baby she holds in her arms will grow quickly. A mother’s love is the closest thing most children will experience to God’s love for us.

I am occasionally jealous of my wife, at least sometimes. Our children will call her and share stories of my grandchildren, their careers, or just about life. I get the information second hand because she is their confidant and advisor. I have deep conversations with them, but not as frequent and not as intimate. It is just part of her role as a Mom. And I admit I was just as guilty with my own mother, sharing things I would not tell my own dad. It is normal.

There are times only when the love of a Mother can comfort us. Her love helps take away our worries and frustrations. Most of the time our Mom knows the right words to speak to us. “Mothers are the strongest and first connection we make in life,” according to writer David Kessler. That bond is seldom, if ever, broken.

Judith Orloff, a psychiatrist and author of The Empath’s Survival Guide wrote: “Mothers have a sixth sense about their kids because of their strong connection genetically, emotionally and by virtue of carrying the child in their womb for nine months,” She adds, “Adopted mothers can also feel this connection on a soul level, and their intuition can reach out to save their children too.” We should reflect on a mother’s sacrifice of tears, toil and time.

We could never set aside enough days in a year, or hours in a week to honor the women that shape and inspire our lives daily. We should remember the mothers, wives, daughters, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, stepmothers, godmothers, friends, teachers and all women in our lives this Mother’s Day. 

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EASTER AND PASSOVER CELEBRATION  [View/Download PDF]

This weekend marks a Holy Week for many citizens across Tennessee and the world, as we celebrate Passover and Easter. In America, religious beliefs are critical to many of our founding principles. There is no denying the significant impact that faith has had on our nation, from the Puritans to our present day. America was “settled by men and women of deep religious convictions who in the seventeenth century crossed the Atlantic Ocean to practice their faith freely.”

George Washington declared in his Farewell Address, that of “all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports.” So, it is no surprise that as a nation, many of our citizens still embrace faith and trust in God. We pass along our faith rituals, habits, customs and traditions to our own children in our homes and places of worship.

Passover begins at sundown on Friday, April 19, and ends Saturday evening, April 27. The first Passover Seder is on the evening of April 19, and the second Passover Seder takes place on the evening of April 20. Jewish people everywhere will sit with their families and friends for the celebration of Passover—a celebration of freedom. The Passover meal is rich with tradition and symbolism. Ronald Reagan commented, “Its observance reminds us that the fight for freedom and the battle against oppression, waged by Jews throughout their history, is one of which all free people are a part.”

Easter celebration marks the end of Holy Week, in which Christians commemorate the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On Friday, and culminating on Sunday morning, Christians will celebrate with their families the resurrection of Christ, and His victory over death. Billy Graham stated it like this, “God undertook the most dramatic rescue operation in cosmic history. He determined to save the human race from self-destruction, and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to salvage and redeem them. The work of man’s redemption was accomplished at the cross.” For Christians, Easter is a time of hope.

Professional Educators of Tennessee is not a religious organization. However, many of our members are women and men of faith. In fact, our public schools are filled with many Godly people who see their role in education as a “calling” to do something to help our future generations. Whether it is a bus driver, cafeteria worker, custodian, teacher, principal, or director of schools, Tennessee has many individuals of faith who serve their communities in these critical roles.

To them, and to all people of faith, we offer our warmest wishes to all who celebrate Passover or Easter. We hope this time is filled with happiness and spiritual fulfillment. As Robert Kennedy reminded us, “At the heart Western freedom and democracy is the belief that the individual man, the child of God, is the touchstone of value, and all society, groups, the state, exist for his benefit.” We hope, in the spirit of many of our earliest settlers, that men and women everywhere will be able to practice their faith freely and worship God in the manner of their choosing—not just at Passover and Easter, but every day.

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NEW YEAR, NEW LEADERS [View/Download PDF]

A new year is a time for reflection and more importantly a time for hope. We will see a momentous change in state and federal government. If anything is certain, it is that leadership matters, now more than ever. When we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives.

We know that leadership is not a position or a title, it is action and example. However, that caveat comes with this admonishment: “In order to lead, you have to know what you believe,” according to my mother, Linda Bowman-Lawhorn.

The federal government is likely to remain as divisive as ever. In Tennessee, we have some exceptional leaders representing our state in Washington, DC. However, our federal government is dysfunctional, and has been for a number of years. Partisanship has become an extreme contact sport in our nation’s capital. That is why states best serve as the laboratories of democracy for our nation.

Limited government, individual freedom, and traditional values are likely to remain priorities in state government during the Lee Administration and the 111th Tennessee General Assembly which convenes on January 8th, 2019. The challenge for leaders will be practical and innovative approaches to complex problems. That may require we change the way people think about issues, and promote policies that allow and encourage individuals and institutions to succeed. The state has probably never had this much turnover in leadership and some people are justifiably concerned. However, I see that as an opportunity for leaders to thrive and make the greatest difference on behalf of our citizens.

In education we will need leaders from the Department of Education, every local education agency, and in each classroom that are tenacious in creating a world of opportunities for every learner. We must remember that our individual actions can positively (or negatively) impact the life of children in this state. The success or failure of the next generation of education leaders will mean real changes in the lives of students and their families. We must make the world better than the one we inherited.

Policymakers and stakeholders must collaborate to the greatest extent possible to ensure that our students succeed, and that our educators get the resources they need with the compensation and respect they deserve. Today’s children are tomorrow’s future, and education is a proven path to upward mobility for all students.

Embrace 2019 with zeal and enthusiasm. It can be a year full of potential. We have an opportunity to renew our belief in our fellow citizens and set a new course in Tennessee that our fellow Americans can seek to emulate. It will require ethical leadership and tireless advocacy for issues that you care about, but the promise of a new year brings the best hope for mankind. The future is yet to be written. Let freedom ring across our state and nation.

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The Best Gift of All [View/Download PDF]

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AVOIDING HOLIDAY CONFLICT  [View/Download PDF]

During the holidays, our goal and objective is to have a peaceful gathering of family and friends. Peace is not lack of conflict, it is the ability to manage conflict by peaceful means. But is it possible to simply just avoid conflict when so many are outspoken about their beliefs? Probably not, however, that should be our objective.

Conflict is inevitable, whenever humans live together. However, it can be set aside for a greater purpose, such as fellowship, thanksgiving, worship, and helping others. Dutch clergyman Henri Nouwen wrote that we find “words that do not divide but unite, that do not create conflict but unity, that do not hurt but heal.” That is how we should approach interaction with family and friends over the holidays.

In modern times families have more commitments, and often there is a geographical distance between members of the family. Historically, families do not gather together like they once did. It would seem then, in the few minutes or hours that you may be with families and friends you can lay aside politics, and other items that divide families, ignoring past squabbles. Simply enjoy the company of other people and give a moment of gratitude for our lives and blessings. Failure to avoid conflict, may mean that some members avoid future family gatherings. When that happens, everyone loses.

If you are sincere about making memories with people that you love the most you should avoid political talk and probably turn off the news. Work on reconnecting with family and friends. Start new or enjoy old family traditions. If you are religious, do not change your belief to accommodate people who have entered your home. They already know who you are, and should respect it. If you watch football or play football do that. Watching the Macy Day’s parade on television on Thanksgiving was a tradition in my home. Use laughter to defuse awkward conversations. Remember the adage, it is hard to argue with food in your mouth, especially dessert.

Make the effort to create a relaxed environment. Be focused to all your family relationships in between holidays, so that hurt and resentment don't build up in between visits. Time is important. Set a time to start and a time to conclude an event. We all have that family member who overstays their visit. If you are not certain who that family member is, it’s probably you. Also, make sure you do your part to help out. Hosting a family holiday is a lot of work.

Family holiday time is not the time for therapy. Turn to professionals for that and handle in private. It is important to be reminded that you are not forced to spend time with people who are harmful to your mental health, even if they are your relatives. However, with proper ground rules and a positive attitude you can avoid conflict and reduce the stress, making the holidays successful for everybody. If you are still uncomfortable, have another piece of pie.

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Remember Others This Thanksgiving [View/Download PDF]

As a teacher I used to keep a framed picture in my classroom which said, “Your Life is God’s gift to you. What you do with your Life is your gift to God.” I truly wish every child could hear that repeated every day. And what teachers do with their gift benefits so many children on a daily basis.

Teachers are often on the front line of the poverty battle. It is important that children know from where their gifts originate. This Thanksgiving is a good opportunity to be thankful for the gift of life we have and the gift of others in our lives.

I have worked with many faith and community organizations and it seems to me that many of the problems they seek to address have one root cause: poverty. I take the problems of global poverty much more serious, and have noticed a rise in poverty in both urban and rural America.

It is the best American tradition of helping others help themselves. Now is an opportune time for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of our nation and the world. I see a passion for compassion diminishing in America. Government simply cannot meet the needs of all citizens. Faith and community organizations need help. They need your time and effort. They need your money and support. We should embrace government partnership with faith-based organizations and other non-profit community organizations to do the work of fighting poverty and other issues.

To his credit, former President George W. Bush recognized the poverty problem when he said, “The growing divide between wealth and poverty, between opportunity and misery, is both a challenge to our compassion and a source of instability. We must confront it.” “We cannot,” said the president, “leave behind half of humanity as we seek a better future for ourselves. We cannot accept permanent poverty in a world of progress. There are no second-class citizens in the human race.”

Bono, of the rock group U2, said in an interview, “It’s an amazing thing to think that ours is the first generation in history that really can end extreme poverty, the kind that means a child dies for lack of food in its belly. This should be seen as the most incredible, historic opportunity but instead it’s become a millstone around our necks. We let our own pathetic excuses about how it’s ‘difficult’ justify our own inaction. Let’s be honest. We have the science, the technology, and the wealth. What we don’t have is the will, and that’s not a reason that history will accept.”

Poor and starving people are not particularly appealing news stories, but fighting poverty is and should be a moral imperative for citizens in our cities, state and nation. I am impressed by country music singer Tracy Lawrence, who regularly takes time of his schedule to feed the hungry in Nashville, and in other locations across the United State. Most recently Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley opened a free Nashville grocery store for those in need. That use of fame is a worthy cause that is under-reported in our country.

Faith reminds us that theological apathy is not an acceptable excuse. Yes, “the poor will always be with us.” However, Jesus, in his first sermon said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

As we sit in our comfortable pews on Sunday morning singing about what it is like up there, we should remember that the poverty of spirit as equally lamentable to poverty of physical wealth. This Thanksgiving we should be thankful for both the small and large blessing in our lives. If you are a parent and your child is about to enter the world, it would be a great comfort to know that your country will use all of its resources to meet the most basic needs of all citizens, so they can succeed in our country.

To paraphrase an oft cited poem, “If you want to touch the face of God or His heart, it is not necessary to escape the surly bonds of Earth.” Take an interest in the things that interest God. Eliminate some of those nonessential things that clutter our lives. Recognize what is really essential: faith, family and friends. Embrace others. Treat everybody with dignity and respect. Lose control, let God love through you. Don’t fear the politicians. Hold them accountable. God will indeed hold us all accountable.

Think of those less fortunate this year before your Thanksgiving prayers, those in poverty whose plates are often empty. We are incapable of breaking the cycle of poverty without all of us working together. The number of hungry people in the world reached over 800 million, a harsh reminder that the world has yet to get serious about the challenge of ending hunger. We can make a difference, can’t we?

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Thoughts on Veterans Day [View/Download PDF]

Tennessee is the Volunteer State. It is called the Volunteer State because in the times of crisis that our nation found itself, whether a natural crisis or in defense of our country, our citizens were the first to respond.

Members of my family have fought, and some even died, for the defense of our country. I am proud to have served in the Marine Corps and appreciate my fellow veterans. Anyone who has served will tell you it was an honor to wear the uniform of our nation and take the vows to defend our citizens, our country and our Constitution. Military enlistment has no expiration date. 

This Veterans Day, in the year 2018, we must do more than repeat the well-deserved praises of the bravery and patriotism that our veterans embody. That was established the day they put on the uniform. Rather, we should reflect on how we are treating our veterans.

We know that the average number of veterans who commit suicide remains at 20 a day. We know that younger veterans are among that number. Suicide is a complex issue, and veterans are not getting the help they need. Why is this not a national priority? It is good political rhetoric during campaign season.

A lot of veterans end up teaching in Tennessee classrooms across the state. For them teaching is an extension of their service to their state and nation. Our classrooms are full of children who are the sons and daughters of active duty military and veterans. Tennessee has more current and former military among our citizenry than most states. So, on this Veterans Day let us remember the service of our veterans. Let us keep our promises and obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so we can live freely.

Veterans who are in crisis or are having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis, should call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at 800-273-8255 and press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/get-help/Chat, or send a text message to 838255.You can learn more about VA’s suicide-prevention resources and programs at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/. 

Our veterans have served America with the fervent belief that freedom and democracy are ideals to be upheld around the world. The late Virginia Senator John Warner reminded us: “Tragically, the effort to make America and the world safer and to defend freedom around the world is not without an enormous cost to this Nation in terms primarily of lost lives and those who bear the scars and the wounds of war, and their families who must bear these losses. “It is time we make those who serve our state and nation a higher priority.

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WE REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11  [View/Download PDF]

Our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001 and our world changed. Terrorists called al-Qaeda, with training camps all around the world were responsible for the death of the more than 3,000 victims. This is an enemy unlike any we have ever faced. There are multiple countries, multiple fronts and multiple threats.

This enemy is committed to the absolute destruction of the American way of life and imposing their beliefs and values upon the world. In their world, law is determined by force—those with power—whether military strength or political dominance—make the rules. It is our belief in freedom, human rights, idealism, personal responsibility and economic opportunity that extremists dislike the most.

If you were a classroom teacher today how would you address the events of September 11, 2001 with your students? Would you blame the incident on the very people who lost their lives? Would you blame those with a misguided ideology for killing innocent people? To me, the answer is very apparent. And those who would blame victims or our nation are siding with evil-doers and promoting savagery.

Since Jeremiah Wright first shocked our nation with his comment in 2008, parroting a Malcolm X phrase, that "America's chickens are coming home to roost," which was widely understood as meaning that America brought the September 11 attacks upon itself. Every year that has passed since 2001 that sentiment has been voiced in one manner or another. Eventually that will end up in our classrooms and textbooks. My fear is that the victims will be posthumously put on trial while the terrorists are seen as genial freedom fighters. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It seems to many that we treat perpetrators of evil kinder than we treat their victims in our society. It is an obvious assault on law and order. It is law which enables man to live together, and creates order out of chaos. We first and foremost a nation of laws. Founding Father and future president John Adams called America “a nation of laws, not of men.” These rules should not be subject to the whims of those in power. And those who fail to understand history in the proper context will write textbooks to inform future generations. It is why curriculum has been such a highly debated issue.

Historian Bruce Kauffmann wrote about “the Soviet Union’s infamous dictator, Josef Stalin, who in the late 1930s had millions of innocent people incarcerated and murdered after they underwent show trials, or no trials, in which the “nature and cause of the accusation” against them were such specifically identified and legally provable crimes as being “foreign agents,” “counterrevolutionaries,” “enemies of the people” or “enemies of the state.” Have we become so politically correct that only one opinion is allowed?

I accept that countries lie to their citizens, and that we are, regrettably, governed by men and women who are sometimes corrupt. That is undesirable, but it is a fact of life. Often choices made by government is not between good and bad, but between bad and worse. We have done exactly what George Washington warned us against by embracing entangling alliances. We have largely abandoned our Judeo-Christian heritage, in fear of lawsuits and in the name of inclusion. However, we still have the rule of law, right?

I am reminded of Robert Kennedy’s speech in which he was discussing the law. He said about the law: “The road ahead is full of difficulties and discomforts. But as for me, I welcome the challenge. I welcome the opportunity, and I pledge to you my best effort -- all I have in material things and physical strength and spirit to see that freedom shall advance and that our children will grow old under the rule of law.”

People of reason can disagree with issues and have civil discourse. “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts,” according to the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Who also reminded us that culture, not politics, determines the success of society. Respect of our fellow human beings is the core outgrowth of a nation committed under a rule of law. It is our shared history in America, and one in which we must be personally committed to follow. That is the real lesson to teach. If we fail to pass that to the next generation, freedom, the political process, civil liberties, individual rights and media independence will be lost to the dustbin of history and no longer tolerated.

We must remember September 11^th in our homes and in our classrooms and engage in this important dialogue. Never let it be said that the flame of freedom was extinguished on our watch. That can be summed up in two words: We Remember. 

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THANKING THOSE WHO BUILT AMERICA  [View/Download PDF]

Labor Day is a day we set aside for American workers. It also marks the unofficial end to our Summer. Labor Day has many meanings, but one meaning is that we must recognize the incredible effort and work it took to build this great country. It is worth recalling our own history and leadership of President Calvin Coolidge. A man renown for his silence and wit.

Coolidge acknowledged the importance of workers and Labor Day when he stated that “this high tribute is paid in recognition of the worth and dignity of the men and women who toil.” Coolidge actually valued American labor and the spirit of work and his policies led to job creation and economic expansion in America. Coolidge added:

“I cannot think of anything that represents the American people as a whole so adequately as honest work. We perform different tasks, but the spirit is the same. We are proud of work and ashamed of idleness. With us there is no task which is menial, no service which is degrading. All work is ennobling and all workers are ennobled.”

 It seems in this age we may have lost that respect for the worker. Some of that may be connected to public sector unionism. Coolidge won national recognition for his handling of the Boston Police Strike, when he intervened and famously stated that “there is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime.” Many union leaders, not necessarily the union members themselves, continue to embrace political activism over members themselves. These unions support candidates and causes opposed by many of the workers that union bosses claim to speak for. It is why union membership is in decline across the nation.

Does the end justify the means? Perhaps the best answer to that question is from the controversial and radical psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich who wrote: “The meanness and inhumanity of the means make you mean and inhuman and make the end unattainable.” When the means justify the ends, ethical consideration focuses on what you do, not the consequences of what you have done. Results-based ethics means that no type of act is morally wrong. This is a harmful position, for an individual, a business or a nation. As a nation, we understand that there are consequences for our actions. We have an individual responsibility to work to the best of our abilities and we must expect fair wages.

Martin Luther King, Jr., also insisted not just on the ends, but the means. Mahatma Gandhi, like King, understood that for the rational people to survive in revolutionary times that his focus must remain on the means, just as much extremists do by their “do anything” philosophy. Machiavelli who is credited with phrase: “The end justifies the means,” actually wrote, "Si guarda al fine." This phrase may be better translated as "Pay attention to the result." As President, Calvin Coolidge created a period of economic expansion and prosperity through his administration’s economic policies, that was a result of focusing on both the ends and the means. It was a period of individual prosperity and economic growth.

Robert Ferrell, in his book The Presidency of Calvin Coolidge, states the results of Coolidge’s philosophy: “Real wages for industrial workers were 8 percent above the base year (1914= 100) in 1921, 13 percent above in 1922, and 19 percent above in 1923. For the next two years, the figure remained at this level and then increased, reaching 32 percent in 1928. The workweek declined from 47.4 hours in 1920 to 44.2 in 1929. This meant a five-and-a-half-day week…All the while unemployment was a low 3.7 percent between 1923 and 1929. This compared with 6.1 between 1911 and 1917, a fairly prosperous time for workers.” Certainly, there is a correlation between a prosperous economy, increasing wages and worker happiness. This is a lesson we should bear in mind.

Coolidge recognized that a thriving economy and higher wages built the middle class. It also depended on following common sense on fiscal matters. Garland S. Tucker wrote that he never lost sight of his belief in a strong work ethic and the spirit of America, as he declared:

“We do not need to import any foreign economic ideas or any foreign government. We had better stick to the American brand of government, the American brand of equality, and the American brand of wages. America had better stay American.”

This Labor Day we must reminded ourselves of the unique heritage of our nation and the effort so many people who came before us put forth so that we their heirs could enjoy the fruits of our own labors. In a presidential speech, President Coolidge reasoned that he could not “think of any American man or woman preeminent in the history of the nation who did not reach their place through toil.” I am not so sure Calvin Coolidge was as silent as he is portrayed in our history books. It is a good lesson for all generations. 

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OUR LABOR DAY HERITAGE  [View/Download PDF]

My ancestors migrated here, including my Native American relatives, and in their own way they have contributed positively to the development of the county. They have been soldiers, teachers, preachers, farmers, bankers, builders and the list goes on. Our nation was formed out of the fires of Revolution –that cost lives, possessions, and even a way of life. America was built on the backs of immigrants, including those forced by slavery to come to our shores. Labor Day has many meanings, but one meaning is that we must recognize the incredible effort it took to build this great country. We must remember those men and women who came before us and sacrificed for all of us on this day.

President Barack Obama said in first inaugural address about our settlers: “It has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.”

For centuries, our country has attracted people in search of a share of "the American dream" from all corners of the world. E Pluribus Unum (From Many, One) remains the national motto, yet it is true that there no longer seems to be a consensus about what it should mean. Our evolution from the margins of society to the forefront of political change is all the more remarkable when we realize we are a melting pot of cultures. If you step into our public schools today, the many different cultures are on full display not only in our urban communities, but increasingly in our rural communities as well.

Today, our country is divided politically. We see conflicts, in our streets and in the media. We see the “us versus them” attitude that prevents us from collectively working to improve our communities, our state and our nation. Rather than compromise, we choose to not collaborate on hard issues and pass along our problems to our future generations. Lack of leadership, whether at the local, state or federal level, means our problems only grow larger. Anytime a voice is silenced, it eventually finds a place where it can be heard. Unfortunately, too many voices drown out those who offer attainable solutions to real problems.

However, it is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize that despite those differences, we have more in common than we can imagine. Nothing brings us closer together as a nation than we face adversity, whether it is a natural disaster or man-made catastrophe. “What unites us is far greater than what divides us,” as John F. Kennedy said. Our great strength as a nation comes in our unity, which is the critical component of America's perseverance.

While we watched Hurricane Harvey batter Texas, Louisiana and other parts of our country, residents continue to struggle with rain, flooding, and destruction. The damage is still not fully comprehensible, and another Hurricane, Irma, is also threatening. We can see that many have already lost everything – their homes, cherished items and some their very lives. However, the amazing efforts of volunteers have been an incredible sight to witness. We notice the generosity of the American people to give and share with their neighbors. The way we respond to these tragedies is what makes our nation great.

We will work to repair those areas impacted by natural disaster. The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey will take years to restore. It is a quintessential American trait that our citizens are dedicated to ensuring those impacted by natural disasters have the support they need to rebuild. History teaches us we will come back stronger than before, as long as America's men and women today have the same courageous vision, the same audacity and indomitable spirit that made us a great nation in the beginning. The majority of Americans still want what those first Americans wanted: a better life for themselves and their children. We must commit ourselves individually, and as a nation, to pass the baton of liberty to the next generation in this melting pot of cultures we call the United States of America. This Labor Day, I am reminded of the true value of freedom, the unique heritage of our nation and the effort so many people who came before us put forth so that we could enjoy the fruits of our labors. Happy Labor Day.

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REMEMBERING MEMORIAL DAY  [View/Download PDF]

I am a veteran of the United States Marines. It is a proud family tradition. Being a Tennessean just instills that heritage a little deeper. Tennessee is the Volunteer State. Tennessee is known as the "Volunteer State” because of the prominent role played by volunteer soldiers from Tennessee. Memorial Day is when those who died in active military service are remembered. We must honor that tradition and those Americans who died for our freedoms.

This year we need to also look at what is happening to our veterans. Did you know that every day in our country 22 veterans commit suicide according to a report released by the Department of Veterans Affairs?  We leave our veterans to fight their hardest battles alone.

As Veterans return to civilian life, they are trying to pick up the pieces of their past lives. They are now older, their priorities have shifted, and they have seen things and done things that most people in their lives cannot possibly imagine. We should seek more ways to incorporate veterans back into our world.

We should all see that our veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice be honored, not just on the last Monday in May, but every day. Everyone can agree that we must do more for our veterans. For example, maybe you can attend a ceremony honoring a veteran or active member returning from overseas deployment, or assist a veteran at a hospital, nursing home, or shelter.

I regularly speak at schools, churches, and events when given the opportunity. This one method of offering real-life lessons helps students learn things they would never learn from a textbook. A wide-ranging education should include as many valuable experiences as we can provide, including those learned from our veterans and those still on active duty, along with military spouses, siblings, children, and parents of veterans.

Serving our country was a life-changing experience for me, as it was for most veterans. The leaders and heroes I served with helped shape me into the person I am today. I feel honored to have been a part of such a great tradition and grateful to others who have walked the same path. I am also glad that I did not have to die for my country, although I knew that was a possibility.

It takes courage to risk life and limb for our state and country. The least we can do is to honor these heroes. That is the basis of Memorial Day. We must also appreciate the men and women who wear the uniform, not only with words of appreciation, but also by our actions.

Our society survives by the service and martyrdom of these selfless souls. Tennessee, the Volunteer State, of all the states, should be the first to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Happy Memorial Day 2017! How will you remember it?

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ST. PATRICK’S DAY REFLECTION [View/Download PDF]

JC Bowman

I have long been proud of my Irish lineage. So much in fact, I even married an O’Bannon, just to make sure my children knew of their heritage and could proudly continue it. So on St. Patrick’s Day, while many think of Guinness Beer, Leprechauns and Pots of Gold, my family always reflected on the long struggle for freedom, the pursuit of liberty, and the importance of a good education by the Irish.

It was that desire for freedom, education and the wish to control their own destiny that so many Irish left Ireland. Ronald Reagan said: “So many Irish men and women from every walk of life played a role in creating the dream of America.” Many of them, including my relatives, came here to the United States. They left behind a nation yearning to be free.

How many Irish children were sent by a boat to a New World, never to be seen again by their families in Ireland, for the liberty offered in America? It is no wonder that James Joyce described the Atlantic Ocean as a bowl of bitter tears and an earlier poet wrote, “They are going, going, going and we cannot bid them stay.” In fact, Robert Kennedy argued that “Ireland’s chief export has been neither potatoes nor linen, but exiles and immigrants who have fought with sword and pen for freedom around the earth.”

Reflecting on the Irish and education, it was the monasteries of Ireland that kept classical knowledge alive when most of Europe was in decay. John F. Kennedy in a speech about Ireland said: “No larger nation did more to keep Christianity and Western culture alive in their darkest centuries. No larger nation did more to spark the cause of independence in America, indeed, around the world. And no larger nation has ever provided the world with more literary and artistic genius.”

Today the sword and pen have been sometimes forgotten in our quest for freedom. An Irish proverb counsels us: that a scholar’s ink lasts longer than a martyr’s blood. It is why education is so important for the Irish in America. However, today too many people spew hatred and anger. We have forgotten lessons we learned of kindness, forgiveness and working toward a better world for ourselves and our children.

No state government, no board of education and certainly no supervisor can put a price tag on a teacher’s positive influence on a child. We simply cannot put a price tag when we recognize our own talents and can find ways to serve others by using them. What other profession but that of educator allows us, in the words of Robert Fulgham, “to learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some?”

President Kennedy referenced George Bernard Shaw, speaking as an Irishman, summed up the Irish approach to life: Other people, he said, “see things and… say: ‘Why?’ … But I dream things that never were-and I say: ‘Why not?'”

As a son of St. Patrick, it is important to remember we are still a country of dreamers. We may have different religious and political persuasions, but we are linked by shared necessities and joint aspirations. Education is the key equalizer. The Irish have a saying: “Wisdom is what makes a poor man a king, a weak person powerful, a good generation of a bad one, a foolish man reasonable.”

Irish men and women proud of their heritage can be found in every walk of life. To all, the Irish and non-Irish alike, this St. Patrick’s Day I say: Dia libh go leir (God be with you all). Éirinn go Brách. God Bless America. God Bless Our Teachers!

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PRESIDENTS' DAY  [View/Download PDF]

The third Monday of February is known as Presidents Day in the United States. In the beginning, the day was intended to celebrate the birthday of the first president of our country, George Washington. Today we use it to commemorate all 45 Presidents of the United States.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that we do not celebrate the legislative branch or judicial branch, but only the executive branch of our government. As our second president John Adams remarked, “In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.” Our various branches of government have often poked fun of one another.

Presidents, as we well know, are not immune from criticism. Jimmy Carter said about his time as president since he left office, “My esteem in this country has gone up substantially. It is very nice now when people wave at me, they use all their fingers.”

Somehow over the years, since we now have almost full and immediate access to information on public figures, including presidents, our respect for the office of president is in decline. It used to be said, you do not have to respect the man, but you do have to respect the office. Somehow, I think this maxim has fallen by the wayside.

Historians and our history books often reinterpret our presidents in a new light, or try to view them in the prism of modern society. Knowingly misrepresenting our history constitutes intellectual harassment according to Michael Rosenbaum. Historical negationism which is watering down history to make something politically correct is dangerous. Utilizing revisionism or misrepresenting a former president’s true political position is inappropriate at best and Orwellian at worst.

For example, many presidents have had their race, ethnicity and even sexual orientation debated. And religion is almost universally questioned, when the faith issue is brought up. Our former leaders, or at least their very being, are no longer accepted at face value.

Lyndon Johnson made an astute observation by pointing out that the “presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.” Nobody is born to be President of the United States, and the on-the job-training is unlike any other endeavor the office holder is likely to face.

Perhaps we can simply honor all of our presidents, and give the nastiness of modern politics a much needed day off. We cannot deny that the ugliness of politics today is offensive to our own dignity and self-worth. Everyone elected as a public servant is entitled to a basic level of human decency. It is important that we remind ourselves of this fact on this President’s Day.

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PEACE ON EARTH ALL YEAR  [View/Download PDF]

“Peace on earth, and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled.” Peace on Earth in 2016 or 2017? Surely you jest. For those who are angry year-round, let this holiday season be an exception. If you need to reconcile with anybody, friend or foe, make this holiday an opportunity to do so.

Like many, I have learned what the power of faith can accomplish in an individual life. In addition, faith has traditionally played a crucial role in shaping American institutions, including education and civil society. America has thrived as a model of democracy and equality precisely because of this pervasive religiosity and the traditions it helped establish.

The abundance of faith-based voices in the public square does not mean that the difficulties of our world will suddenly vanish. But the inclusion of these faith-based views and voices, both individually and corporately, allows communities to explore areas of consensus that are often overlooked. It provides for those in the faith-based community the opportunity to do what it does best - serving others and expanding its role in serving society.

The holidays are supposed to be a time of happiness, gathering of friends and family and most importantly optimism for the coming New Year. Yet we get inundated with reminders of the holidays that may conjure up unresolved issues like grief caused by a missing friend or family member, your own failing health or that of a friend or family member.

Reminding yourself of these issues in advance can help you develop a strategy to tackle this short period of time. Most people struggle with holidays at some point in their lives. Just as we often struggle with life itself. It requires effort to overcome any problem. Recognition of our own thoughts and feelings helps us be successful in being triumphant over even the worst of times.

The sense of increased isolation and loneliness creates the recognition that there is a difference between the perception of holiday joy and the reality of one’s own life. Holidays can take a toll on even the happiest person. And if you cannot find happiness in life, you are not likely to find it under a tree at Christmas.

If we want to alleviate the enormous stress on friends and family structures, we must make a positive commitment this holiday season to help others, as well as ourselves. We must all become promoters for hope. It is in giving that we truly receive. Robert Louis Stevenson reminded us: “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”

We need to work together to prevent symptoms of depression and anxiety from dominating our community this holiday season. We need a positive environment to help our children enjoy this most sacred season, and we all have a role to play to make sure those around us remain emotionally stable and use effective coping skills.

This holiday season take an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. When churches, synagogues, mosques, businesses, and governments collaborate, impressive things can happen to cause dynamic change in communities and among individuals. We must see every human being as created in the image of God. The impact of such collaboration could be of a global magnitude.

As Charles Spurgeon preached many years ago: “May God give you peace with yourselves; may He give you good will towards all your friends, your enemies, and your neighbors; and may He give you grace to give glory to God in the highest.” Perhaps goodwill among men and peace on earth is not really that difficult to fathom if we all would truly seek peace in our own homes and communities. Peace on earth is not a slogan we should embrace just one day a year, it is an objective that we should promote every day.

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THANKSGIVING [Download Article]

I used to keep a framed picture in my classroom: “Your Life is God's gift to you. What you do with your Life is your gift to God.” I wish every child could hear that repeated every day. And what teachers do with their gift benefits so many children on a daily basis. Teachers are often on the front line of the poverty battle. It is important that children know from where their gifts originate. This Thanksgiving is a good opportunity to be thankful for the gift of life we have and the gift of others in our lives.

I grew up with the knowledge I wasn’t any better than anyone else, but nobody else was better than me. Because my parents understood that we were all created in the image of God. I believe that we should never be intimidated by those in power. Power is perception, and people who have it over you do so because you give it to them in most instances. Bono, of the rock group U2 in a Rolling Stone interview said: “I don't fear politicians or presidents. They should be afraid. They'll be accountable for what happened on their watch.” Too often unelected bureaucrats exert influence over our lives and careers. We need to look closely at the issue of the legitimacy of power. 

I have worked with many faith and community organizations and it seems to me that many of the problems they seek to address have one root cause: poverty. I take the problems of global poverty much more serious, and have noticed a rise in poverty in both urban and rural America. 

It is the best American tradition of helping others help themselves. Now is an opportune time for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of our nation and the world. I see a passion for compassion diminishing in America. Government simply cannot meet the needs of all citizens. Faith and community organizations need help. They need your time and efforts. They need your money and support. We should embrace government partnership with faith-based organizations and other non-profit community organizations to do the work of fighting poverty and other issues.

To his credit, President George W. Bush recognized the poverty problem when he said: “The growing divide between wealth and poverty, between opportunity and misery, is both a challenge to our compassion and a source of instability. We must confront it.” “We cannot,” said the president, “leave behind half of humanity as we seek a better future for ourselves. We cannot accept permanent poverty in a world of progress. There are no second-class citizens in the human race.”

Bono added, “It's an amazing thing to think that ours is the first generation in history that really can end extreme poverty, the kind that means a child dies for lack of food in its belly. This should be seen as the most incredible, historic opportunity but instead it's become a millstone around our necks. We let our own pathetic excuses about how it's 'difficult' justify our own inaction. Let's be honest. We have the science, the technology, and the wealth. What we don't have is the will, and that's not a reason that history will accept.”

Poor and starving people are not particularly appealing news stories, but fighting poverty is and should be a moral imperative for citizens in our cities, state and nation. Educators are often on the frontlines‎.

Faith reminds us that theological apathy is not an acceptable excuse. Yes, “the poor will always be with us.” However, Jesus, in his first sermon said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”

As we sit in our comfortable pews on Sunday morning singing about what it is like up there, we should remember that the poverty of spirit as equally lamentable to poverty of physical wealth. This Thanksgiving we should be thankful for both the small and large blessing in our lives. If you are a parent and your child is about to enter the world, it would be a great comfort to know that your country will use all of its resources to meet the most basic needs of all citizens, so they can succeed in our country.

To paraphase an oft cited poem, if you want to touch the face of God or His heart, it is not necessary to escape the surly bonds of Earth. Take an interest in the things that interest God. Do not be so eager to grow old or love your children as long as they will let you. Eliminate some of those nonessential things that clutter our lives. Recognize what is really essential: faith, family and friends. Embrace others. Treat everybody with dignity and respect. Lose control, let God love through you. Don't fear the politicians. Hold them accountable. God will indeed hold us all accountable. 

Think of those less fortunate this year before your Thanksgiving prayers, those in poverty whose plates are often empty. We are incapable of breaking the cycle of poverty without all of us working together. The number of hungry people in the world reached nearly 800 million, a harsh reminder that the world has yet to get serious about the challenge of ending hunger. We can make a difference, can't we? ‎

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HONOR OUR VETERANS [Download Article]

I am a veteran of the United States Marines. It is a proud family tradition. Being a Tennessean just instills that heritage a little deeper. Tennessee is the Volunteer State, and is known as the "Volunteer State” because of the prominent role played by volunteer soldiers from Tennessee.

This year we need to look at what is happening to our veterans. Did you know that every day in our country 22 veterans commit suicide, according to a report released by the Department of Veterans Affairs? We leave our veterans to fight their hardest battles alone.

As Veterans return to civilian life they are trying to pick up their lives. They are now older, their priorities have shifted, and they have seen things and done things that some people cannot possibly imagine. We should seek more ways to incorporate veterans back into our world.

We should encourage that our veterans be honored not just on November 11th, but every day. Schools, including colleges and universities, should encourage all students and employees to participate in Veteran’s Day activities. Everyone can agree that we must do more for our veterans. For example, maybe you can attend a ceremony honoring a veteran or active member returning from overseas deployment, or assisting a veteran at a hospital, nursing home or shelter?

And we should allow our veterans who are higher education students to participate in education endeavors of their choosing on this day. I regularly speak at schools and churches, and other events, at every opportunity. This is one method of offering real-life lessons students will never learn sitting in a classroom. A wide-ranging education should include as many valuable experiences as we can provide, including those learned from our veterans and those still on active duty, along with military spouses, siblings, children and parents of veterans.

Serving our country was a life-changing experience for me, as it was for most veterans. The leaders and heroes I served with helped shape me into the person I am today. I feel honored to have been a part of such a great tradition and grateful to others who have walked the same path.

It takes courage to risk life and limb for our state and country. The least we can do is to honor these heroes. That is the basis of any Veteran’s Day celebration. We must appreciate the men and women who wear the uniform, not only with words of appreciation, but also by our actions. Our society survives by the service and martyrdom of these selfless souls. Tennessee, the Volunteer State, of all the states, should be the first to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Brentwood, TN. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee. To schedule an interview please contact Audrey Shores, Director of Communications, at 1-800-471-4867 ext.102.

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SAYING “THANK YOU” ON LABOR DAY [Download Article]

In the article “12 Seriously Stressful Jobs,” Miranda Marquit lists teaching as being 5th most stressful job in America. Do you know what are 1-4? A combat soldier, air traffic controller, firefighter and coal miner are the only people who have more stressful jobs than a teacher.

I was a teacher many years ago before the digital age. I don’t remember ever getting to anything that I wanted to do. I never watched TV or read books that weren’t required for my job. I stayed up past 11:00 PM and was up before 6:00 AM every weekday. And in the summers, I had to attend workshops and trainings to be able to renew my license.

Today, thanks to many excessive bureaucratic regulations, the hoops teachers must jump through far exceed any that were required for teachers in the 90’s. Therefore teacher attrition rate is at an all-time high. The Alliance for Excellent Education states that turnover is especially high for new teachers. They estimate 40 to 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession within 5 years. This is what happens when politicians make the rules for what educators can and cannot do in their classrooms. To become a coveted “highly effective teacher,” there are so many t’s to cross and i’s to dot that it is no wonder teachers leave the profession in droves. I have personally had several highly-acclaimed teacher friends with 30+ years of experience threaten to leave the profession because of the stress of all the new regulations.

However, it is not the goal of this Labor Day article to try to fix the current woes in education. Our goal is to say “Thank-you” to all the educators in Tennessee. In many states, school does not even start until after Labor Day, but Tennessee teachers have been at it for weeks now. We at the Professional Educators of Tennessee acknowledge the selfless job teachers do every day on behalf of the world’s future laborers. We also want to thank the military, firefighters and policeman for protecting us in many unenviable situations (and who, collectively, never get a day off). And we give an extra big “Thank-you” to the others workers who have to work on Labor Day such as health-care workers, and restaurant and retail employees. Thank you for what you do for the rest of us who enjoy a day off. While you are enjoying the holiday, please remember to thank those around you who provide a service to you and your family. And definitely, give your child’s teacher the accolades he/she deserves.

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