Teacher Keeps Positivity at the Forefront During School Board Elections

I recently finished teaching a unit called “The Power of the Word” to my AP/IB juniors at West Morris Mendham High School, but last Thursday evening I learned a lesson, myself, about the topic.  One of the candidates who is running for the West Morris Regional High School  District board was canvassing my neighborhood and stopped at my home.  After he introduced himself, I introduced myself as a taxpayer, a parent, and a teacher at Mendham.  He suggested that he probably should not mention that as a school board member for Chester, he “aggressively negotiated teacher contracts” with “raises below county average and increased teaching time.”  I agreed with his suggestion.  I told him that I would take his pamphlet and determine my vote on election day.  As I shut the door, he mumbled something and then clearly stated, “Your board hates you.”   

Hate is a word one cannot miss or forget. 

This candidate’s pamphlet states that one of his goals is to “foster discussions in a collegial, not confrontational manner.”  The signs of another potential board member currently read, “Restore Mendham HS!!!”  The word “restore” implies that something be returned to its original condition or is in need of cleansing.

When I picked up my eighth grader at Black River on Friday afternoon, I took the time to read the approximately three-by-three-foot banner that hangs outside the main office entitled “A Message of Thanks to All the Teachers in the World” by Donna Fargo. It states:  “Thank you for answering the call to be teachers. . .Every community needs people like you.  Your contributions are immeasurable.” 

I want to publically thank Mr. Mullen for hanging this banner in such a prominent place in his school.  I want to thank the PTO’s in all of our local schools for their continuous efforts in supporting teachers and providing positive, educational programs for our parents and students.  But most of all, I want to thank my present and former students and their parents who on a daily basis thank me in so very many ways.   For it is because of them that I truly understand the power of the word, and it is because of them that I will never regret  that I continue to work more and get paid less.