Not Qualified To Do What?

June 6, 2008 I officially resigned from my position as an 8th grade Language Arts teacher. By 7:00 p.m. that very same day, I had two job offers - one at another school within the district I had just resigned from, and the other from the high school district, of which I'm interested in working.
 

I was thrilled that I was about to be offered a job just one day into my summer vacation, but unfortunately, the call was to thank me for applying. My application was up for consideration, but according to my records, I am not qualified to teach what I have been teaching for the past 9 years.
 

No wonder we have problems with our educational system in this country. It's because of me, and people like me, who are in the classroom teaching subjects we are not qualified to teach! Never mind that I have a degree in Elementary Education, an Endorsement at the middle school level, and that I am secondary certified to teach grades 9 - 12, and that I graduated Cum Laude. And never mind that my students' writing scores were the highest in the school, and two particular years that I know of (because I saw the statistics), my writing scores outscored many in the district.
 

I worked diligently creating ways (that's called research) to engage my students in learning, and to develop a love for reading and writing, and for the most part, I was successful. Most of my students actually liked English for a change, and it was rare to see a student not increase at least one years growth.  With Writing Workshops, Shakespearian plays, retelling of novels in rhyme, and just silent reading to sounds of Mozart, Beethoven, and Mancini, my students excelled. I've been visited by former students throughout the years, who specifically came by to thank me. (Goosebumps...)  Two of those students are currently enrolled at University seeking their Masters in English. Another former student is studying drama because of her participation in one of my theater units. Several are seeking Teaching degrees. (I hope they do better than I've done.) Just the other day, June 6, 2008, right after 8th grade promotion, a young woman walked up to me and asked if I remembered her. I told her the usual, which is the truth. I remembered her face and that she sat in the second row, second seat, 2002. She smiled and said, "Oh my gosh. It's stuff like that that makes you my favorite teacher." I thanked her for the compliment and asked what she was doing with her life. She is enrolled at San Diego State University studying oceanography. "I learned so much during that Exploratory Research thing that you had us do, and I never forgot that. I wanted to learn more." She smiled, thanked me, introduced me to her whole family, who was there to watch her little brother (my student) promote to high school, said thanks again, and then let me go.

 

My students validate who I am as a teacher. Not some politician who's not visited a classroom since 1970.