blogs

There have been a lot of tears in my house over the past week. Not tears over toys or bedtimes or even having to eat spinach. The tears were about things that kids shouldn't have to worry about...jobs, education, budgets...you get the idea.

Like other area schools, teachers and parents at our school took part in the National Day of Action for Public Education. (I fully support the wonderful teachers at my kids' school and all that they do and I feel fortunate that my kids attend such a fantastic school!)

All the activity that day led to questions which led to my kids finding out that some of the teachers at their school could lose their jobs at the end of the year. I would have prefered my kids didn't hear names but it's too late now.

I spent a lot of time comforting and hugging and trying to explain what a pink slip was and that it didn't neccesarily mean that TeacherA or TeacherB wouldn't be at school next year. I promised them that their school would still be there and that their friends would all be there.

Nevertheless, it's a tough pill to swallow for a 6 and 7-year-old. And quite frankly, it's a tough pill for me to swallow and I'm 35.

All of us adults sit around and argue and question which items should be cut from budgets and what we want to see at school for our kids. But for my kids, it boils down to this and only this: the person they see everyday.

The person who teaches them about reading and writing and math. The person who teaches them about showing school pride by being a good student and friend. The person who hands out hugs and praise and keeps them in at recess when they've been talking too much in class.

It's beyond sad. My school district will be forced to make some very tough decisions in the coming weeks which will impact my kids' education far beyond the next school year.

And sadly, as much as I try to ease their minds, I can't help but feel uneasy about the future as well.