A teacher’s post on Facebook
Florida middle-school teacher Kelly Guthrie Raley, who was named Eustis Middle School Teacher of the Year 2017-2018 posted to Facebook about gun violence, mental health, and a parent’s responsibility. Here is an excerpt:
Until we, as a country, are willing to get serious and talk about mental health issues, lack of available care for the mental health issues, lack of discipline in the home, horrendous lack of parental support when the schools are trying to control horrible behavior at school (oh no! Not MY KID. What did YOU do to cause my kid to react that way?), lack of moral values, and yes, I’ll say it-violent video games that take away all sensitivity to ANY compassion for others’ lives, as well as reality TV that makes it commonplace for people to constantly scream up in each others’ faces and not value any other person but themselves, we will have a gun problem in school. Our kids don’t understand the permanency of death anymore!!!
It took guts to write and publish that post, and it has gone viral. We’ve reposted the full essay on our Facebook page
Teachers know kids
Ms. Raley has been teaching kids for 20 years. She has seen and met so many personalities and witnessed good and bad behavior. The same holds true for anyone whom has spent a good portion of their career instructing children. Support from parents is crucial in helping to mold happy and productive children. Like Ms. Raley, I too remember being petrified if my parents received a phone call from my school. Something does seem to have shifted in that respect. A truly great teacher has nothing but the best in mind for the children he or she teaches. The lessons may not be easy, for parents or children, but lessons that promote change for the positive are sometimes hard. Until repect for each other is naturally commanded, we must demand it. If nothing changes, nothing will change.
CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR BODY
BUSHIDO KARATE