"Prop me up!"

"Prop me up on every leaning side!"  I'm leaning LORD, I'm leaning on you.  I have been rejected once again.  My "boss" called me into his office Friday, March 8, to tell me that it was my last day.

"Unwanted again"; was the first thought that crossed my mind. A mere nothing in his eyes.  Did he care that I got up at 4:30 every morning to make sure that I was prepared and equipped to "teach" the "little darlings" left in my charge.  Did he ever notice that I had never been late or absent one single day?

What about all of the money I spent out of my meager wages?  I bought  basket ball hoops, and one that kept score, a felt dart game,exercise balls, Nerf balls, all to keep my students excited because they accused me of being boring.

What about all of the tissue, hand sanitizer, pencils and pens.  I am sure I bought tons of candy to bribe and appease this motley crew.  I didn't mind.  I love teaching.  My greatest joy is motivating and stimulating young people to be the best they can be.

So, they didn't want me.  Many, not all, made that fact abundantly clear everyday.  I absorbed their insulting remarks.  I let them call me names and pick at me for being old and slow.  I forgave them.  "Forgive them LORD for they know not what they do."

  I couldn't do anything right at that school!.  I was too old, too short, I wore too many rings.  My daily affirmation; "I was born for Greatness! If I am to be what I want to be, it is up to Me!" was considered to be just another worthless chore by most of my students.

Don't ask them to stand.  None of them pledge to the flag, not even the students in ROTC.  They sit while in uniform.  I told them that they live in the greatest nation in the world and they pelted me with insults and said that isn't so.  I asked the young man to name a better country and he sneered; "Mexico!" because they have better weed.

  Don't ask them to read the book or keep a notebook.  Don't ask them to bring their own supplies to class.  "That's your job"; one "student" told me repeatedly.  "You're trying to make us read the book, to think on our own."; one Advanced Placement student complained; "we don't do that anymore...I can't learn like that."

I could tell "they" were very happy to see me go.  So now they are rid of me.  I was told that it would be best for me if I simply went into the county office and resigned.  "I WILL NOT!"  I've done nothing wrong.  I taught for 30 plus years without one single blemish on my record.  I was named Teacher of the Year in 2000.  Stanford University honored me and credited me for sending them a great student.  Every year my students scored the highest on the GHSGT in social studies.  My students always earned the highest scores on the APUSH exam.  In 2002 my students earned four 4s.

I will not be pushed around and bullied by "grade grubbing" parents.  I will not put a bridle in my mouth and guard every word I say to students that call me out of my name and pelt me with insults.  I will not cow tie to a school that chose the easy route of merely teaching the test.  They have taken "teaching to the test" up a notch and simply teach the test.

I can't do it.  In all good conscious I can't do it.  If it cost me my job I can't do it. I Will NOT Shut Up! No one, no system will take my first amendment freedom from me.

Unwanted again!  Cast out, talked but and hated again!  Hold me up LORD.  Take my hand.  I know that you will never forsake me.  David was chosen by GOD but hated and persecuted by King Saul.  As a result he wrote Psalm 13; "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? forever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?  Consider and hear me, O LORD my GOD: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.  Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

Stay in His WORD children.  Remember; "Apart from Christ we are nothing."

May GOD's Grace, Mercy and Truth engulf you and cloak you in Perfect Peace,
Rachel Gwendolyn (the exceedingly proud granddaughter of a great Patriarch, JEROME WALTERS)