High school student Maya Morales, 15, holds a sign during a walkout and demonstration for gun control at a Texas high school last week. (Photo: Jay Danner/ American-Statesman)
I Am a Teacher, Not an Instrument of Violence
I will not carry a weapon in the classroom. I will sacrifice my life, if need be, as other teachers have done, on behalf of my students, but I will not kill.
I am a teacher. My goal is to educate, to open the minds of students to important ideas of past and current thinkers. Among so many other things, I strive to encourage critical thinking, to stimulate awareness, and motivate concern regarding the importance of the social and political justice and fairness.
I am a teacher. I have confidence that what I've been entrusted to accomplish in the classroom is important and that my efforts can make a difference, perhaps even contribute in a small way, to making the world a better place in which to live.
I am a teacher. I will not carry a weapon in the classroom. I will sacrifice my life, if need be, as other teachers have done, on behalf of my students, but I will not kill. I believe that to do so is to admit defeat, that what I do as an educator has no meaning or relevance, that violence, and by implication war, is the only effective means available for making change, of resolving differences, conflicts, and disagreements.
I am a teacher. It is my responsibility to make clear by reasoned argument as well as by personal example the superiority of forgiveness over retaliation, of love over hate, and of peaceful reconciliation over vengeance.
I am a teacher; an educator and I will not become an instrument of violence.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
I am a teacher. My goal is to educate, to open the minds of students to important ideas of past and current thinkers. Among so many other things, I strive to encourage critical thinking, to stimulate awareness, and motivate concern regarding the importance of the social and political justice and fairness.
I am a teacher. I have confidence that what I've been entrusted to accomplish in the classroom is important and that my efforts can make a difference, perhaps even contribute in a small way, to making the world a better place in which to live.
I am a teacher. I will not carry a weapon in the classroom. I will sacrifice my life, if need be, as other teachers have done, on behalf of my students, but I will not kill. I believe that to do so is to admit defeat, that what I do as an educator has no meaning or relevance, that violence, and by implication war, is the only effective means available for making change, of resolving differences, conflicts, and disagreements.
I am a teacher. It is my responsibility to make clear by reasoned argument as well as by personal example the superiority of forgiveness over retaliation, of love over hate, and of peaceful reconciliation over vengeance.
I am a teacher; an educator and I will not become an instrument of violence.
I am a teacher. My goal is to educate, to open the minds of students to important ideas of past and current thinkers. Among so many other things, I strive to encourage critical thinking, to stimulate awareness, and motivate concern regarding the importance of the social and political justice and fairness.
I am a teacher. I have confidence that what I've been entrusted to accomplish in the classroom is important and that my efforts can make a difference, perhaps even contribute in a small way, to making the world a better place in which to live.
I am a teacher. I will not carry a weapon in the classroom. I will sacrifice my life, if need be, as other teachers have done, on behalf of my students, but I will not kill. I believe that to do so is to admit defeat, that what I do as an educator has no meaning or relevance, that violence, and by implication war, is the only effective means available for making change, of resolving differences, conflicts, and disagreements.
I am a teacher. It is my responsibility to make clear by reasoned argument as well as by personal example the superiority of forgiveness over retaliation, of love over hate, and of peaceful reconciliation over vengeance.
I am a teacher; an educator and I will not become an instrument of violence.