Dear Mrs. Michelle Obama,
Can I call you Michelle? I feel right talking to you as though you were part of my family. You have brought joy to my family, and I am thankful for that. You make me feel right at home. You make me feel like you really care. I know you really care.
Anyways, all I wanted to say is: job well done.
Thank you,
Jennie
Dear Mr. President,
Congratulations on the election and all. I was rooting for you. I voted for you. My county in Michigan voted for you by a little over 500 votes. They voted “Democrat” for the first time since the 1950s. Well done.
I am glad that you are doing well. I think that most of your ideas are great, and I know you have many people hard at work around the clock to make America a better place.
That being said, I respectfully disagree with your recent idea of reforming “teacher-pay” in schools. This idea is included in your most recent strategies to overhaul and improve the education system in the United States.
Having “merit-pay” sounds logical, but in reality, this will only further schism the teachers of America. I believe that at this time of devastating loss in the US, the last thing we need is competition in our educators. They should be a haven for our students, a group dedicated to bringing the children of today into the future.
As I sit and look out my window, at the school where I work, I see students at recess. I see their teachers chatting and laughing with each other, and I wonder what the world would be like if those teachers were focused more and more on grades and test scores. I wonder what it’d look like if we evaluated fourth graders on their math, science, and English scores. They may know clauses, algebra, and chemistry, but would they know where Darfur is? Would they know that the Amazon River is in Brazil? Would they know how to paint, how to sing, what a trumpet was?
Paying teachers because they are great teachers is an excellent idea. Getting rid of teachers that are not great communicators and/or educators can be tough, but must be done. This country is full of educators who give their lives to teach students. We owe it to teachers to treat them fairly, but treat them as a team–not a group of individuals striving to be the best.
Striving to be the best was what got us into the mortgage crisis in the first place. Companies were striving to get more customers, go lower, give out the most money. Look what that has brought us: Heartache for the masses, and headache for the government.
We need to remember that the school system in America is not looking to be a part of the free market. Keeping teachers united by realizing that each student, class, teacher, and school is different will keep them a united force.
Test scores may not mean anything at an inner city, overcrowded schools. Taking money away from schools for lower performance on tests will simply give the message that their schools are unwanted and unnecessary. These schools, however, are the ones that will need the most money and the most help, and the best teachers.
There are problems in the school systems. There are ways to fix them, and we need to act quickly. But sometimes what looks good on paper doesn’t look good in practice. Ask a few teachers what they think, but I’m sure most of them will agree with me.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jennie
It’s a new day. In this, our United States of America, we have proved that change will come. Has come. Will begin shortly, after a massive party in our Capital.
An ode to Barack:
Wake up, coffee brewing. It’s a new day.
Shower, dress, make up. Oatmeal, with raisins. (new day.)
Pour the coffee, make some lunch.
The sun peaks over the horizon, and into my kitchen. (new, new day.)
Kiss my fella goodbye (hello, new day.)
In the car, streets are quiet. Anticipation. New day.
Drive to work, half-hour early. For the new day.
Walk to school. Everyone is quiet.
Sun peaks out from the clouds, saying hello.
Into work, into SJ’s office, watch the TV. Oh, hello, Barack. New day.
Into the auditorium, watching with the Middle School. So quiet.
Never again will such quantities of pre-teens be so quiet. New day.
President Barack H. Obama. It has begun.
Because of us: new day.
Look at the differences in these photographs. The first one is from The New York Times and the second is from CNN. I wonder why they desaturated it….thoughts???
NYTimes
CNN
Jason Mraz sings the song that, minus nibbling ears, sums up exactly how I feel about Barack Obama. It’s time to tell him. I’m his. Let’s get it done. I am sure I can be some help.
“Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you’re so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
Now I’m trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I’ll be giving it my bestest
And nothing’s going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it’s again my turn to win some or learn some
I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing
We’re just one big family
And It’s our God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved
So I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I’m sure
There’s no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I’m yours
Scooch on over closer dear
And i will nibble your ear
I’ve been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I’m be saying is there ain’t no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It’s what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue
But I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I’m yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find that the sky is yours
Please don’t, please don’t, please don’t
There’s no need to complicate
Cause our time is short
This oh this this is out fate, I’m yours!”