Moving Forward

Mother to Son        by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

This week brought a plethora of highs and lows, and as I was experiencing each turn and 

bump, I couldn't help but think of this poem by Langston Hughes.  On Tuesday afternoon, 

we received a joyful phone call for the referral of a beautiful baby boy.  He's healthy, and he's 

smiling in his pictures.  Amidts the excitement for this referral, we know the staircase that 

we've traveled; we've experienced the "splinters" and "boards torn up" first hand.  They're 

difficult to recover from.  Hence, we move upward and onward with caution in each step.  

The documents in a referral are quite time sensitive, so I was buzzing around getting in touch 

with our international pediatrician, getting his documents assessed, notarizing signatures, 

contacting our social worker, etc.  Amidst this, I am careful to keep my emotions in check.  

It's not a sure thing until he's home in my arms.  

I asked for some people to pray for us this week at church when I got the news.  When I 

arrived at church, I was met with people with tears in their eyes for their excitement for us.  

Oh my goodness, here I am trying to keep it together, and I couldn't help but begin to feel 

some of the joy I've kept at bay this past week.  Hope exists.  I saw it in the faces of my 

brothers and sisters today that it was ok to feel, that they would be there with me, no matter 

what.  It was just I needed, and I know Jesus knew that.  I'm continually humbled by what He 

has shown me through all of this.  

On the low side, we're experiencing so much strife in our world.  I am feeling it personally in 

the world of education.  I feel for my colleagues in Wisconsin.  I understand why the 

democrats would flee from voting; they don't believe the vote should happen at all.  I get it.  

I am neither democrat nor republican, but I know what will positively and negatively affect 

our kids.  In the school district where we live, they want to cut the school day by almost two 

hours.  Whoa.  So, here we are with higher standards to achieve, and we're going to cut the 

school day and take out art, music, and gym? Frustrating.  

In the district where I work, we are suing the state because the state funding formula is so 

out of whack.  I am blessed to work in the supportive community that I do.  Our parents are 

amazing in their willingness to help our students through thick and thin.  Our superintendent 

put it best when, in a nutshell, he said that there are many wrong things happening in our 

government:

1.  Politicians are penalizing the whole state for a few low performing schools.  (By the way, 

our colleagues in the urban settings are working their tails off; I would like to see our 

governor come in and do their job, or my job for that matter.)

2.  The standards and instruments to assess standards keep changing and getting more 

challenging, and therefore it costs us more money to meet those demands.

3.  Politicians, who aren't educators in any way, are pompous enough to think they have the 

knowledge to make decisions that are best for kids.  Sorry, you don't.  Most of these people 

no longer have school aged children or they go to private school...let's be real.  This scenario 

reminds me of the business man with no education background coming into a classroom and 

trying to do the job because they just think they can.  They usually end of up going home 

with their tails between their legs.  I invite any politician to do my job and then tell me how 

to do it better. 

4.  Politicians now want to take away our right to bargain.  Like I commented on a high school 

friend's facebook, teachers have always come to the bargaining table willing to give to make 

the ends meet, in order to do what's best for our students.  

5.  I believe the general public, including our politicians, thinks that teachers have a two 

month vacation.  First of all, I'm all for year round school; the research shows that it's best 

for student achievement.  Second of all, every educator I've spoken with says that they're for

year round school too (emphasis on EVERY).  Third of all, every teacher I know works over 

the summer reading, planning, researching, furthering their education, etc...

Governor Daniels said that teachers are fighting these bills because we're trying to make 

more money.  That makes me sick.  How out of touch and ignorant can one be?  I, along with 

my colleagues in my district, voted for a pay freeze for the past two years and a huge cut in 

our benefits.  Am I fired up?  You bet I am.  Don't insult me.  

So, here I am.  I'm going to continue to climb the stairs, love my God with all my heart, 

ask Him to help me be a better neighbor, and give it my all every day.  Keep us in your 

prayers.