Couple quick thoughts. First on the "uniter not a divider" philosophy. Daniel Quinn, in Ishmael, als0 thought there are two kinds of people--givers and takers. Aligns well with your philosophy, I think.
Second, my wife and I are both educators, she from 30 years teaching 5-6th graders. Even in Lake Oswego she spent LOTS of her own money making sure the kids had what they needed to be successful in the classroom. (Yeah, L.O. has a Title I school.) There are countless committed teachers out there. My wife tracked her hours for a couple years, and it came out to lots more than 2,000 a year. So "summers off" doesn't quite make up for 60 hour weeks during the school year.
Last, speaking of "dividers," it is a damned shame that politicos have used teachers as a punching bag for almost half a century. A third of new teachers don't make two years, in no small part because of this bashing, as well as a startling reduction in parental support.
I work in education and I've traveled internationally to a lot of different places and so far the only country that I know of that hammers teachers and doesn't respect them is the United States. That's not everybody, but much more than other countries. I'm not sure why.
Indeed. In some countries (at least as of a while ago, in countries with reasonable limits on wages) teachers earned as much as doctors and lawyers. Given that their job is to shape the next generation, really a no-brainer. The denigration of education in the U.S. is truly shameful. There's a reason that among Hitler's first acts was effectively shutting down higher education in Germany.
One of my life’s disappointments was my daughter not wanting to play softball, as I did up until my 40’s. We are both left handed and I saved my mitt for her, just in case. I’m 72 now, she’s turning 50. She’s never touched a ball (gads, she joined choir in high school. To a jock it was the worst!🤣) I forgave her because her only child, my grandson, played every sport he tried out for, including Ultimate Frisbee, (what on earth was THAT, I wondered?) tournament level. He graduated, with honors (white cords, iykyk) from Oregon State Business school yesterday. I am content to oil my glove every blue moon and hope,maybe, a great-grand will be a first base lefty.
I grew up fully immersed in all the mainstream sports. My older son did as well. His younger brother decided high school band would be his thing. He was fully immersed in marching band, concert band, and jazz band every year for four years. He was good at it and worked hard. Played saxaphone. Initially, I was completely ignorant of what this was all about. As it turns out, my world was opened to the value of music and high school arts programs in general. It was a great experience for him, maybe a better experience for me and his mom.
I was obviously big into sports in high school but I also played music, the saxophone. I was in the marching band, the concert band and the jazz band and I got to admit I learned just as much in music as I did sports. Also, the music teachers weren't jerks as many of my coaches were. I would hope athletic-minded parents would accept their kids outside interests that don't relate to sports. I listen to music far more than I watch sports these days.
So often our kids don't take the path we'd wished they had. And often they wind up doing better in their chosen direction than we did in ours. Different Drummers are often useful.
Vickie, I can relate to your story. My oldest daughter had the athletic build to play softball. However, she was not interested. Instead, she played the flute in her high school band.
Then, excitedly, she went to Boise State in Nursing. She was in the marching band in 2007, when Boise St. was really good, beating Oklahoma, etc.....
She called me after her first football game, describing to me the atmosphere, the fans, and the game itself. She was beyond excited. That vision will never leave me.
Yep. She became a huge Ducks football fan 30 years ago. All I could think, Where you been? Myles going to Oregon State gave her a tiny taste of disappointment, but it’s all good in the end and that’s all that matters. The flute! Band and choir, we thought we’d never live through it. 😃
Somebody once said, “There are only two kinds of people in the world. Those that divide people into two groups and those that don’t.” And John. Any day spent fishing is a good day. Go fishing John.
Wow John, did it again! My eyes are full of tears! I so missed my kids when they went to college. Now as a grandparent, I cry like a child as the compete in everything from piano to swimming and lacrosse. My life is filled with joy!
Great piece, once again. My favorite picture of my Dad and me is of the two of us standing with the two six-inch fish that I caught on our first fishing trip in Oregon. I might be 5 or 6. We did these "fishing trips" (over the next 10-12years, they got a little more serious both in the fishing and in the Dad/Coach life talks that we always had in the car/boat). Watch for this pic on my FB on Father's Day.
Great stuff John. Just getting back from another night in a Marriott Courtyard in Marin County as my daughter does club water polo between her junior and senior high school years. She loves Oregon State, where I went and still have football and baseball season tickets, but wants to play polo in college. While I love watching her play, to your point, my absolute favorite moments are those conversations in the car or at the hotel where you get a glimpse into a 17 year old girls life. I’m going to miss this terribly.
You catch a lot more of everything when you're enjoying what Mother nature has to offer. And complete agreement regarding teachers. The medical profession is perhaps a notch above, but in ultimate value teachers are next. The sad reality is that both are impacted by forces that do not do the work. More Mother nature and less "elite" thinking would a step in the right direction.
Oh, John, what a wonderful column on a very special subject. You never disappoint, and I look forward to everything you write, whether a candid report on a game day upset, what's happening in the conferences or a heart-warming look into the private lives of people ...because you care and share so admirably with your grateful readers.
Who do I contact to get my subscription acknowledged? You took my money but I am still locked out. Please help. I hate being on the outside when I paid to be on the inside. Thanks
John - you nailed it again! My quick comment given the discussion of unifiers vs dividers, etc. and having just gone through a transition in the nonprofit leadership I founded is the concept of builders and sustainers. This designation is more toward recognizing "best fits" in organizations and the need to evaluate talents through this lens to make sure individuals and the organization thrive. That said, so many educators are in that much smaller category that does both - I was so blessed to have had many in my world in high school and still remember all of them fondly and with respect!
One of my most memorable High School moments and teachers: His name was Mr./Coach Brown and he got right into my face when I ran a play incorrectly in practice. I remember precisely what he said, "You stupid SOB, what do you think you are doing?"
That was a very valuable experience, it taught me that if abuse like that was part of the process I wasn't going very far as a football player and that I didn't always know what I was doing.
Great article here. Reminded me of my son in high-school. We basically had to force him to get his driver's license. He got it his senior year. One of his friends parents couldn't believe he wasn't itching to get away from mom and dad. He said, "i like riding in the car with them." I think it was his decompression chamber. He would talk about practice, games, class, or friend issues.
Now that hes grown and has kids of his own, im thankful he didn't rush out.
Couple quick thoughts. First on the "uniter not a divider" philosophy. Daniel Quinn, in Ishmael, als0 thought there are two kinds of people--givers and takers. Aligns well with your philosophy, I think.
Second, my wife and I are both educators, she from 30 years teaching 5-6th graders. Even in Lake Oswego she spent LOTS of her own money making sure the kids had what they needed to be successful in the classroom. (Yeah, L.O. has a Title I school.) There are countless committed teachers out there. My wife tracked her hours for a couple years, and it came out to lots more than 2,000 a year. So "summers off" doesn't quite make up for 60 hour weeks during the school year.
Last, speaking of "dividers," it is a damned shame that politicos have used teachers as a punching bag for almost half a century. A third of new teachers don't make two years, in no small part because of this bashing, as well as a startling reduction in parental support.
Difficult times for teachers. And Uniters/Givers.
I work in education and I've traveled internationally to a lot of different places and so far the only country that I know of that hammers teachers and doesn't respect them is the United States. That's not everybody, but much more than other countries. I'm not sure why.
Indeed. In some countries (at least as of a while ago, in countries with reasonable limits on wages) teachers earned as much as doctors and lawyers. Given that their job is to shape the next generation, really a no-brainer. The denigration of education in the U.S. is truly shameful. There's a reason that among Hitler's first acts was effectively shutting down higher education in Germany.
One of my life’s disappointments was my daughter not wanting to play softball, as I did up until my 40’s. We are both left handed and I saved my mitt for her, just in case. I’m 72 now, she’s turning 50. She’s never touched a ball (gads, she joined choir in high school. To a jock it was the worst!🤣) I forgave her because her only child, my grandson, played every sport he tried out for, including Ultimate Frisbee, (what on earth was THAT, I wondered?) tournament level. He graduated, with honors (white cords, iykyk) from Oregon State Business school yesterday. I am content to oil my glove every blue moon and hope,maybe, a great-grand will be a first base lefty.
I grew up fully immersed in all the mainstream sports. My older son did as well. His younger brother decided high school band would be his thing. He was fully immersed in marching band, concert band, and jazz band every year for four years. He was good at it and worked hard. Played saxaphone. Initially, I was completely ignorant of what this was all about. As it turns out, my world was opened to the value of music and high school arts programs in general. It was a great experience for him, maybe a better experience for me and his mom.
I was obviously big into sports in high school but I also played music, the saxophone. I was in the marching band, the concert band and the jazz band and I got to admit I learned just as much in music as I did sports. Also, the music teachers weren't jerks as many of my coaches were. I would hope athletic-minded parents would accept their kids outside interests that don't relate to sports. I listen to music far more than I watch sports these days.
So often our kids don't take the path we'd wished they had. And often they wind up doing better in their chosen direction than we did in ours. Different Drummers are often useful.
Vickie, I can relate to your story. My oldest daughter had the athletic build to play softball. However, she was not interested. Instead, she played the flute in her high school band.
Then, excitedly, she went to Boise State in Nursing. She was in the marching band in 2007, when Boise St. was really good, beating Oklahoma, etc.....
She called me after her first football game, describing to me the atmosphere, the fans, and the game itself. She was beyond excited. That vision will never leave me.
Yep. She became a huge Ducks football fan 30 years ago. All I could think, Where you been? Myles going to Oregon State gave her a tiny taste of disappointment, but it’s all good in the end and that’s all that matters. The flute! Band and choir, we thought we’d never live through it. 😃
Another great piece, thanks John!
Somebody once said, “There are only two kinds of people in the world. Those that divide people into two groups and those that don’t.” And John. Any day spent fishing is a good day. Go fishing John.
Amen on fishing!! Every day of fly fishing in southwest Alaska is one of the best days ever!!
Fly fishing anywhere is the best day ever. Especially on the Rogue River.
I’d love to trade days on the Kvichak and Naknek for a day on the Rogue. At least I’d be warm:)
Wow John, did it again! My eyes are full of tears! I so missed my kids when they went to college. Now as a grandparent, I cry like a child as the compete in everything from piano to swimming and lacrosse. My life is filled with joy!
Great piece, once again. My favorite picture of my Dad and me is of the two of us standing with the two six-inch fish that I caught on our first fishing trip in Oregon. I might be 5 or 6. We did these "fishing trips" (over the next 10-12years, they got a little more serious both in the fishing and in the Dad/Coach life talks that we always had in the car/boat). Watch for this pic on my FB on Father's Day.
Great stuff John. Just getting back from another night in a Marriott Courtyard in Marin County as my daughter does club water polo between her junior and senior high school years. She loves Oregon State, where I went and still have football and baseball season tickets, but wants to play polo in college. While I love watching her play, to your point, my absolute favorite moments are those conversations in the car or at the hotel where you get a glimpse into a 17 year old girls life. I’m going to miss this terribly.
Wonderful 👍❤️🐟🚤
You catch a lot more of everything when you're enjoying what Mother nature has to offer. And complete agreement regarding teachers. The medical profession is perhaps a notch above, but in ultimate value teachers are next. The sad reality is that both are impacted by forces that do not do the work. More Mother nature and less "elite" thinking would a step in the right direction.
Oh, John, what a wonderful column on a very special subject. You never disappoint, and I look forward to everything you write, whether a candid report on a game day upset, what's happening in the conferences or a heart-warming look into the private lives of people ...because you care and share so admirably with your grateful readers.
"...Sled is made from all-welded aluminum. It’s specially engineered for big rivers and estuaries, and near-coastal waters."
current Oregon Initiative Petition 28?
GreatStuff John 🏁
Who do I contact to get my subscription acknowledged? You took my money but I am still locked out. Please help. I hate being on the outside when I paid to be on the inside. Thanks
John - you nailed it again! My quick comment given the discussion of unifiers vs dividers, etc. and having just gone through a transition in the nonprofit leadership I founded is the concept of builders and sustainers. This designation is more toward recognizing "best fits" in organizations and the need to evaluate talents through this lens to make sure individuals and the organization thrive. That said, so many educators are in that much smaller category that does both - I was so blessed to have had many in my world in high school and still remember all of them fondly and with respect!
One of my most memorable High School moments and teachers: His name was Mr./Coach Brown and he got right into my face when I ran a play incorrectly in practice. I remember precisely what he said, "You stupid SOB, what do you think you are doing?"
That was a very valuable experience, it taught me that if abuse like that was part of the process I wasn't going very far as a football player and that I didn't always know what I was doing.
Great article here. Reminded me of my son in high-school. We basically had to force him to get his driver's license. He got it his senior year. One of his friends parents couldn't believe he wasn't itching to get away from mom and dad. He said, "i like riding in the car with them." I think it was his decompression chamber. He would talk about practice, games, class, or friend issues.
Now that hes grown and has kids of his own, im thankful he didn't rush out.