A Guest Writer to the Metaphor Cafe: Rich Clark: A Tribute to his Civics Teacher

To all folks who understand the power of a civics teacher on a student’s mind. The words are Rich Clark, Mt. Carmel alumni:

“I remember the first day of 12th grade Civics class. I had Ms. Estelle Ricketson...her first words were, "Good morning, take your seats, close your mouth and open your mind. Someday, this class will make sense too you. Our constitution, the framework of our country, is the real textbook. I will teach you things that I hope never come to pass, but are essential to understanding how our country works."

Never, would I have thought that our country would be in this precarious position, in the midst of a constitutional crisis. But here we are. My first supervisor in the Air Force told me he makes it a point to read the constitution every year on his birthday. He did this as a reminder of why he wakes up every morning and puts on a uniform. I followed his sage advice. I hope you do too.

Today I would hope that the DOJ policy of not indicting a sitting president would be challenged in court. Why, it is unconstitutional. Why would I make this claim that the president is NOT immune from prosecution? It is in the constitution. Article II, section 4 states that The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

How on earth could you have a conviction if a sitting president can't be indicted? The language is specific about the President and Vice President and includes other civil officers. If they are convicted they SHALL be removed from office on impeachment. Thank you Ms. Ricketson...I paid attention in your class.

Moreover, we are seeing an abuse of power in the executive branch that is creating the crisis at hand. Although the words, "separation of powers" aren't used in the constitution, the framework is laid out to keep each branch in check by the other two branches. John Kingdon a political science professor at the University of Michigan gives us the idea that, "its complexity as one of the reasons for lower citizen participation." The complexity of the separation of powers is what gives ordinary people the power and responsibility to influence any of the three branches of government. This my friends, is what truly makes our country great. Not a country that throws its weight around on a world stage, not a country that makes it nearly impossible to legally immigrate into, not a country where a President is completely unclear in their motivation and vision.

George Washington, when he was 16, wrote the Rules of Civility, quite a list for a 16-year-old. President Trump should read them as sage advice from the original predecessor of the office which he now holds.

The evidence that we have seen is clear, and more will come from the Special Counsel Report. The President does not value the constitution in the same light as you and I. In his book, The Art of The Deal, he implies the he has crafted his businesses around the premise that if it fails, so what, I have hedged my bets and will profit from the failure, just not as much. Unfortunately, Mr. President, the “Board of Directors” of your “Company,” We the People, don’t see it that way.

What we see is a man who has an insatiable hunger for power. A man willing to shatter the very document that formed our country, a man willing to do anything for power, whether real or perceived. My dear friends and patriots, it is now time to look at the document that declared us free from the tyranny of England and, King George III. “When in the course of human events…” It is the second thing I read on my birthday. I yield the balance of my time….”

To all Teachers and Music Lovers: Music at the Grammy's Provide Teachable Moments

Teachers used to ask me this: How do you know about the music that kids listen to?

The truth is that they are asking the wrong question. The question really should be: What kind of music speaks to the soul of all human beings...not just "kids?"

My former students were not 'kids'--they were beginning their journey and they are looking for answers to life's pressing "storms"--and adolescence is the hurricane that often blew them away. They looked for a foothold, for someone to steady them, someone that they could admire. So at the last evening's Grammy Awards everyone should see two artists who provide shelter to the storm.

At the Grammys, Kacey Musgraves song "Rainbow" is an extended metaphor, and its chorus about the inevitability of "storms" was eloquent and evocative. And it clearly a teachable moment. What are your student's rainbows and how do they face their storms? These two questions can be shaped into an artistic project, with written answers, to the colors of their rainbow.

The Grammy's also displayed the essence of compassion for the marginalized in Brandi Carlile's song "The Joke." Here is what NPR wrote of the song: ""The Joke" exemplifies the album's massive ambition. A country-rock aria dedicated to the delicate boys and striving girls born into — and, Carlile insists, destined to triumph over — this divisive time, "The Joke" offers a stunning vocal performance from Carlile,

"'The Joke'... reflects the compassion she has developed as a seasoned artist, parent and activist." [Carlile explains,] "'There are so many people feeling misrepresented [today],' she said. 'So many people feeling unloved. Boys feeling marginalized and forced into these kind of awkward shapes of masculinity that they do or don't belong in... so many men and boys are trans or disabled or shy. Little girls who got so excited for the last election, and are dealing with the fallout. The song is just for people that feel under-represented, unloved or illegal.'"

Naturally, their are other wonderful songs that the Grammy's featured, but for my energy, these two were music to my ears.

TO ALL TEACHERS: A 2019 Halftime Pep Talk

My 28,000 one hour shows equal 5,000 kids in the audience over a 32 year high school teaching career. The playing field—aka, my classroom from  1977 to 2010. It was a great ride! We had many winning seasons. Really. I mean it. Never a perfect, undefeated season, but always in the hunt, always finishing with a winning record.

What was the magic trick? The secret? The ace up my sleeve? We will get to that shortly but first, gather around, huddle up, it’s halftime and it’s time to have a serious gut check.

Ah, I can see the doubters out there—the teachers for whom the burdens of teaching have set you into a cynical spiral of despair. You’re down, and it’s only the half way point of the year. Your classroom seems like “Groundhog Day” (the movie) in which things that drag you down are repeated over and over.

Let’s make a list: unruly kids; way too many of them; lack of supplies; tepid admin support; parents who either don’t care, don’t want to know what’s wrong with their children—or worse, they ask you what to do!

Have I touched on some of your problems? I bet I have. But let’s not forget these mind numbing fumbles: the paycheck is dismal at best; the curriculum you are told to teach is boring, not just to the kids but to you, as well. One more thing. You have no social life, no money for one, and no idea how to get out of this funk.

Is that what’s ailing you? Yes, I know. I just caused you to cry. “Are you crying? Are you crying?

There’s no crying”… in teaching. (Okay, you can cry a little: but there is no crying in baseball). Now wipe away the tears, and as they say “Huddle up and listen.”

What makes a great teacher? I’ll tell you what. Endurance. Curiosity. Compassion. Selflessness. faith that you have something to offer those kids every single day. Ask yourself if that is what you are out there playing for? Are those qualities the ones you value, not just as a teacher, but are those the qualities you are teaching kids?

Humor. A solid work ethic. And the most important element—

That’s right. I just identified the real ‘Lesson Plans.’ You don’t teach to a test. You are the test. You set the goal. You emulate the skills that you want them to begin to value and someday maybe master.

Let me add one important quality that I implied: patience. Malcolm Gladwell (if you don’t know who he is, then you are not paying attention to the way we learn) argues it takes 10,000  hours of productive practice to master anything; a musical instrument, a sports game, the act of public speaking, and on and on. 

So, for all you young guns out there teaching: patience, endurance. It’s going to take a while to learn the art that is teaching. Each year is a marathon, and summer is when you collapse at the finish line (or try to, if you’ve saved enough money…more on that later).

So what to do? Teach them to sing. To dance. To listen. To create with their hands or finger tips. Whatever you do—you do it first and preferably with them. Show them that it’s doable. Heck, you were once a student and you did it. They can, too. Go watch “Dead Poets Society” or “Stand and Deliver” or “To Sir with Love”—break the mold. Go read my novel “Meetings at the Metaphor Café.” (I don’t mean to shamelessly plug my book, really).

I found lots of teachers who felt they hated what they were teaching. Take WWI, for example. Boring? Really? The gas used in that war is much like what Assad used on his Syrian people. It’s what Saddam Hussein used on the Kurdish citizens to keep control. It’s the weapon of choice for dictators. Ask the kids what we, as Americans, should do about it? And how different is that, really, when it comes to knowingly allowing drinking water in Flint, Michigan to be poisoned with lead? Get them pissed off. Remember, the sins of the past will repeat if you, their teacher, do not help your students to learn from the mistakes of our elders.

That’s your job. Your job is to get them to rise up. To ascend to a high level of thinking, of competence, of humanity. That is so not boring. And if you are not flying out of this huddle fired up to make a difference, then you may not belong in this arena. 50% of teachers can’t cut it and quit after less than five years. But if you have been reading this far into my pep talk, I’m betting you are not a quitter. I’m betting that you give a damn about most, if not all, of your kids.

I know the pay sucks. But stick together. Unions made the difference for me. We took pay cuts for medical coverage to kick in after we retired until 65. That was very ‘Union’ smart. We had to save for retirement, and those pensions that teachers have are golden—just ask folks in the private sector about that. You are a professional, so keep fighting for that profession. Those who can’t teach often don’t have the patience, the selflessness, the vision of a bigger picture, the persistence to get something right. They may have more money, but let me tell you, the Beatles got it right, “Money can’t buy you love.”

And when this season is over, when the scoreboard says you have won more than you lost, when the  kids start meandering out of your classroom—that’s when you will notice that ‘Thank You’ note left on your desk that reads “You don’t know how much it meant to me  when you ran out to the parking lot to ask me if I was ‘okay’. It mattered a lot.”

So, after the Super Bowl, the season really begins anew.

To quote John Keating, “What will your verse be?”