When I began teaching in 1972…My voice was strong and hopeful…We were making strong strides in educating all children… We were now integrated, making our schools inclusive; federal programs…
I was even traveling 90 miles a day, just to teach at what was once an “all black school”…And even involved in Head Start and an Early Childhood Preventative Curriculum Program…for high risk first graders…We had opportunities and hope …
Then, as years went by, and politics was influencing our public schools with a republican agenda, that by the 90s, there was an emphasis on privatization, developmentally inappropriate curriculum and over testing…
My teacher voice was becoming extremely frustrated… I always did what I was supposed to do…Most of my colleagues, and I being apolitical…
Still trying to teach, and giving my all, in spite of the consequential slow dismantling of our public schools, especially over these years since the millennium…My voice became loud… always doing what was expected…
However, since my retirement…My voice is strong…
I must speak out for our precious children and my dear former colleagues and wonderful support staff…
We must not accept this divisive political agenda as the norm… Our precious children…are definitely not getting the best education and we have a teacher shortage!!
My Teacher Voice
Janis Sexton...Teacher...Advocate 