We sit and wait, teachers do. We wonder if things can get worse. They can. We don’t want to say anything because then we’ll be labeled as complainers, as people who can’t hack it. And, we wait for Superman.
I didn’t know this was an actual term in the Great Depression. Things were so bad in the United States that the savior we created was Superman, a figure so great that he would save us from our problems. It is a nice thought, but I’m looking more on the lines of the plural here, and not just one guy who gets a little woozy once around Kryptonite.
Waiting for Superman was a documentary released in 2010. I remember the title well because one of the local high schools took one of their student-free days to take teachers to see it. I haven’t seen it. I don’t need to because I live it daily. Although, I only live it in the suburbs. I have subbed in Paramount, Downey, ABC, Long Beach, and Los Alamitos school districts. I have taught in Long Beach, Anaheim Union, and Torrance districts. But I haven’t seen it all, I suppose.
There’s a lot of positive talk at our school, in our district, and in social media regarding our new principal, who will start on July 1st. He will be my ninth principal in nineteen years, but new folks always give teachers and students and parents something to look forward to. I don’t know him, personally, but I am happy that my good students like him and my bad students don’t.
I get it–changing a culture is not easy, but we’re talking about a brand here. SaxonStrong is a great, catchy brand. It can happen. Good students want it. Most teachers want it. But one big sticker that says SaxonStrong that sits outside the copy room is the only one I’ve seen. We all want to have a school that kids look forward to attending, and one where parents, faculty, and staff are proud to be associated with.
Look, up in the air!