Our Policymakers, Lesigislators & Ed Reformers have no clue

Henry David Thoreau wrote: " The Mass of men, lead lives of quiet Desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city, you go into the desperate country and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats".
 
Children ask teachers the most interesting questions, pay close attention to what we say, and observe us closely. They are also extremely creative and generous. 

A while back, a second-grade girl asked if I was married. I said yes, and I have been happily married for 40 years. Then she followed up, "Why don't you wear your wedding ring?" (-: 

I explained that I have tiny fingers that swell up in the morning and become less swollen later in the day. Over the years, I have lost five gold wedding rings. After the fifth one, my wife said, "This is costing us a fortune...No more wedding rings for you, old man." 

Now, that seemed to take care of it that day. Two weeks later her teacher brought her to see me. She said A has a gift for you. She showed me one of those rings kids make with beads, it was elastic. 

I said wow, you made a nice ring for yourself. She said, it is not for me. The ring is for you, Dr. Turner. I know you love your wife, daughter, and your dog Toast, because you talk about them to us a lot. Especially, when you share silly Dad Jokes.  You say... I am going to share this one at dinner tonight. So, I thought about your problem with wedding rings. Wedding rings are important. You can't lose this one. 

You can bet your bottom last dollar that this ring will be on me in our Literacy Center for the rest of the semester. This is why I love this work. The kindness and generosity of children have no limits.  Much like the generosity of teachers. 

There is the data that counts, and then there is the data that really matters. The data that really matters, informs my thinking that 7-year-olds listen, care, and are natural problem solvers.

See the wonder, not the test score,                                                                                                                Dr. Jesse P. Turner 
CCSU Literacy Center Director 

If you like to listen to the song that inspired my morning walk this morning...its Malvina Reynolds "Little Boxes" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5IKpHTEuY0

I am a teacher, I don't have time to be depressed

I am a teacher, I don't have time to be depressed

I thought I saw Joe Hill walking over that hill with Congressman John Lewis last night. God has blessed me so many times by sending me role models of integrity.

On one of my trips to the Selma Jubilee, I was blessed with a two-minute conversation with my hero Congressman John Lewis at a Selma Gala. The Supreme Court has just ruled to weaken the Voting Rights Act. Everyone was depressed that year, but not Congressman Lewis. I ended up in line with him.

We exchanged greetings, and he said: "Why so sad young man"

I responded by saying how shocking the Supreme Court decision was. He said:
"Young man we don't have time to be depressed. He said, there is work to be done, let us do the work that needs doing.
I said, BUT...
Again, with his big, beautiful smile, he said: "Young man, you know there were 3 marches from Selma to Montgomery, 

The first two were met with brutal violence, 

On the first one, they fractured my skull, 

But I would not let bullies intimidate me, 

So I just got back up and did the work. 

I have been doing the work since 1965,

The work:

Lifts me, 

It is far from done, 

To be honest, 

I am not sure the work will ever be done, 

But doing this work,

Inspires me, 

Lifts me, and 

Sustains my soul,

Young man, 

I expect to see you march across that Edmond Pettus Bridge on Sunday with us." 

I was on the bridge with three other Uniting to Save Our Schools members when Congressman Lewis marched for the last time, just months before he would go on to glory. 

The day after the election, I think how many elections did not turn out Congressman Lewis's way. It never once let him stop doing the work. Elections don't get the work done, people gathering, organizing, and marching get the work done. I feel some marching coming. 

I shall honor God's blessing of those two minutes with Congressman Lewis, by doing the work that needs doing. The work inspires me, lifts me, and sustains me.

Call me Dr. Good Troubles,

Jesse The Walking Man Turner 

As long as I have music, I can go on, here is my walking song this morning link: One day when the Glory Comes Common John Legend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o 

Come What May: I shall not be moved

 

COME WHAT May:
I shall not be moved.

Our daughter is joining us on November 5, 2024, to vote,
We shall cast our vote for Vice President Harris,
Win or lose, we shall stand with love together.

If we win, then,
We shall do what my grandfather did,
hold her accountable.

If we lose, then,
We shall not run away,
We shall once again join the women in DC on inauguration day,
Standing up for our civil rights.

If Trump builds his detention centers,
If Trump turns the army on the people who opposed him,
If women are blocked from Reproductive health care,
If Trump's Supreme Court of shame,
Takes back LGBTQ rights,
Then, I should use my voice, my feet, and my body to block them.

I shall not be moved,
Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,
Like Rosa Parks,
Like the Civil Rights Leaders of old,
I shall speak up,
Stand up,
March, and
Practice my right to assemble even under threat of arrest.

If they lock me in a cell,
Then I shall come right back out, and
Do it again,
If they arrest me 1000 times, then
So be it.

I will not flee our America,
I shall stay, and
Stand up for our rights.

Come what may,
Like a tree by the water,
I shall not be moved.

Dr. Jesse P. Turner
United to Save Our Schools
Badass Teacher
Just call me unmovable

If you like to listen to the tune that inspired my walk today, its Marva Staples singing "We Shall Not Be Moved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcDpmzQh3YU

Dr. Rev William Barber Jr at Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama