See, I Do Care
I was a recent college grad when I took a job with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I was young, idealistic and wanted a job that would be emotionally fulfilling. I naively thought that working for a non-profit organization would provide me with the sensation of doing something for the greater good. It did not. Within a year I realized that non-profit organizations are mainly filled with people who are driven by money. Raising money and finding new ways of raising money is their only focus. I learned three important things while working there.
#1 Give Locally
Your local vet clinic, homeless shelter, food bank will take your money and put it to use right away helping the people in your neighborhood. Your money will not go to feed and/or support a large bureaucracy that must pay salaries, bonuses and office supplies for their employees.
#2 Don’t Give Money
If at all possible give something that can’t be corrupted. Whenever I can I prefer to donate food, books, time, clothes, ANYTHING but money. Money is easily manipulated and wasted on things that you would rather not see your charitable money being spent.
#3 Work For The United Way
It is a widely held belief within the non-profit industry that if you want to make “real” money you go work for the United Way. They pay top dollar for their employees. This tells me as a person donating to NEVER donate to the United Way.
Even with this jaded and cynical attitude I still have two causes that evoke my passion. Causes for which I will give and/or do anything. They are literacy and food. I feel passionate that if you feed people and teach them to read you can change the world. People have endless potential when they don’t have to worry about their next meal and when they can self-educate. First and foremost I believe that women should know how to read. They are the mothers of the world and only they can influence and change the future of our society. It is imperative.
As a result when I read Seagull Fountain’s review of “Three Cups of Tea” at 1:00 in the morning while I fed the baby I could not stop thinking. I was awake for another two hours thinking about the girls of the world. My heart breaking about the young women of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and other nations who are left out of the educational process. Girls who will never know the wonder and power of books – even their own religious texts. As I lay there awake thinking about these girls and asking myself what can I DO to help this cause I thought well, I could write another blog post about Seagull Fountain’s review and thus continue the cycle of awareness. I could also provide a link to Greg Mortenson’s charitable cause iKat and encourage you to help.
You teach a girl to read, you teach a family to read. You teach a family to read, you teach a town to read. You teach a town to read, you can change the world.
Why Teachers Who Teach Writing Should Write
1.) Writing Is Hard
Writing has always been my favorite form of expression. Some people paint, draw, sculpt, sew, do crafts, take pictures but I write. I’m honest about my skills, which means I’m a hair above average. However, writing every day or even three times a week is challenging. At times it is down right hard. The pain felt when staring at a blank page or the anxiety of not knowing what to write about is a feeling that a composition teacher should always be familiar.
2.) Writing Is A Skill
Like any other hobby writing requires constant practice. The less you do the worse you get. I used to be able to rattle off a thirty second radio ad in twenty minutes but now my creative writing skills have grown rusty as I have spent more time writing academically and professionally. If I’m going to preach practice then I had better be practicing myself.
3.) Know Thyself
Part of the skill of writing is understanding where you struggle. I’m not a grammarian. I’m okay with this. The basic rules of grammar are tedious and boring to me. I couldn’t quote the rule for semi-colon usage or dangling modifiers if my life depended on it. Yuck. I love books. I love words. I love writing. I don’t love grammar. However, knowing my weakness allows me to compensate for it. It is important to know where your strengths and weakness lie and therefore also important that my students gain that same self-awareness.
4.) Don’t Lose The Wonder
I love to write. I truly do love it. I’ve written in some form or fashion everyday of my life since I was in fifth grade and started my first journal. I still love it. I love how writing forces me to be introspective. I love how writing challenges me to accurately communicate my thoughts and feelings. I love that sometimes when I write things it affects people and they tell me. If I ever lose sight of that love I’m going to quit teaching.
The act of writing is a craft and it is impossible to teach and inspire somebody to pursue the same craft if you yourself do not practice. When I tell my students about the importance of having a writing process or why organization is important it is coming from the voice of experience and not from a textbook. A lecture rings hollow when it is presented with no passion and little context.
Summer Reading? No, Summer Lovin’
As part of my strategy to regain some peace in my life I have made a conscious decision to spend less time online (shocking, I know) and more time reading (even more scandalous). Realizing that I’m also teaching over the summer I’ve kept my summer reading goals modest this year. I haven’t purchased stacks and stacks of books but instead picked only a couple that I felt I could get through pretty quick. I wanted to LOVE what I was reading and not feel like I was back in school with a self-imposed assignment. So, here is what I’ve got on my nightstand:
“The Bottoms” by Joe Lansdale
This was a recommendation from a fellow professor and I have to say I LOVED this book. It was a complete page turner and I blew through it in three days. Set in East Texas during the 1930’s it tells the story of a young boy who stumbles across the murdered body of a black woman. The family and city turmoil that ensues is reminiscent of “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Lansdale does a great job of capturing the feel of East Texas and the naked atrocities of racism during the 30’s. I will be using this book in my class this summer and I cannot wait to lead class discussion – so many rich themes, so many great characters. I highly recommend it.
“Eat, Pray, Love” by Michelle Gilbert
Okay, I admit I’m late on this one. I know this book has been around for years and is now being made into a motion picture starring Julia Roberts. However, I think books come to you when you need them most and right now I needed a book that reminded me of the importance of doing things that I love and relying on faith. I’ve just started reading it and so far it has struck a real chord with me. I’m eager to devour it.
“It Starts At Home” by Kurt Brooner and Steve Stroope
Finally, not a novel but a book to make me a better parent and wife. David and I made the decision to pull Lucy out of private school and put her into public. We have a great public school here in Texas and I can’t really say I’m necessarily concerned about the quality of her education. However, I don’t want her to lose the faith-based foundation she was building in private school. As a result, I picked this book up to help give us some ideas and direction on how to incorporate our faith into our daily lives.
“Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller
This was a recommendation from David’s cousin Emily (thanks Em!). This was also a rather fast read. I read the entire book in about a week. Written in a free-flowing journal style Miller recounts his personal journey of faith touching on both his doubts and his sources for inspiration. It is a rather different look at Christian faith since Miller is both a proud Democrat and liberal and summarily rejects the traditional “Christian Conservative” movement.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
This is my heavy hitter for the summer. I’ve tried reading this before and failed miserably. However, my sister-in-law has also taken up the mantle and so I’m feeling empowered to get through it with a reading partner by my side. I’ll let you know if we succeed.
I have a second stack of books if I somehow complete all these and still have time. That second stack includes “A Good Earth”, and another Lansdale novel.
I’m open to suggestions though and if you have something sitting on your nightstand that you think I would enjoy please leave me a note. (Please do not recommend ANY book in the Twilight series. Unless you are interested in hearing my well rehearsed lecture regarding the quality of Stephanie Meyer’s writing)
