Pursuit of Happiness

This blog comes on the heels of the first week of the walkout of teachers in Oklahoma. This is a historical event that is unfolding in front of our eyes. Educators please take note on the power that we have in unity. We have been able to unite for a common cause in order to effect change for the betterment of our children. Yes this is long overdue and should have been done years ago, but educators PLEASE  stand your ground and do not give in, continue to fight for what we believe.

Pursuit of Happiness, this is what most educators go into and continue to stay in education for. So many people have asked, argued, and complained that educators are greedy, selfish, and many other not so pleasant adjectives. As I have contemplated this whole walkout situation, the only thing that has come to mind is the Pursuit of Happiness. As educators we want to see a happy society, one where our present and future students will be armed with the skills necessary to impact this society. As  educators we know what awaits them once they leave our classroom and ultimately go into this cruel and unforgiving world. However in order to do this we need adequate supplies, teaching facilities, and working conditions. Yeah a little extra pay won't hurt either; it's only been ten years since the last raise. Go figure. Every teacher that I have had the chance to speak with these last few days echos this, the Pursuit of Happiness, is why I am walking out. The teachers are saying that it is their RIGHT to have adequate working conditions, supplies, and teaching facilities. If it takes walking out to show that we, as educators mean business, then that is what we must do. I  am reminded of the movie of the movie, Pursuit of Happiness, staring Will Smith. I remember all of the things that he went through in order to make a better life for his son and himself.

I said all of that to say, educators pursue you happiness with reckless  abandonment. Pursue your happiness like your life and the life of others depended on it, because it actually does. Pursue your happiness and do not give up until you find it and it becomes yours. Educators never let anyone ever devalue our profession  again, hold your heads up high and know that without you, the educators, no other profession on this earth would be possible.