It seems these days that I am being constantly reminded of the “Mighty Temps” and their one-time hit “Ball of Confusion.” In the past week the talk and the “tweets” have centered on new revelations in the realm of “Education.”  We should not be surprised, the song’s lyrics foretold a lifetime ago: “And it seems nobody’s interested in learning but the teacher.” This got me thinking about my own public education and just how wonderful the learning experience had been. Our teachers were appreciated, even if we weren’t always reminding them of their good work.

Today, Public School teachers are severely underpaid, and along with private school teachers, they are besieged by incidents of “Mass Killings,” invaded by “First Responders” and politicians bestowing their trite apologies.  Teachers have been scolded by State governments for seeking improvements in school budgets and their own salaries.  As if such thinking was a bad omen.  And, of course, all of this while the pundits bemoan our ever slipping worldwide rating on education.  These unsophisticated oddballs have come up with a solution.  With the full backing of the NRA they suggest that it is time we armed our teachers.  So much for education … “and the band played on.”

As if being crippled by the Charter School syndrome, Hurricanes Harvey and Maria, and the ever shrinking level of textbooks and supplies our teachers have been all but abandoned by the federal Department of Education.   It seems even corporate tycoons need to be taught a lesson or two by our marvelous teachers.  The bottom line might well be good for business but they need to learn that our children learn best when they are appreciated and supported by our communities.  When politicians and educators invest in our children the children will shine.  It seems this lesson as not been lost on our teachers who are “the only ones interested in education.”

Unfortunately, last week’s bombshell that some in the “privileged” class were employing their “privileges” to buy their dumb children open spaces in Colleges and Universities demonstrate just how low our nation has fallen.  The Temptations sang their tune to inspire us to do better.  And the Band played on …