Being a Minnesota state employee has led to a very unique mindset that I never thought would be in my world. I’ve almost likened the layoff and games of politics to watching the school yard:
“Well, the last couple of weeks at my school (School of HardKnocks…wanted Julliard, but something about money…anyway, I digress..!), has been really tough. You see, there has been these two groups of bullies that have been causing all kinds of problems for all the students. Some folks call them gangs, some refer to them as political parties, but I just think they are bullies.
Anyway, they started by taking our lunch money from us (and breakfast and dinner), then making us stand outside in the rain. It’s been really rough for so many of the students at our school. But, that’s not the worst part.
It turns out that the trouble-makers that have caused such disruptions in the classrooms aren’t fellow students, but the so-called teachers themselves! I know, right!!! So much for that whole “lead by example” stuff we were taught!
So, it seems that the two groups of bullies have been fighting against each other and that us students were just “caught in the middle”. I think they called us casualties-of-war, or cannon-fodder, or some type of branding. Now I’m sure that the blame-game will commence and each side will say it was the other sides fault that students were hurt. Then, they’ll say it was friendly-fire, but no one will accept responsibility (which is something we are supposed to do when we make a mistake….learned that at a better school).
My fear, as with so many other students at the School of HardKnocks, is going back to classes. It’s going to be hard to trust again. Seeing the cheesy, fake smiles of the teachers/bullies as they try to welcome us back to class….knowing darn well that for each handshake or pat on the back they give us, their other hand is holding sharp objects that could cause deep wounds for life. (Hmm…sounds like several movies I’ve seen in the past, or maybe I was reading this scenario somewhere before…maybe some history books, or something……).
Begrudgingly, we will be led back to the rooms, like lambs, told to nevermind what has happened in the past, but to look to the future…’cuz they said so! (insert another history lesson here)
At this point, I’m not sure I’ve learned anything positive out of this whole thing other than the two gangs of bullies are certainly not very nice, or trusting, or smart. Seems to me that all of us that attend the School of HardKnocks would benefit more from different teachers! I know if we students had acted like that, we would have been punished and even expelled! Can they teachers be expelled…..soon?
Well, I’ll close for now. I can’t wait for Band Camp in 2012! I hear they have some really colorful camp counselors that want to lead us students!!!! I wonder if we will learn anything new there…or just repeat that same thing, again?”
Then again, the school yard never left you needing to file for unemployement when you are “employed”.
Harbor Lights Ministries 