Dear Diary,
I feel less pain today as my fellow educators across the globe probe my writings to inform me of mutual discoveries in our places of learning. Our roles in society as teacher, educator, professor, lecturer, tutor, instructor, counselor, guide, and mentor were once titles that commanded respect and admiration. The current onslaught of constant vilification by the very people paid 3 – 6 times more than those of us doing actual work with and for our students gouges all of our senses. Like a superhero, we deflect every arrow, sword, bullet and bomb, simultaneously protecting both our students and our mental health as we trudge forward to our classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls. We do not cower from the formidable attack by top administrators and government officials.
“Onward toward earning your degree!” we shout in the foggy mists.
“Keep up; you’re nearly there! Final examinations are just around the next bend!” we encourage as we haul them through the last storm of writing papers and reports, reviewing texts, performing lab experiments, researching in the libraries, connecting to the world via online links.
Meanwhile, using every means possible, we are “weighed and measured” while support systems have been removed, salaries cut, and retiring faculty not replaced.
It is time, dear Diary, to walk on a lovely Spring day and set my mind to wander.
