I'm Speechless

My family isn't always real happy that I have a blog.  There have been plenty of times over the past 15 months where Kim or one of the kids has been telling a story about something going on in their lives and I've said "I'm going to blog about that" only to be asked (or told) to reconsider.  There have been other times when I've been reminded that I shouldn't name names, places, or anything else that could positively identify the innocent.

I've tried pretty hard to comply with their requests and I think I've done a pretty good job.  I get that they didn't sign up to have their lives on display.  I also get that they may not want to be identified with my ramblings.  Tonight, though, I don't think I'm going to be able to meet their expectations.

Based on the experiences that my kids have relayed to me during dinner table conversations over the past 15 years, the Howard County Public School System appears to have two primary objectives:

• Get as many kids as possible to take AP exams
• Eliminate bullying.

These aren't the two objectives I'd push but, unfortunately, I'm not in charge.  And, admittedly, I've been too apathetic to join the PTA or run for the school board.  So, I'm left to sit on my couch and complain.

I can't really argue that these two goals are inherently bad.  But, I'm not sure they should be the primary objectives of the school system.  Creativity, independent thinking, eating right, and exercising regularly seem like more reasonable goals to me.  There have to be some good curriculum's for those things.

This all leads me to tonight's dinner table revelation.  Each year, River Hill has a "Day of Silence."  This has been going on since Hannah was a freshman.  On this day, students can opt to go the entire day without speaking.  By doing this, they're showing their support for gay and lesbian teens, who often feel compelled to remain silent about their status.  Today was the "Day of Silence" for 2012.

As usual, the "Day of Silence" led to some pretty good stories at dinner.  I heard about the kid who, on the way to class, said "We've got a debate scheduled for this period.  I'll do the "Day of Silence" thing so I can get out of it."  I also heard about the kid who contributed absolutely nothing to his three classmates during group work that the four of them were assigned to do.

I can't say that I was really surprised by either of those two examples.  Kids are kids.  Give them an opening and they'll take it.  If I were one of them at River Hill today, I'd probably have done the same thing.  But, I almost fell out of my chair when I heard about the substitute teacher in one of Nick's classes.  He walked into the room to find that she'd written a note on the blackboard.  On it, she said that, in honor of the "Day of Silence," she wouldn't be teaching the class.  They were on their own.

OK, I know that substitutes get paid a pittance.  It's a thankless job.  But, using the "Day of Silence" as a reason to refuse to teach?  That's acceptable?  Apparently so at River Hill.