Getting the Girls Out of the Classroom, but at Great Cost

PRIOR TO MY PREMATURE RETIREMENT from America's public schools at the precocious age of sixty, due to an impressive array of stress related personality disorders stemming from job related acrimony, I spent a not inconsiderable amount of time in classrooms at all grade levels, day care through college, which fulfilled a bucket list objective. Surveys indicate that over one half of American parents are satisfied with the public school attended by their own children, but that only about one third of those self same parents consider America's public education satisfactory generally. This trend adheres particularly among conservatives, not unsurprisingly, since public schools are inherently socialistic, due to their being "public". What's wrong with this picture? Why, absolutely nothing. Its normal, to be expected. In accordance with psychology's "observer mirror effect", we tend to think our own kids smarter, cuter, faster, stronger, and much more morally superior than those...other people, and their mangy brood. In other words, we're biased, in favor of our lovely selves. So are communities, ethnic groups, socio-economic strata, and various genders. In Washington D.C., the Ron Brown prep school commenced operation this week, along with most of America's much maligned public schools. All boys, mostly black and Latino. Navy blue slacks with gold stripes, clean pressed starched white shirt, gold and navy striped tie. No word yet on shoes and socks, which are likely dark hued and shined to a reflective gloss. John Philip Sousa would be proud. None of this should have anything to do with improved learning, but it does. The geekier the uniform, the more restrictive the dress code, the less petty sartorial animosity, the fewer the distractions. Same with uni-sex education. Get the girls and their short skirts out of the building, and the remaining students can concentrate on their books, instead of that special pretty person across the isle. I'm as guilty as the next testosterone laden stud muffin in this regard, an unrepentant sucker for a short skirt and receding neck line. When holding forth from the pedantic pulpit, I always tried, not always successfully, to keep my eyes straight ahead, roaming the entire room, not lingering...anywhere. As a student in high school, I, had the administrators that were gotten the girls out of the building, might have flourished even more academically, because I would most certainly not have been fantasizing, scheming how to get the girls out of the building, erstwhile pretending to be deeply engaged in trig, history, or U.S. government. Life is a trade off. In retrospect, I remain sincerely grateful for the lack of foresight by administration, and that the girls remained right there in class with me, close, oh so close, making memories which have lasted a lifetime. Who needs an education, other than geeky successful folk in proper apparel?----------TO EXPAND CREATIVE WRITING IN THE LAND OF HEEDLESS CONFORMITY, PLEASE SHARE THIS WEBSITE WITH OTHERS!