I wasn’t planning to write a monthly entry but I find myself in front of my computer with steam coming out of my ears .This week is Spirit Week at my school where students and faculty show their school spirit by dressing up: Monday was Favorite Team Day, Tuesday was Formal Day, Wednesday was Wacky Wednesday, Thursday is Support the Troops Day and Friday will be our Spirit Day which will culminate with a Pep Assembly. I am not upset over the prospect of listening to 842 adolescents scream at the top of their lungs for an hour (I bring my flesh colored earplugs), and I am only mildly upset over the prospect of yet another disruption in my teaching schedule (we have had four thus far and we are still in September). My complaint is not with the student that came up with the Support the Troops Day theme but the lack of forethought of the faculty that approved it. The Morning Bulletin describes the day as wear camouflage or red, white, and blue to show your support . Before you imagine me as an unpatriotic curmudgeon let me assure you that I am in favor of supporting the troops. I just object to trivializing support by playing dress up. I am annoyed that this Occupation which is causing misery both in this country and Iraq has been turned into the backdrop of a sporting event with this activity. Rather than using this teachable moment to actually do something to support the troops, we are desensitizing our students to war. From my perspective, it puts war on the same footing as a football game. See where I am coming from?

This is not the first time I have objected to this Support the Troops Dress up Day. Last year I brought it up at my ________ grade Team Meeting. My comment was met with silence and ignored. This time I went and talked to my building principal privately and told him of my concerns and my perspective. I told him that, in particular, I objected to the hollowness of the support and suggested that in the future he encourage staff to contact our local (County) Support the Troops group which arranges to send packages and letters from school to our hometown boys. Thus far I have not had ANY response from him. So tomorrow, I will have my own teachable moment and wear my Support the Troops, Bring them Home ribbon prominently on my black outfit. I’ll let you know what happens….