Much of this newsletter is written in the basement of my former schoolhouse home. I imagine myself struggling to reach my colleagues in the same way that generations of students struggled to pen their thoughts for teachers, other students, themselves. Sometimes I don't know what to say or how to say it. . . . Such is the case tonight. Am I reaching anyone? Do I speak well for my colleagues, for teachers of language arts? The walls are not speaking sense to me tonight.
I have on my desk exciting evidence that South Dakota teachers are the nation's best teachers. The South Dakota Teacher Forum is partial proof of that (see related article). What a dedicated group of thinkers and problem solvers joined us in Aberdeen to brainstorm and to advocate for the teaching profession! I have notes about a bounty of creative teacher writings from my journey to the Prairie Winds Writers Conference, further proof that good teachers abound all over this broad expanse. These teacher/writers come, sacrifice their personal comfort and the work of their classrooms, and strive to put words to their ideas because they are truly interested in this field of language arts. I have correspondence from the South Dakota Curriculum Coalition, inviting SDCTE to join them in setting the standards which could/should govern our teaching efforts and our students' learnings. I take that as further evidence that good teachers do dialogue with each other for good causes.
I also have on my desk a formidable stack of student essays and unfinished plans for Monday's activities with my students, over 200 pages of reading to do for a literary criticism course at the University, and letters I've neglected for too many weeks to too many good friends. There doesn't seem time for reflection and planning for coming together on any of it.
The dilemma is, I suppose, that we all have good things to say but too many things to do. The choices we make, I suspect, will serve regardless. We do, after all, carry on. In future newsletter and other correspondence (maybe even a phone call or three), we will have to call on you to support our endeavors with your presence, your ideas, and your commitment of time. The leadership team is well aware of your already taxed time. We deal with similar constraints. We won't ask for anything we don't truly need. And we won't ask unless we know you are the best person for the job. I hope you will heed our call for help.
Sue Morrell
October 1994