9/4/2022

Dear Friend,

            Please ask Jill & Sec. Marty Walsh to change the narrative about our teacherless classrooms. Urge them to follow Forbes writer, Peter Green’s advice & not call the situation “a teacher shortage.” As he notes, “the qualified people exist, but too many states & school districts want to pretend otherwise, … (because) the shortage model allows state and district leaders to shrug and say, “Hey, they just aren’t out there. It’s not our fault.” We know plenty of young folk want to become teachers, just not under the wages being offered & not under the conditions that exist in today’s classrooms. We need to do better!

            You sure did stir things up with that Soul of America speech! The WP says, “Not since the Civil War has an American president issued such a stark warning about the behavior and menace posed by fellow Americans.” You’ve got the GOP accusing you of being “condescending.” While you may have the attention of politicians & some journalists, I am not sure the rest of the country is paying attention at all.

            Folks in my neck of the woods are too obsessed with our heat advisory. The headline in the KC Star is about “The New Abortion Front Lines in Johnson County,” & the WSJ has 5 articles about the Badgers football game, a drop in life expectancy & a piece about how Tony Evers is keeping his distance from you. The headliner in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is about a 7-year-old’s death in a hit & run, & the Portland Press Herald wonders, “Where have all the workers gone?” I’m not sure what you have to do to get the attention of my fellow citizens, but a prime-time speech doesn’t seem to be enough.

            During last night’s Yangon Quaker Meeting, we began a discussion about how to get funds into Burma. Inflation there has gone wild. Gas is in short supply. The situation is desperate. They need our help. It’s time to recognize the NUG & pressure the UN to do the same.  Please get on it.

            BYBS,