It's February of 2025...What do we do NOW?!

Walter S. Mills, photo published in the Baltimore Afro-American

Hello wonderful snackers!

There is no shortage of wonder and speculation about what could happen to public education as this year goes on. In response, I'd like to preface this week's Sunday Snack with a short history lesson.

It is Black History Month in the United States. When I was a senior in high school, I had a brief brush with both black history and teaching (which, at the time, wasn't on my career radar). My county had recently established a Human Relations Advisory Committee. At the beginning of my senior year in high school, I received a letter telling me that I had been selected to be its inaugural student member. At that first meeting, I timidly took my seat at a large oblong table surrounded by people who knew a lot more about everything than I did. Over time, I got to know the members and the work of helping to make our region a safe and more equitable place for everyone. There was an older gentleman who sat at the far end of the table from where I was sitting. His name was Dr. Walter Mills (pictured above). At the time I knew very little about Dr. Mills, but I did know that he had the rapt attention of everyone at the table despite having a voice that had clearly been slowed and quieted by age.

I would be more than three decades into my teaching career before Walter Mills' name would once again cross my consciousness. In 2021, a controversy came to light regarding an incident that took place in our school system in 1936. The Superintendent at the time, George Fox, and other school officials were called to task by (the same) Walter Mills, the principal of segregated Parole Elementary in Annapolis. At issue was the fact that black educators with the same credentials were being paid less than their white counterparts. Superintendent Fox said in response, "The worst white teacher is better than the best black teacher". In 1939, Dr. Mills sued the school system and won with the assistance of Baltimore NAACP attorney (and future U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Thurgood Marshall. An outraged public called for the renaming of the middle school (that sits about 2 miles/3km from my home) that had been named for Fox. The Board of Education voted to change the school's name to Northeast Middle School. Parole Elementary also has a new name...

After the Mills decision, it would be16 more years before the U.S. Supreme Court would finally rule that separate public schools were unconstitional. It took the work, perseverance and courage of many educators and community members across the country, including cases like Dr. Mills', to make the difference for America's schools. That was 70 years ago. Unfortunately, there are challenges and oppressive forces here and everywhere. We still have many issues that need attention, and others that are causing many of us to fear for our students and for the future of public education.

What can we do? I'd like to share some things that are working for me--please reply if these resonate, and, especially if you have other things that are working to share!

Accept and stay focused on the present. This is a very difficult task in our world. I wrote about it back in November. The only thing we control is this moment, right now. If you can't change something, don't give it your energy. Our worst worries evolve from dwelling on our past and/or dreading the thoughts of future events.

Remember your superpower. You are some of the smartest, most caring and persistent human beings on the planet. Keep showing up for all of our kids, one day at a time.

Remember that you control your mind's message. Our psyche is controlled by what we put in front of it. If we are always watching negative things and hanging around negative people, we're going to start to say negative things to and about ourselves. We control our TV remotes, and no laws require us to watch the news. Consider turning off text alerts and notifications on your phone. It's not THAT urgent; it's just adding extra stress. If you're seeing social media pages and other venues that bash teachers and education, unsubscribe and stop following immediately. Your supervisors and school sytems will tell you what you need to know. AND...if it's affecting you, it's affecting your class. It may take time to wean yourself off of the FOMO, but it's worth it!

Remember that some of your relationships may change as you set boundaries to protect your personal peace. Certain people may no longer be allowed access to you. You'll know what works because it will feel right. You can't be your best teacher self if your energy is being sapped by the wrong people.

Find your tribe. Stick and stay with the people who support you and make you feel good, in your building and everywhere. They need you as much as you need them.

Remember what we've already overcome. We are the living legacy of Dr. Mills, and Brown and IDEA, and every other thing that has made our school systems work for millions of students over the years. You'll be surprised by what you're able to notice if you can stop watching.

Practice gratitude. Social scientists, including Dr. Robert Emmons, have discovered scientific proof that gratitude is the key component to personal, lasting happiness. Too often we are led by social media photos that make us jealous and the constant bombardment of ads that tell us what we need in our lives in order to feel and be complete. Every day, write a list of three things you are grateful for. If you're not sure how to start this practice, or, if you're ready for the next level, jump over here. Gratitude truly is magical.

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Courage, super snackers! I see you, and I believe in you. More ideas next week. Until next time,

Happy snacking!

Charles

head chef

www.teacherssnacks.com