September 19, 2017 RICH GIRL

When my daughter first told me she wanted to be a TEACHER--I urged--okay BEGGED her to reconsider. It's a jungle out there. Between new initiatives AND  never ending meetings --it's crazy. Schools are always looking for the next "BIG FIX". They are constantly changing either their reading  or  math program-- at HUGE expense to the taxpayer--leaving the old program to ROT away in some storage room. NOT KIDDING. See why I tried to talk her out of the TEACHING PROFESSION. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, I love the kids but............. So after a long--SWEATY--day of teaching  last week something AMAZING happened. Something that reminded me of why I became a teacher in the first place. A former student stopped by to THANK ME. Isn't that wonderful? It's nice to know someone learned something of value from me and felt strongly enough about it to come and see me. It's nice to feel appreciated every once in a while. That's why I teach--it can really be a rewarding profession. It's a profession that can touch and change lives and it's probably one of the MOST IMPORTANT jobs in the world. Hats off to the next generation. Teachers aren't the only ones who teach-- parents should be the primary teachers of their children. But what happens if the lessons taught by  parents are all wrong?? This is what happens to two sons, Biff and Happy Loman, in the wonderful play Death of a Salesman. 

Every once in a while, for a change of pace, I like to read plays--especially Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning plays. Arthur Miller wrote this masterpiece about the American dream in 1949. Willy Loman has been a salesman for over thirty years. He's at the end of a modest career, a man  who deludes himself into thinking that he is a big shot. In reality, he's  an insecure, angry dreamer who believes that money buys happiness.  That money is the key to success--and he's taught this lesson to his sons. Willy's not a success because his character and personality are flawed.  He doesn't get along well  with people and his motives are questionable. Because he is not successful, Willy tries to get Biff to make it for him. Biff, the older son, is a football star with serious potential. Biff's on the road to success until he witnesses his father in a compromising position. He then quits school  and heads west.  As the play unfolds, Willy, and his wife, Linda, are arguing about his job,  Biff's lack of ambition, and Willy's mental stability.   Find out what happens to this family who live in denial when you read this play that is considered by many to be the greatest play of the twentieth century. It's only about 140 pages--it can literally be read in one sitting! When you're done, check out the movie starring Dustin Hoffman. It's wonderful.