Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for May 26, 2014

What’s the possibility of getting copies of this in every teacher’s lounge in America, if not the whole world?Gavin, this is great.

Education: one of the most important things taken for granted.

He is a teacher and a great slam poet.

Yes, teachers are underpaid. But, yes, a good teacher can make all the difference in the world.

He’s gonna need to reload both barrels for the next fool who asks him that.

And all under a smothering blanket of bureaucracy and the apathy of trough-feeders pretending to be his peer, obviously, when in giving him his due, they have made the job attractive to those who lack the spirit it requires.

I am 85 years young and I have out lived all my teachers, but I have not lost the memories of their teaching, who by the way were also my parents who prepared me and my sisters for the lives we have enjoyed. They were not “teachers” they just lived as an example of what they too believed and expected of us. “Be responsible”. “Be curious” and ask “Why”. “.Ask it of yourself first”. Our children and their children also know this as normal in their lives.My favorite quote is: Genius may not be an option, but remaining ignorant is your choice". (anon)

Bravo, Gavin. You’ve made my Memorial Day memorable – and again redeemed the often vapid genre of comic strips into the realm of thought (and heart) provoking social commentary. Kudos 2 U ! Teachers rock!

Good enough that I emailed this to the teachers I know.

: D Superb!

That was awesome!

Love this!

I was taught in the 50’s and 60’s, and barely was able to answer most of these… I am appalled at the level of todays “education”.http://www.bullittcountyhistory.com/bchistory/schoolexam1912.html

Thank you!

Well said :-D

People do seem to like to place all the blame at the feet of teachers for the condition of the educational system. They seem to forget that things like common core, which as i understand it was devolped a mathmatican who is theoretical by nature and not every day practical, and standardized testing, which is comes from politicans and administators, where not developed by teachers. It seems like most want nothing to do with either of them. .Makes it hard to address the issues of any topic when peoples views are so limited.

In response to “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach”: remember those who “do” were taught. Think about that.

Hey Lawyer or, Politician without a teacher you wouldn’t be one

THANK YOU!I taught toddlers and their parents for 15 years. Outside theclassroom I was a glorified babysitter! No-one knew whatskill it takes to keep both groups happy in one classroom.I have a Masters Degree, but that seemed to have no value!Elisabeth

Yes, Thank you. I’ve already sent my new man 2 emails today, or I’d be sending this. Maybe I’ll print it and take it when I see him tomorrow. He has been a math teacher and has also studied law, so he reminds me that all lawyers are not like my brother – some even have ethics. He’ll appreciate this.

cut the lawyer’s pay check by half, that will be enough to run school district for whole year !! by the way, who was the lawyer’s teacher ? ?

Some of the lowest paid teachers on the totem pole are some of the best. Visit a community college. Check out a course, at random. Chances are 50/50 it is being taught by an “adjunct” who gets paid FAR less than half of what full time teachers get – in certain disciplines like writing, the odds are even higher. There have been stories recently of adjuncts who live in their cars, have to get food stamps, fight to keep one step ahead of the wolf at the door, and often fail. When New Jersey passed a half-billion-dollar bond issue a couple of years ago, I was foolish enough to think that teachers would see some of that. Of course it went to contractors and concrete companies, even at the school where I teach. We have had a downturn in enrollment, three of the unions are without contracts, morale is at an all-time low. Despite the fall in enrollment, this school has the most students of any in the state. However, the adjunct faculty, about 60% of the folks on the ground doing the teaching, makes less than ANY teacher in the state. On the other hand, there was room in the budget for a new building.

Whenever a bureaucracy gets on something like “merit based raises”, etc, it becomes a way to keep the higher paid, experienced workers from getting raises and someone who challenges the authority of the higher ups, suggests new ways of doing things, etc, had better be independently wealthy. I saw it 3 times in my career, and the only way to do well was to become like sheep. That also meant it was fine to check the box without doing the (much needed) work. My evaluations dropped for A’s to C’s every time.

I can only add “THANK YOU” to all the teachers in my life.

Now this is a great strip!That’s one of the problems that will continue to bring this country down: scorn for those that make the things we need, and worship for those who only make fortunes for themselves.

Anne Sullivan agrees with this quote, as does million of other teachers who have made small, but great, differences in the lives of their students.