The Social & Emotional Needs of Children

by JC Bowman, posted in JC Bowman, Mental Health, Professional Educators of Tennessee

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Who does not want a child to have success with academic achievement, positive behavior, and healthier life choices? On the surface, self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills are indeed essential for success in school, work, and life. Too often good ideas and solutions get lost in poor implementation, and teachers often are not trained specifically to address some of the issue’s children face.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) has become arguably one of the hottest topics in education and the most controversial to critics. Christina Cipriano, the director of research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a research scientist at the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine, identifies five competencies children should master: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. This is something she told EdSurge that has been around for decades. Cipriano says: “At the end of the day, we’re talking about teaching people how to be better citizens and more positive contributors to their society.”

As early as 2014, educator Larry Ferlazzo was sounding the alarm in his editorial about how social and emotional learning (SEL) — and its ancestor, character education — was being unduly influenced by some in the education world. Few people would disagree. Those who he identified as manipulating SEL cross a wide variety of ideologies. Ferlazzo states: “Social Emotional Learning has an important place in teaching and in learning. It’s also critical to remember that it has to be kept in its appropriate place.” And the appropriate place is where the debate begins and ends.

Years ago, I remember a discussion with some fellow policy wonks on reading. The consensus was some children will fall through the cracks and never learn to read which was something I could not accept. I blurted out: “You care more about Johnny feeling good about himself, instead of whether he can read or write.”

Don’t get me wrong, I do want children to have self-esteem and self-respect, but I also think it is important that we do not lose focus on academic goals. Which brings me back to the major point: teachers are often not trained specifically to address some of the issue’s children face. To be certain, educators innately encourage healthy social and emotional development of our children. For any program to be successful, there must be complete transparency and community support before implementing any formal SEL program. The creation of this type of climate will support social and emotional learning to nurture emotionally intelligent children.

Tina Olesen, a school teacher in British Columbia wrote:

The way to help the child develop real self-control is tried and true: a caring adult patiently and unflaggingly commits to the moral training of that child. Directing, warning, correcting and disciplining day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, the adult encourages the child to do what is right, whether or not it feels good. When a child consistently chooses to act in accordance with what is right, he develops moral character. As he develops moral character, he becomes increasingly capable of governing himself and applying himself to his studies, and he develops the self-control required for learning. This can be a long and arduous process that requires self-sacrifice and much patience on the part of a parent or teacher.

The truth is that we have to address so many issues in public education that we forget that parents have the most important role in the moral formation of their own children. Teachers and families should be partners in helping children succeed. Nevertheless, educators are forced to fill a gap in which they may lack appropriate training, and which assessment of success or failure is not readily available.

Quoting Henri-Frédéric Amiel, Oleson added, “The test of every religious, political or educational system is the man which it forms. If a system injures the intelligence, it is bad. If it injures the character, it is vicious. If it injures the conscience, it is criminal.” Whatever your opinion is on this issue, the objective of improved academic achievement, positive behavior, and healthier life choices is a worthy goal to pursue, at home, school, and in the community.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee. 

We Remember September 11th!

by JC Bowman, posted in JC Bowman

Our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001 and our world changed. Muslim terrorists called al-Qaeda, with training camps all around the world were responsible for the death of the more than 3,000 victims. This is an enemy unlike any we have ever faced. There are multiple countries, multiple fronts and multiple threats.

This enemy is committed to the absolute destruction of the American way of life and imposing their beliefs and values upon the world. In their world, law is determined by force—those with power—whether military strength or political dominance—make the rules. It is our belief in freedom, human rights, idealism, personal responsibility and economic opportunity that extremists dislike the most.

If you were a classroom teacher today how would you address the events of September 11, 2001 with your students? Would you blame the incident on the very people who lost their lives? Would you blame those with a misguided ideology for killing innocent people? To me, the answer is very apparent. And those who would blame victims or our nation are siding with evil-doers and promoting savagery.

Since Jeremiah Wright first shocked our nation with his comment in 2008, parroting a Malcolm X phrase, that ‘America’s chickens are coming home to roost,’ which was widely understood as meaning that America brought the September 11 attacks upon itself. Every year that has passed since 2001 that sentiment has been voiced in one manner or another. Eventually that will end up in our classrooms and textbooks. My fear is that the victims will be posthumously put on trial while the terrorists are seen as genial freedom fighters. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It seems to many that we treat perpetrators of evil kinder than we treat their victims in our society. It is an obvious assault on law and order. It is law which enables man to live together, and creates order out of chaos. We first and foremost a nation of laws. Founding Father and future president John Adams called America ‘a nation of laws, not of men.’ These rules should not be subject to the whims of those in power. And those who fail to understand history in the proper context will write textbooks to inform future generations. It is why curriculum has been such a highly debated issue.

Historian Bruce Kauffmann wrote about ‘the Soviet Union’s infamous dictator, Josef Stalin, who in the late 1930s had millions of innocent people incarcerated and murdered after they underwent show trials, or no trials, in which the ‘nature and cause of the accusation’ against them were such specifically identified and legally provable crimes as being ‘foreign agents,’ ‘counterrevolutionaries,’ ‘enemies of the people’ or ‘enemies of the state.’ Have we become so politically correct that only one opinion is allowed?

I accept that countries lie to their citizens, and that we are, regrettably, governed by men and women who are sometimes corrupt. That is undesirable, but it is a fact of life. Often choices made by government is not between good and bad, but between bad and worse. We have done exactly what George Washington warned us against by embracing entangling alliances. We have largely abandoned our Judeo-Christian heritage, in fear of lawsuits and in the name of inclusion. However, we still have the rule of law, right?

I am reminded of Robert Kennedy’s speech in which he was discussing the law. He said about the law: ‘The road ahead is full of difficulties and discomforts. But as for me, I welcome the challenge. I welcome the opportunity, and I pledge to you my best effort — all I have in material things and physical strength and spirit to see that freedom shall advance and that our children will grow old under the rule of law.’

People of reason can disagree with issues and have civil discourse. ‘Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts,’ according to the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Who also reminded us that culture, not politics, determines the success of society. Respect of our fellow human beings is the core outgrowth of a nation committed under a rule of law. It is our shared history in America, and one in which we must be personally committed to follow. That is the real lesson to teach. If we fail to pass that to the next generation, freedom, the political process, civil liberties, individual rights and media independence will be lost to the dustbin of history and no longer tolerated.

We must remember September 11th in our homes and in our classrooms and engage in this important dialogue. Never let it be said that the flame of freedom was extinguished on our watch. That can be summed up in two words: We Remember.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee.

Labor Day Thoughts

by JC Bowman, posted in JC Bowman, Leadership, Professional Educators of Tennessee

This article originally ran in 2017.  This year another Hurricane Dorian threatens our country.  

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My ancestors migrated here, including my Native American relatives, and in their own way they have contributed positively to the development of the county. They have been soldiers, teachers, preachers, farmers, bankers, builders and the list goes on. Our nation was formed out of the fires of Revolution –that cost lives, possessions, and even a way of life. America was built on the backs of immigrants, including those forced by slavery to come to our shores.

Labor Day has many meanings, but one meaning is that we must recognize the incredible effort it took to build this great country. We must remember those men and women who came before us and sacrificed for all of us on this day.

President Barack Obama said in his first inaugural address about our settlers: “It has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor — who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.”

For centuries, our country has attracted people in search of a share of “the American dream” from all corners of the world. E Pluribus Unum (From Many, One) remains the national motto, yet it is true that there no longer seems to be a consensus about what it should mean. Our evolution from the margins of society to the forefront of political change is all the more remarkable when we realize we are a melting pot of cultures. If you step into our public schools today, the many different cultures are on full display not only in our urban communities, but increasingly in our rural communities as well.

Today, our country is divided politically. We see conflicts, in our streets and in the media. We see the “us versus them” attitude that prevents us from collectively working to improve our communities, our state, and our nation. Rather than compromise, we choose to not collaborate on hard issues and pass along our problems to our future generations. Lack of leadership, whether at the local, state or federal level, means our problems only grow larger. Anytime a voice is silenced, it eventually finds a place where it can be heard. Unfortunately, too many voices drown out those who offer attainable solutions to real problems.

However, it is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize that despite those differences, we have more in common than we can imagine. Nothing brings us closer together as a nation than we face adversity, whether it is a natural disaster or man-made catastrophe. “What unites us is far greater than what divides us,” as John F. Kennedy said. Our great strength as a nation comes in our unity, which is the critical component of America’s perseverance.

While we watched Hurricane Harvey batter Texas, Louisiana and other parts of our country, residents continue to struggle with rain, flooding, and destruction. The damage is still not fully comprehensible, and another Hurricane, Irma, is also threatening.

We can see that many American’s have already lost everything – their homes, cherished items and some their very lives. However, the amazing efforts of volunteers have been an incredible sight to witness. We notice the generosity of the American people to give and share with their neighbors. The way we respond to these tragedies is what makes our nation great.

We will work to repair those areas impacted by natural disaster. The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey will take years to restore. It is a quintessential American trait that our citizens are dedicated to ensuring those impacted by natural disasters have the support they need to rebuild. History teaches us we will come back stronger than before, as long as America’s men and women today have the same courageous vision, the same audacity and indomitable spirit that made us a great nation in the beginning.

The majority of Americans still want what those first Americans wanted: a better life for themselves and their children. We must commit ourselves individually, and as a nation, to pass the baton of liberty to the next generation in this melting pot of cultures we call the United States of America. This Labor Day, I am reminded of the true value of freedom, the unique heritage of our nation and the effort so many people who came before us put forth so that we could enjoy the fruits of our labors. Happy Labor Day.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited.

The Educator and the Classroom

by JC Bowman, posted in Advocacy, JC Bowman, Leadership, Legislation, Professional Educators of Tennessee, Tennessee Education

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Former President Theodore Roosevelt gave an often-cited speech about citizenship in a Republic called The Man in the Arena at the Sorbonne in Paris, France on April 23, 1910. Roosevelt, a remarkable man of great accomplishments declared: “There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder.”

I often think of modern educators as “The Man in the Arena,” although in this case, a better title might be “The Educator and the Classroom.” I love this descriptor of those who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Educators do quell the storm and ride the thunder in educating the public. Too often our critics mistake cynicism for critical thinking, and vice-versa. We must never fear to critically analyze our profession or our performance. Roosevelt would likely remind us “It is not the critic who counts” but those who are actually “in the arena.”

On August 21st, the 2019 Tennessee Educator Survey report was released by Tennessee Education Research Alliance and the Tennessee Department of Education, Over 45,000 educators responded to the survey, representing 62% of the state’s teachers – an all-time high response rate. Lots of positive feedback, as well as some gloom and doom.

The positive feedback includes:

  • Three out of Four teachers report feeling positive about the way things are run at their school.
  • Three out of Four teachers agree that teacher evaluation improves their teaching.
  • Nearly 90 percent of teachers say they would recommend their school to parents.

Among the negative conclusions:

  • Four in 10 teachers feel less enthusiastic than when they began in education.
  • One in three Tennessee teachers reports they would choose another profession in hindsight.
  • As well, one in three also says they would leave teaching altogether if they could find a higher paying job, according to a report released TODAY on the opinions of teachers statewide.
  • Teacher opinions are split on how much planning time they have in schools.
  • Teachers are also spending many hours creating instructional materials, with feedback showing educators are divided on whether instructional materials are adequate.
  • About half of all teacher says they need to modify or create instructional materials.

Policymakers and stakeholders need to take those negative findings very seriously. A third of Tennessee teachers wish they had gone into another profession, and they lack the time and adequate instructional materials to teach the children, which they have been assigned. This does not bode well for Tennessee schools moving forward. Merely increasing teacher salaries does not solve the issue of self-respect, time, or resources.

There is a lot of information for all of us to digest. Education is changing. We need increased educator voices to make Tennessee the best state in the nation for education and in turn, the best place to raise a family. We must proactively address the issues raised by educators, with real and attainable solutions. The philosopher Bertrand Russell often discussed the importance of using our imaginations in constructing our world, which was the inspiration for this point by Sharon Ann Lee: “There are people who build things and people who tear things down. Just remember which side you are on.”

Roosevelt added: “Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength.” If you want to see passion just visit a classroom in Tennessee. There you will witness our educators zealous to see our children educated to the highest level possible. So, choose to be one who builds, not a cynic who merely criticizes the work of others. Offer hope, ideas, and support to those in the classrooms. Then criticize, if you must after you made that effort to quell the storm and ride the thunder.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited

Ethics in Public Education Still Matter

by JC Bowman, posted in JC Bowman

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Educators have one of the most challenging jobs in our society. Teaching is one of the most honorable professions a person can choose. I invite people who think it is an easy profession to spend a day as a substitute teacher. More importantly, policymakers would greatly benefit from spending time in our classrooms.

School districts in Tennessee are required to conduct annual professional development training concerning the teacher code of ethics and its requirements. In addition, the training should address what constitutes unethical conduct. It is worth noting that educators, or all school system employees, should act in their private lives in a way that does not undermine their importance in the classroom, demean their position or school, or damage their position as a moral leader in the community in which they serve.

Bad behavior and scandals put all the good work our educators do at risk. In 2010, as we examined our Code of Ethics, I was struck by the underlying principles that govern the behavior of our educators. Our teachers are women and men of high character.

Former State Board of Education member Allison Chancey, now a retired educator, wrote, “A teacher’s integrity both inside and outside the classroom is paramount. First, because the safety of students entrusted to our care is our utmost priority. Second, because we know the decisions we make set a model for our students. We knew this when we entered the profession, and so we submit to a high code of ethics for the protection of our students.”

In regards to our students, most educators understand that our first obligation is to the students entrusted to our care. Parents are the primary moral educators of their children. Nevertheless, Lewis Hodge, a former University of Tennessee professor, pointed out, “Educators are obligated to help foster civic virtues such as integrity, diligence, responsibility, cooperation, loyalty, fidelity, and respect for the law, for human life, for others, and for self.”

We understand the purpose of education is to develop each student for his or her fullest participation in the American democratic society, to pursue truth and to seek excellence. Educators across our state are willing to accept the responsibility of taking the initiative to eliminate all barriers that prevent full access to this unique education for all. Not many professions make that commitment to those they serve.

Educators are professionals. Our organization believes that academic freedom is inherited and essential to, the teaching profession. To that end, for students to learn, teachers must be “free to teach.” This freedom encompasses picking source material to guide the class discussion and learning along the teacher’s chosen path. Discussions of religious or political issues should be relevant to the subject matter and have a demonstrated educational purpose. However, educators must abide by school regulation and policy. If you have any doubt, simply check with a building level administrator.

Every educator must have a broad general education, a depth of preparation in special areas and mastery of knowledge and skills. Educators should be endowed with a thorough understanding of professional ethics and should possess a zeal for continuous self-improvement. They should be imbued with a sense of moral and professional responsibility.

We believe free public education is an integral part of the community it serves, and we encourage the development of educational opportunities for all. We believe the continuation of our free nation and its strength and well-being are dependent on free public education. If a school is to relate to the students, educators must understand the community in which they live. That is why local control of public education is critical. Quality education must be the shared purpose of the public, boards of education, and educators.

Professional Educators of Tennessee advocates for public education. However, we will never endorse political parties or candidates as an organization or on behalf of our members. We also do not have a PAC, nor do we plan to start one. It would harm our effectiveness. We must advance public education without the divisive tribalism of partisan politics, and we will never get involved in non-education related social issues.

Yet, we do believe every educator has a right and a responsibility to be an informed and active citizen for whatever candidates, causes or issues they support individually. You cannot, however, promote your personal beliefs on students because they are a “captive audience”.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower said: “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” A strong ethical code is the foundation of individual and educational success for educators and our students. Ethics still matter.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited.

Better Thinking Equals Better Results

by JC Bowman, posted in JC Bowman, Leadership, Legislation, Professional Educators of Tennessee, Tennessee Education

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The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) celebrated their 10th Anniversary of working to improve the future for Tennessee students on August 12, 2019.  While we have not always agreed with some of the agenda at Professional Educators of Tennessee, we have never doubted their resolve or pursuit in improving public education in our state.  We are glad to partner with them to improve the future for educators and help our students succeed.

As Chairman of SCORE, Senator Bill Frist should be commended and honored for his tireless advocacy and passion for making education a priority in our state.  We are all better in public education because of his commitment to parents, teachers and especially students.

By advocating for many organizations including our own, Governors Phil Bredesen, Bill Haslam and now Bill Lee have all made education a priority in their administrations.  However, SCORE’s insistence of doing what is best for students to achieve excellence for all has made the greatest impact on public policy in the state this decade.  What has been significant has been consistent leadership at the organization, from former CEO and state senator Jamie Woodson to current CEO David Mansouri, who both shared Frist’s relentless drive in educating our students.

To prepare our children for the future, a student-centered education begins with an excellent teacher. SCORE has been pushing that envelope and playing a critical role in advancing student achievement in Tennessee.  That is why our dialogue with SCORE continues to surround how to engage and empower educators to improve public education.  Those who possess the knowledge about students must have input into the decisions.

We can and we must continue to have policy discussions and debates on improving public education.  Marching in complete lockstep has never produced an original thought.  We have to understand that public education must be completely committed to student success.   Continued collaboration and a spirit of unity remain critical in creating a culture that truly values education.

Providing educators with resources and supports seem to be a foolproof means of making sure that student needs are met completely.  In this area, we all can agree on the critical importance of an authentic teacher voice in policy discussions.  One of the greatest weaknesses of public education, is our isolation in classrooms and in schools.  Teachers need more opportunities for reflection and to develop connections beyond their own school walls or even districts.  That is why membership in professional associations can play a critical role.  The amplified voices of educators that are improving outcomes for students through innovative practices must be shared in our state, and we cannot do it alone.

One of SCORE’s strategic priorities is preparing, recruiting, supporting and retaining excellent teachers and leaders.  There is no doubt that is often overlooked by policymakers at the state and local level.  A school system cannot have high expectations for their students, without a high-quality teacher in their classrooms.  This may prove difficult moving forward, as there are not enough qualified teachers applying for teaching jobs to meet the demand in all locations and fields.   It will take forward-thinking for Tennessee to see our potential for the future.  Simply put: better thinking equals better results.

Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.  Thank you to SCORE, Senator Frist and your team for your commitment to public education this last decade.  We have much more work left to do.  Together, educators and students across Tennessee will continue to climb higher and our state will rise to the top.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee.

Celebration of the Life of Paul Bowman

by JC Bowman, posted in JC Bowman

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We are here today to Celebrate the Life of Paul Denton Bowman, Jr.  Poet Thomas Campbell wrote:  To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.   Paul Denton Bowman, Jr lives on in our hearts.  And Paul lived a remarkable life, and he will forever be part of our lives.  Here in this room, we all have our own stories about Paul that we remember.

  • Paul Denton Bowman, Jr. was born the first of three children to Paul and Olga Bowman in Baltimore, Maryland. Paul’s daddy, who we always called Uncle Dink, was one of 12 Bowman children. He had a young brother John Bertram, and a beloved sister, Linda Darlene. So, Paul grew up surrounded by many Uncles and Aunts, siblings and cousins, who had moved up to Baltimore from Cleveland, Tennessee because of all the work available in the Shipyards there.  They moved back and forth, between Cleveland and Baltimore and eventually some of our family ended up in Orlando, Florida as well —which is where Paul grew up.  Paul knew where he was from, and Paul knew where he wanted to spend his eternity.   

 

  • The name Paul means strong yet humble, a seeker of all things true and beautiful. He loved to laugh and be with the people he loved. That was our Paul. He was also known affectionally as Butch or Butchie by some in our family, a name he really didn’t like as he got older.  All of our Uncles had nicknames, such as Bud, Greasy, Dink, and Pee Wee.  Our cousins also had nicknames.  There was Buddy, Porkie, Rootie Toot, Johnny Mop, and yes:  Butch.  I didn’t even know most of them had real names until I was in my 20’s.   Butch didn’t mind using the name when it was to his advantage.  There was a certain BBQ Food Truck run by David Darr in Orlando, in which BUTCH could get a discount.  It was called the “Butchie Discount”.  He shared the good news with so many people, that folks all over Orlando started asking for the “Butchie Discount.”   Names are important. It is by our name that other people identify us, and that we identify ourselves.  God Knows Our Name.  And on Thursday, August 8, 2019 God called Paul Denton Bowman, Jr. home.

 

  • I never knew our Grandfather Bowman, as he died before I was born. So, I asked Paul what he was like. He said, “he was so kind and soft spoken.  I remember he used to walk me and our older cousin Johnny Eldredge to, and from, Bible School. And Granddaddy asked me, well what did you boys learn in Bible School today.  Paul said, well Granddaddy, I learned that if you didn’t talk and behaved while the teacher is talking you get some cookies.  Our Grandfather asked, well what else did you learn?  Paul replied, Well Johnny never gets any cookies.”  Paul was honest with himself, and understood the value of honesty. 

 

  • Paul was a tremendous athlete. Many people never knew that fact, but Paul finished 3rd in the state of Florida in the 100-Yard Sprints behind two African-Americans. That did not detour Paul.  He was just pointed out he was the fastest white kid in the state that year. He also played Football.  In fact, he played it so well he was recruited to play in the World Football League by the Florida Blazers.  Paul loved sports and his Florida Gators.  That did not always endear him to the good folks here on Ol’ Rocky Top—or to his Tennessee cousins.  Paul was loyal to his friends, and looked to find the good in others—even if that did not always make him popular. 

 

  • Paul and my brother Ernie decided to get in shape. So, they both started biking. Now the image of those two in biker shorts is NOT a memory most of us want to keep in our minds.   However, many people will tell us they started riding bikes in Cleveland, Tennessee, on our Greenway, because of those two.  Unfortunately, Paul’s health didn’t allow him to keep riding.   Today, Paul is completely healed and pain free.  I imagine he is riding on the streets of gold in heaven, and he isn’t riding alone—he is riding with Jesus Christ.   Paul trusted God in his Journey in life.

 

  • When I was a Sophomore in High School, Paul had convinced my dad to let him take me on a school night to Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves. The Braves were a horrible team in 1979. Paul picked me up from Cleveland High School in his Baby Blue Metallic Corvette, and all my friends were jealous.  I was really cool that day.  We get to Atlanta and Paul has dugout level seats, it was raining, there were delays, and not much of a crowd.  By the time the game ended at midnight, I bet there wasn’t 100 people in the entire stadium.  Paul and I had collected so many foul balls, we almost needed a bag to carry them all out of the stadium.  Paul liked his fast cars, but most importantly Paul was not identified by his worldly possessions. 

 

  • Paul once told me a story of our Great Grandfather William Mac “Pappy” Rollins, a cantankerous old Irish man who lived to be 100. He said one day, he was down visiting Pappy on a Saturday and it was getting late. Paul was feeling kind of sorry for the old man, who by that time was in his mid-nineties.  “Hey Pappy” Paul said, “I can stick around and keep you company” Pappy said to him, “Listen here young man you have to leave, I have a neighbor lady coming over and I have to do some Sparking tonight.”  Paul had never heard of that term, and I had never heard of it until Paul told me that story.  By the way it means courting, or going on a date.  Paul was a wealth of information.  I am pretty certain that is why Paul named his dog and his favorite wingman “Sparkie”.  Paul could tell a good story, and I hope you will share some of them with your friends and your family often. Jesus was a master storyteller. He taught in parables.  We could all tell countless more stories about Paul, and I will be glad to share more later.  We have to use stories to share our faith.

Paul trusted his future in God, through God’s son Jesus Christ.  And he would want you to do the same.  So, to recap:

  1. Paul knew where he wanted to spend his eternity.
  2. God knew Paul’s name, and Paul knew one day God would call him home.
  3. Paul was honest with himself.
  4. Paul was loyal to his friends, and looked to find the good in others—even if that did not always make him popular.
  5. Paul trusted God in his Journey in life.
  6. Paul was not identified by his worldly possessions.
  7. It is through our own stories to family and friends we can best share our faith. Tell those stories.

One day we will all be reunited.  Our faith reminds us while we can’t be together here on earth, that one day we will together in heaven. Especially to my cousin Linda, Paul’s sister, as you are overwhelmed with emotions, hold on to these moments as they pass. I want to tell you:

  • There is pain, it won’t subside soon. There is a numbness, an overwhelming sense of loss. We cannot make it go away, no matter how much we want. It is okay to cry.

 

  • However, there is hope, through the darkest of your days, let your faith sustain you. In times of deep despair, let the Holy Spirit comfort you. Let your family and friends help you bear the grief; you are never alone.

 

  • Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14), Paul is in a better place, and one day we all will join him—if we only believe, and I know you do. That is why this is a celebration.

Jesus Christ gives us a merry heart in life, and a contented heart in death. The believer’s death is but the moment we pass from the land of the dying to the land of the living.  Our eternal home.

We know that death ends a life, not a relationship.  The only way to take sorrow out of death; is if we were to take the love out of life.

Our love for Paul will continue.  Don’t rush the grieving process, allow others to offer their support. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

This is not “Goodbye” to family and friends; Paul would tell us today. He would tell us that we must look forward. The years have gone by in the blink of an eye, and our days go by so fast.    But we know moving forward, there is a promise of a home far beyond the skies:  A place of joy and beauty, of peace and happiness that will never end.

Whenever, Paul and I parted he used to always say: Hey Jay, see you later.  Be good.  So, I think if he was here tonight, he would tell you: see you later and be good. We have to do the best we can for as long as we have on this earth.

So, either on this earth or in heaven, we will see you later. Be good. All of my love to you.

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 Eulogy by JC Bowman 8/11/2019 for Paul Bowman, Jr.

Union Politics Hurts Public Education

by JC Bowman, posted in Advocacy, Educators, JC Bowman, Professional Educators of Tennessee, Students, Unions

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Against the wishes of their own membership, teachers’ unions often embody hyper-partisanship. Reiss Becker detailing research on teachers’ unions at the California Policy Center reports that, “in the 2016 election cycle over 93% of union campaign spending went to Democrats.”  Many union members are unaware that political spending by their union tends to support liberal political candidates and left-wing causes, when 60% of their membership has identified as Republicans or independents

Writing in a USA Today editorial, Jessica Anderson and Lindsey Burke gave a more detailed historical analysis:  “Since 1990, the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers have made over $140 million in direct political contributions. Over 97% of that went to liberals. That kind of political bias isn’t at all representative of the unions’ membership.”

Education Week pointed out that the National Education Association passed “several measures that seemed to move the union in an even more progressive direction.” This was in reference to “social issues as abortion and reparations, protested immigration policies, and, above all, pledged to defeat President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.”

Factor in that quite a few of these “issues” they espouse are typically classified as non-education issues. Members are rightfully being lambasted over the actions of their own delegates to the 2019 National Education Association Representative Assembly due to the passage of Business Item 56, which stated: “The NEA vigorously opposes all attacks on the right to choose and stands on the fundamental right to abortion under Roe v. Wade.”

Anderson and Burke then added: Why would the NEA go out of its way to stake out extreme stances on hot-button issues so far removed from the very real problems facing our nation’s schools? It appears as though the union is more concerned with promoting the political objectives of the left than serving the nation’s teachers and students. The answer may be as simple as federal law does not require union leaders to get their members’ authorization before spending their members’ money on non-educational, social issues.

Members of the union must ask themselves questions about their direct campaign contributions and independent spending at the national, state and local level.  Journalist Leah Mishkin blatantly asked union officials:  Why are some members unaware that part of their membership dues are helping to foot the bill?  Many educators simply do not want their dues used for endorsing or supporting political candidates, or social issues.

For too long union members at the state and local level have stated they disagree with their national union and their agenda, while sending in their hard-earned money in support.  Writer and researcher Mike Antonucci has correctly pointed out when state and local union members try to hide behind semantics: “All of its members are NEA members. They all send dues to NEA. You can’t wash your hands of your affiliation when it’s convenient.”   

That is a critical point, and one that their own members must understand; if you join the local union you are also supporting the national union.  NEA Executive Director John Stocks resigned in June 2019 to chair the Democracy Alliance.  Antonucci gives us the rest of the story about the musical chairs involving Stocks, his replacement, and the Democracy Alliance:

He (Stocks) concurrently serves as chairman of the board of the Democracy Alliance, a network of wealthy progressive political donors. He will continue in that role while acting as a senior adviser at NEA until after the 2020 elections. His successor as NEA executive director is Kim Anderson, a longtime senior staffer at the union who for the past three years has been executive vice president of the Democracy Alliance.

The assumption of many educators is that teachers’ unions are choosing ideology over their own members. That is why state-based professional associations who offer liability and legal protection, professional development, and member benefits are growing nationally.  Most teachers, either on the left or the right, do not choose education as a career choice because they enjoy politics.  They just want to teach while leaving political pursuits to their personal lives, not their professional ones.  Unlike a recent NEA delegate vote, most educators—including union members—actually value student learning as a priority.

Alexandra DeSanctis, a staff writer for National Review, suggests in a recent article that the National Education Association must think that as an “influential left-wing organization, the group must necessarily champion the entire progressive agenda.” She then submits that there is “a growing tendency on the Left, as ‘intersectional’ thinking takes hold — the idea that each interest group within the broader progressive movement has a responsibility to embrace and advocate the particular interests of the rest.”

Union politics often hurt public education and educators with an agenda that many parents and taxpayers are baffled by, and members are left to explain.  Marching in lockstep in any political direction is always a mistake.   As former classroom teacher Larry Sand, currently president of the California Teachers Empowerment Network, writes about teachers’ unions: “the choice between unions becoming more ecumenical or more radical has been made.”   At this point, there is no turning back, as some union leaders merely seek to build a militant minority to revive the labor movement.  Sadly, teachers have become pawns in this game.  They are pawns in the union political agenda.

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JC Bowman is the Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee, a non-partisan teacher association headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.  Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that the author and the association are properly cited. For more information on this subject or any education issue please contact Professional Educators of Tennessee.