Are we the masters of our domain, or are we too dependent upon others? “As the fate of individuals and nations is increasingly interdependent, the quest of access to an equitable, empowering education for all people has become a critical issue for the American nation as a whole,” (p. 328).

My children have heard me say, “Something is better than nothing,” when dishing dessert. No, I won’t equate education with dessert, it’s more like the meat and potatoes part; P.E., music, art, and field trips are dessert. I always felt I could empower my students with rich vocabulary; if just that door were opened to them, life would be better. Looking at Tom’s blogs, I am totally humbled and in awe of what a rich vocabulary he has developed to articulate the most eloquent and thought provocative disseminations. And, yes, I do have to look up about every fifth word in the dictionary to know what it is he is saying. Thank you, Tom, you are enriching my learning.

This equitable part is difficult for me to measure. I try to expose my students to things I know their parents never will be able to and all in hopes they will want something more for themselves. But is more what they need? Tools, yes, tools are good. How many different types of wrenches are needed in an adequate tool box? Well, doesn’t that depend on the job you are going to perform?

I have four children, each unique and a joy to experience. Some days more joyous than others. My husband and I have always encouraged our children to do their very best at everything they attempt and follow through with their commitments. Each child’s best is different.

My oldest is your traditional alpha child, high achiever, things come easy but he still works diligently; however, A’s are his expectation of himself and he will always be successful no matter what he does, because he understands he can control the outcomes he desires.

My second son is blessed with a big heart that cares more for everyone else but himself and dyslexia. His coping mechanisms often take his teachers by surprise, usually declaring loudly in front of the whole class, “Hey, I have a learning disability, but I’m trying!” I have never seen a kid more devoted to perfecting a skill until I watched him practice every day for five years on his skateboard. Then one day he stopped, “I have learned all I wanted to learn.” I had to invest hours of working with him to complete his homework, especially writing during high school. We didn’t know he would graduate until three days before the ceremony.

Then there is the princess, my only daughter. Also blessed with dyslexia, worse than her older brother but caught earlier and interventions more intense. She works ten times harder than most kids do for her A’s and I can vouch for longer too, because she won’t let me stop helping her until she is satisfied with her results.

Finally the baby of the family. You all know this member of the family, the class clown, under achiever, and has more street smarts than any child should. I have to beg him to work with me to make sure he is getting his homework done. He can do the work, but chooses not to. Life is about having fun.

Why am I talking about my children? Just as in the home, are all my children getting equitable, empowering parenting? I believe each of my children are getting what they want and desire from me; however, there is only so much of me to go around. Face it, we are interdependent upon individuals and our governments connected with public education. It does take a village to raise a child, especially in America where the family unit has morphed in its structure. Maslow and Pavlov are important characters in my mental library of friends I can call upon for help. We take all children as they come to us, and it is our job to “fix” them before they are broken beyond repair. I have never seen this disclaimer on their birth certificate, nor stamped on their scalp as I am combing for head lice; however, many in our nation have bestowed us that honor by holding teachers accountable for the failures but not the success of their offspring.