Linda Lyon served honorably for many years in the U.S. Air Force. She retired with her wife to Arizona where she became involved in the local school board. A strong and forceful person, she eventually was elected president of the Arizona School Board Association. She is a strong advocate for well-funded public schools.
Some weeks ago, she read that the Arizona Chamber of Commerce wanted to hold a Teacher Appreciation Night but 100 teachers in Flagstaff wrote an open letter declining to attend because of the Chamber’s persistent attacks on public schools, their finding, and teachers’ pensions.
Lyon concluded:
These teachers, standing up for those most vulnerable among us, are the real patriots. They know there can be no great democratic republic when there is no educated citizenry and that our public schools are the only ones that can address the problems we face at the scale demanded. Over 90% of America’s K–12 population attends public schools and that is where our singular educational focus should be. No. That is where it MUST be. Yes, to provide an engaged citizenry who can think creatively and determine fact from fiction.
True patriots stand up for our Constitution. Teachers do that every day.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I always felt like I was serving my country by preparing my poor minority students well. If those that are poor can become self supporting, we all benefit as a society. The public loves teachers when they use their own money to help needy students or pay for classroom supplies. They give a teacher her “five minutes” if she martyrs herself by stepping in front of a bullet intended for students. When she asks for a living wage or a pension she can depend on, she becomes a greedy, self-serving drain on tax dollars.
How right you are. Teachers are expected to give and not receive.
Teaching for women in America has humble beginnings. My old high school started out as a “normal” school to prepare young women for teaching. Being a teacher was almost like being a nun. In the one room schoolhouse, she cut wood for the wood stove, often lived behind or above the school. She couldn’t marry. She was almost like an indentured servant, and some people still perceive of teachers that way. Here’s a post the outlines some of the ridiculous ways communities have tried to control the conduct of teachers. https://www.weareteachers.com/dress-code-rules-for-teachers/
On this Independence Day, I am grateful to read this post. Refuse to accept the deformers’ narrative that union-backed teachers have selfishly destroyed public education. NO. Teachers have selflessly saved public education. Am so proud to be a teacher in this glorious profession. Thank you.
-public school teacher & union member, 35 years
Yes. Thank you to our nation’s teachers!!!
However, I don’t feel much like celebrating this 4th of July, what with our government running concentration camps where children fleeing violence and starvation are being brutally abused. This is no time for celebration but for mourning for all we have failed to remember. How much relief for refugees could be purchased with the cost of the Let’s Celebrate Donald Trump event being held on the National Mall today?
I hope to live long enough to see Trump and Miller in the dock before the International Criminal Court. charged with crimes against humanity–kidnapping and child abuse and reckless endangerment and violation of people’s legal right to seek asylum.
Under any circumstances, Trump’s attempt to turn the nation’s 4th of July celebration into the Apotheosis of Donald Trump would be disgusting. Under these, it is unspeakably shameful and sickening, utterly immoral.
This vile cretin, Trump, has no clue what we are supposed to be celebrating–no clue what the promise of America is supposed to be.
Bob Shepherd: The US is now a kakistocracy. [A kakistocracy is a system of government which is run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens.] All hail to the Orange Swamp Monster and hear once again that he has done more for this country than any president in the history of the United States. This is our tax dollars at work. “Vile cretin” begins to explain who he is.
I saw some videos of the military tanks and cringed. We are NOT N. Korea and therefore I don’t bow to our ‘great president’.
Carol: Our little rocket man. Perfect.
Some of my teacher friends in the northeast are campaigning to “pray for rain” in Washington, D.C. today. A washout would be great karma.
Our version of Rocket Man has small hands and a non-existent or non-functioning brain.
The “show of a lifetime!” exists in that airspace.
……………………………………………………….
Little Rocket Man
Donald Trump is trying to conflate a patriotic celebration with his reëlection campaign.
…Military officials, however, objected for reasons practical and ideological. They worried that tanks were so heavy that they would likely tear up the city streets; more important, they insisted that the sort of militaristic display that Trump was imagining was beyond the bounds of American tradition. Undeterred, Trump tried to pull off something of the kind last Veterans Day, but later conceded that the costs, as much as ninety million dollars, would be too much.
Finally, Trump has his way. Remember all the talk of making sure that the worst of the Trump Presidency not be “normalized”? Too late. Normalized it has become.
“The cost of our great Salute to America,” he tweeted, “will be very little compared to what it is worth. We own the planes, we have the pilots, the airport is right next door (Andrew), all we need is the fuel. We own the tanks and all. Fireworks are donated by two of the greats. Nice!” He is calling it the “show of a lifetime!”
Trump, who talks about “my generals” and “my military,” has decided to turn the normally pacific Independence Day ceremonies in the capital into a martially tinged self-branding exercise. We are watching him blow hard into the balloon of his own ego. Trump is also trying to conflate a patriotic celebration with his reëlection campaign. The White House is doling out passes to Republican donors, members of the Republican National Committee, and other supporters.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/donald-trump-independence-day-little-rocket-man
PUBLIC School Teachers are indeed patriots, NOT THAT DUMP RUMP.
And just because someone is elected to be potus doesn’t mean that person is a true patriot … look at the current one we have. Bleagh.
Bob is right … VILE CRETIN as potus.
The Oranges of our plight
The oranges of the status quo
Are rotting in the hold below
The oranges of our current deal
Are citruses without appeal
The oranges of our country’s plight
Are orange scab and orange blight
So true!
and they pay the price, when the fascists take over, and need to end an educated citizenry, and their access to truth.