“…no person shall receive a license to teach if such person has been adjudicated as a mental defective, judicially committted to or hospitalized in a mental institution….”
Those are the words that began a recent post. This amendment tucked away in a bill about textbooks is due to be voted on April 27 in the Senate. It says, “If you have been in a psychiatric hospital you are not qualified to be a teacher in the state of Tennessee.” It is, as I said in a previous post (“Believe it or not”) past prejudice, past stigma….It is stigma on steroids. It criminalizes, in effect, mental illness. It says that people should not be judged as individuals. It creates a class of “mental defectives” (that is a legal term in Tennessee) that are not entitled to the same rights, the same protections as other citizens. It tells kids that some people are just not as good as other people. And it ignores the fact that many, many people, who just happen to be teachers, have had the courage to seek help for the issues in their life and have went on to be productive people who have enriched the lives of the kids they teach. It is wrong. It is wrong minded. It doesnt solve any problems, but instead readies Tennessee to committ a huge injustice against both its teachers and the students they serve.
A very brave teacher wrote to me with her story. Her name is Susan. Her testimony shows that all of us are so much more than any label attached to us and that individuals who are dedicated and committed can accomplish much in life. Her story shows that people like her are not threats to the children they serve, but are instead gifts all of us should be greatful for.
“I’m an artist and art teacher since 1979. I always worked at church with children, babysat every child in my high school neighborhood, worked 5 years at the MTSU Day Care Center as a work study and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with 2 years post-graduate studies in art in Canada on scholarships and a nine month Apprenticeship in Textiles with Joe L. Evans Appalachian Center for Crafts. After working in graphic arts, jewelry design, and as an artist-in-residence in many schools in Chattanooga, served on boards and planning committees during Chattanooga early revitalization days There was a year in 1996 I was the first art coordinator for Chattanooga’s Creative Discovery Museum. I was under extreme pressure starting a public museum, still creating and making costumes for the Tennessee Aquarium, and with various other factors, (including I think genetics) I ended up involuntarily in an institution for treatment for bibolar disorder after many days awake and a period of psychosis in which I was at home out of reality and very depressed. I was 39 years old and was committed primarily because my father (18 years of recovery in AA) had always been anti-drug therapy which I knew they did in hospitals and I wasn’t able to sign myself in due to my thoughts on his thoughts. During my many stable years, I was an honor student, I had won all kinds of poetry and art awards, (awards in Latin, Science), had work in public and private collections, was happy, and had many friends. Why it didn’t hit hard until I was 39? I guess it was pure luck. 14 years ago, I was fortunate because of good work history, credentials, and recommendations to get on in my current job as a certified liscensed K-12 art teacher with a clean background check because I have only one speeding ticket on my record from right before my diagnosis – that was one warning sign I guess. I have 1016 students and am so careful with personal and professional care and maintenance of my condition because of the responsibility. I absolutely love my K-5th students in art and my employers, community and job. There is nothing I would rather do at this point in my life and I think the school system values me. I tell my students that they can be successful if they promote their strengths, work on good character, treat others fairly, etc. and what is this bill telling all of us? That nothing of my life’s work and the care my family sought for me in mytime of need matter. When I’ve had to change meds, I’ve repeated hospitalization because my system is very sensitive. The head of personelle checks on me – he hugs me when I’m back to work – I still have about 3 months worth of sick days I’ve never used and hopefully will never have to! The last time I was in was 2 years ago. Before that 5 years in remission-5 whole good, happy, productive years. Also whenever I’ve been in the hospital I always meet 2 or 3 other teachers who seem for the most part to progress through their difficulties with help. Other teachers who would never take themselves out for a short stint for help, sometimes take stuff out on kids, have all kinds of unaddressed issues and are just so often lacking empathy for kids who need special things. I truly think my own experiences have helped me have that empathy that I needed to be a better teacher. I just bought my first home and was planning on working until 67 and retiring and doing more art – just met with a financial planner to set this up. I renewed my license two months ago. Not only did I have the 100 hours of classes required, I had over 300 hours of technology, Spanish, Art, and Education Classes in two years. It’s taken 14 years of treatment and lots of overcompensation to convince myself I deserve the American Dream and now someone is saying I don’t – that I am some sort of misfit or mistake – I just can’t believe it…
So what do you say? “….some sort of misfit….”?
This amendment is found in SB3875/HB3794. You can speak. It is not too late. Read Susan’s words again. She is speaking not just for herself, but for the kids she teaches. Will you speak for her?
“…no person shall receive a license to teach if such person has been adjudicated as a mental defective, judicially committted to or hospitalized in a mental institution….”
Those are the words that began a recent post. This amendment tucked away in a bill about textbooks is due to be voted on April 27 in the Senate. It says, “If you have been in a psychiatric hospital you are not qualified to be a teacher in the state of Tennessee.” It is, as I said in a previous post (“Believe it or not”) past prejudice, past stigma….It is stigma on steroids. It criminalizes, in effect, mental illness. It says that people should not be judged as individuals. It creates a class of “mental defectives” (that is a legal term in Tennessee) that are not entitled to the same rights, the same protections as other citizens. It tells kids that some people are just not as good as other people. And it ignores the fact that many, many people, who just happen to be teachers, have had the courage to seek help for the issues in their life and have went on to be productive people who have enriched the lives of the kids they teach. It is wrong. It is wrong minded. It doesnt solve any problems, but instead readies Tennessee to committ a huge injustice against both its teachers and the students they serve.
A very brave teacher wrote to me with her story. Her name is Susan. Her testimony shows that all of us are so much more than any label attached to us and that individuals who are dedicated and committed can accomplish much in life. Her story shows that people like her are not threats to the children they serve, but are instead gifts all of us should be greatful for.
So what do you say? “….some sort of misfit….”?
This amendment is found in SB3875/HB3794. You can speak. It is not too late. Read Susan’s words again. She is speaking not just for herself, but for the kids she teaches. Will you speak for her?