One reporter, a rather curmudgeon-y reporter, sauntered over to the desk where I work the other day, and growled, "So, ya sick of education beat yet?"
I looked up from my work and said, "Hey, in light of the economy, I'm happy for the work. I even feel that way when I type the crime blotter."
Her face assumed a look of total disgust. She gave a very short exhale through her teeth, sort of a "FTH!" and sauntered off.
I take it she did not care for my reply. She wanted negativity. She wanted me to complain, to whine.
Realizing that, I had to curb my enthusiasm.
But, between you and me, I love it.
Let's see what I've covered in 5 weeks.
- 12 girl basketball players from the high school tutor at-risk kids for 3 months
- the public library is giving books to parents and teaching them to read to their 4-year-olds
- our school system receives its report card on No Child Left Behind
- the first African American college in the US (6 blocks from our house) celebrates Founder's Day
- the first woman governor of NC visits Founder's Day at said AA college (with a press conference!)
- recent college graduate returns from Kenya
- drug addiction counselor speaks to middle school parents
- inauguration day at LO's middle school
- western day at local elementary school
- local high school gets 200 iPod touch devices for freshmen to study with
- school board meetings
- 12 dentists volunteer their time and materials to coat students' teeth with anti-decay material
- 100 hispanic parents learn English in elementary school. Local diverse church tutors them.
Next week I visit a kindergarten class to attend the wedding of Q and U.
After the ceremony, we will go outside and throw birdseed, then attend a reception.
I am trying to think of an appropriate wedding gift.
Hey, how on earth could I BE sick of this gig? It's fun. I am learning a lot. I am not some young kid fresh out of college lamenting the absence of The Big Story. It's work, it's steady, I still work for myself, and I get to talk to kids a lot. It's local, it's safe, and I work it around my personal schedule.
Sounds like a dream to me.
Sick of the education beat? Fth!
