Cross-posted in the LJ

The Failures of the Educational System Extend Beyond Baltimore City. A fact that is not altogether surprising, but nevertheless terrifying. After work on Friday I'd had to return pants I bought at H&M but have not worn yet and would rather have the thirty bucks back. So I went up to Suburban Heaven U.S.A. to accomplish this task. On my way out I was semi-bombarded by sales folk who were doing research on a new product. Me, being me (and being the spawn of my mom) certainly agreed when I noticed the three dollar reward for being a lab rat. Okay, so this is when the problems start. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, the surveyors had to read to me was scripted (in education lingo that is known as D.I. or direct instruction). So out comes a cup or urine-y looking energy drink for me to try and answer questions. The nice, but clearly head-full-of-rocks sales girl pleasantly asks me an obnoxious number of questions about the drink. There was only one problem - she couldn't read to save her life. Several times, trying to cause her momentary embarrassment but save her for the rest of the lab rats she would interview, I said "oh, the aroma was a little strong" or "oh, well I think the consistency..." hoping that if I repeated (education lingo - model) the words for her she might catch on. Sadly I think all the make-up she was wearing blocked any reception. Just for a little icing on this illiterate cake, an older women on the way out had to read me something as well and mispronounced three additional words and said "full-flavored" instead of "fruit-flavored." I know because I was reading over her shoulder.

So we all know MY kids have problems. City kids blah blah blah. But oh my god, apparently it's all human beings not lucky enough to be born into wealth. Again, we already know this. That doesn't make it less terrifying. As a whole language failure we all know my inability to decipher the English language, but I'm pretty sure I can pull it together when I'm at work. Plus, if you run a research facility, shouldn't you go through the process with your employees teaching them how to speak da English.

Also, I haven't written about this anywhere and don't intend to do so, but my children went to Annapolis on Wednesday to present a project and (I did not know this was going to happen) had to compete against all these private schools. My children were treated like they were moronic little people. Everyone was disgusting condesending and I got overly protective. Think mother bird over nest. I'm still furious.

That is not to say I'm dying to stay a minute longer in this place, but I have grown attached to some of them and very settled in my original purpose for being here. I'm sure I will feel exceedingly proud of myself after finishing this year and wonder for the rest of my life what has happened to these 150 young adults. But for now I plan on leaving the school building on June 13th, getting directly into my car and spending the next seven hours letting the surge of emotions come as they may anywhere between here and home (hopefully around Altoona or other favorite PA cities). My guess is when it comes down to it I will be dumbfounded that it's over and blissfully carefree for the next nine weeks.