Bring it, Memphis

Even though the European journey is over, shortly I'll start a journey of a different kind. A journey to become the best math teacher in Memphis... the best math teacher in the world. This goal is unattianable I believe. Sure even if I was to become one of the greatest teachers ever, there's probably not an objective way to determine who at any single moment is the best math teacher in the world. 

So the purpose and result of giving myself that goal is this: I know I have no choice but to never stop trying to get better. Every year, every day, every class. 

I'm motivated by these words of MLK:

And when you discover what you will be in your life, set out to do it as if God Almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it. Don't just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn couldn't do it any better.

If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be be the best little shrub on the side of the hill.

Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.

and these too:

The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals.

We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.

and these words of John Wooden:

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what other think you are.

and these stats about the current state of Memphis education:

-the average ACT score in Memphis city schools is 16.6, for private schools it's 28.3

-A 2007 survey showed 90% of 7th and 8th graders believed they would one day go to college. In 2008 8% of Memphis residents age 18-24 and 22% of residents age 25 or older actually had a college degree.

-89% of 7th and 8th graders perform math at a lower level than the grade they're in

-Approximately 5,000 young men and women turn 19 every year in Memphis without a High School diploma

and by the documentary "Waiting for Superman" which you should go watch right now

and by great teachers like Rosemarie Brenneman and Tim Encinosa and Steve Smith and Chapman Greer and William Worden.

I could go on, but the point is made: The current state of urban education in Memphis, and in America as a whole, needs radical change. There's serious work to do.

Bring it, Memphis.