In perusing my name on Google I came across a letter written by one of my former students in the 10th grade advanced class, Jason Levine. The New York Times published it, among other letters to the editor, after I kicked up a dust devil in the community. In an earlier blog I mentioned that I taught English — and also administered an alternative high school — in Dix Hills, a suburban school on Long Island, which I usually referred to as the hills of Dix.
I wrote two letters to the editor of the New York Times which were extended essays about my experience as a teacher in the school district. Each letter had about 10 years between them. The idea that on Sunday my essay(s) was distributed throughout the state, on every corner in Manhattan, in candy stores, luncheonettes and all the rest gave me a kick. Although I kicked up a lot of dust, not one teacher ever said to me, “You know, Matt, you pissed me off, but it was a well-written article, it had to be to get into the Times.”
So much for intellect in the schools, saying so much more about envy. I had my check delayed, I had to see the superintendent of schools for a chat, although he danced around the subject because he knew I had every right to say what I did and he wasn’t going to fuck around with the free press and the New York Times, much less.
As I look back I see both letters representing an intellectual acting out, an expression of my resentment in an institution that did not take education seriously but enthralled King Rote. I was serious, the school was not. Serendipitously, reader, the publication also told me that I could write.
Jason’s letter is under Pages; a new review came in from the compulsive reader. See http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1875. If I got it wrong, google compulsive reader.
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