Paul Rutherford

Education is a highly personal topic for me. I hope that The Five read what I post below. I served my country as a Naval Officer and recently retired after 40 years as a Public School Physics, Mathematics and Engineering Educator. I have 2 BS’s, 1 MS and my PhD. I still teach at the University level. During those 40 years, I prepared my students for both a career and life. I always kept parents in the loop as to what and how I taught their sons and daughters, and welcomed their input, though they seldom took me up on the offer. The bottom line is that they TRUSTED me and appreciated that I simply prepared their children for both college-level studies AND the work force. NOT ONCE did I share my political perspectives. I simply set the example of diligence and professionalism as an educator. As a parent in the same school district, I would not hesitate to contact teachers when I thought it necessary both to question AND compliment their teachers. It’s all about open communication in BOTH directions. If teachers do and accept that, then the process of instruction, in and out of the classroom is, overall, a joyful experience. I hid nothing because a patent HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT AND HOW, the latter being the proverbial “pedagogy” that is being talked about as well as content. In my 40 years, I had students from ALL walks of life in regards to ethnicity, SES, parental background and student innate abilities. I was indeed “color-blind “, as I addressed both the academic and personal needs of ALL of my students. I did not view my students nor their parents through the lens of color or ethnicity. I loved them, even when they were difficult to love and instruct. What or should I say “Who” gave me this perspective? God Almighty, who called me into the profession in the first place. I served in uniform and I served in and out of the classroom. God put me here on planet Earth to serve as did His Son, Jesus Christ, who said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve.” May we all turn to God and ask for His guidance, not an elected body in our Nation’s Capitol. HOOYAH and may God still bless America. The home of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave. ✝️🇺🇸 (In that order).