Commentary: Mooney's Class
Antelope Valley Press
Edward Mooney, Jr.
June 13, 2005

Title: Goodbye, Class of 2005

This week I'll be packing up my books, maps and flags; another school year is coming to a close. My relationships with hundreds of students change this week. It's hard.

When I look at all of my teaching equipment, I realize that none of it is important. It is not what is left behind in the classroom, such as homework assignments or test scores, that counts, but what students take with them.

Maybe this explains why standardized testing is not about students, but about politicians. Each year I feel that I have so much I want to give to the next generation but every year the box gets tighter as more and more external influences control my classroom. For now let's put the politicians aside and look at real life.

So what should you take from my class? Remember that I like FLAGS. That acronym stands for Freedom, Learning, Attitude, Gratefulness and Self esteem. Let's explore these.

FREEDOM - as a social studies teacher I help build American citizens. I'm worried about the next generation understanding that an American citizen has a reverence for freedom.

What does that mean? Remember the copy of the U.S. Constitution that hung on my wall. That document was not created easily. Never forget that countless generations of our ancestors lived under domination - by voodoo, kings, priests or plain old fear. Thomas Jefferson and his friends gave us freedom from this.

Freedom is the absence of control by others. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, I don't wish to be a slave, and I don't wish to be a master. The American experience is about the dignity and rights of the individual.

I'm concerned about losing freedom. An external power will never conquer us. We'll always have a strong military. I'm worried about the internal threat - giving in to the "dark side", as George Lucas used in "Star Wars".

Fear is the enemy. When we're afraid we give away freedom. We must guard against this pulling away.

We've been given a gift unique in the annals of history - we can decide who runs our government. Our government fears us, not the other way around. Once this changes we've lost everything humanity has worked, fought and died for over millions of years.

How do you recognize who wishes to subvert freedom? Watch for those who wish to control others. Laws should be a practical framework for the day-to-day operation of society, not oppressive rules that serve only one viewpoint. There are those who wish to control how you live; still others wish to control your money, or your choices.

Freedom asks of politicians, "What laws will you pass that will free people?" Fear asks, "What laws will you pass to force people to believe a certain way?" Remember my "best example of a good law" - how we drive only on the right side of the road - for pure safety only.

Freedom demands that we respect other views and opinions. Fear demands that we control all who oppose what "we" believe in.

Remember what I modeled in my classroom by saying, "That's my opinion and you have the right to believe differently. It will not affect your grade". This is the essence of freedom. I now hand you that old piece of paper called the American Constitution. Can you keep it alive?

LEARNING - Again, the question is can you keep it alive? Politicians and burned out teachers have thrown more and more tests and requirements on you. Can you enjoy learning in spite of them?

ATTITUDE - Milton Gould once said that "When you fly like an eagle you attract the hunters." Soar like an eagle anyway. Make this your attitude.

GRATEFULNESS - Being thankful is the key to being happy, I've discovered. Have you noticed that truly miserable people are rarely thankful? Anyone who is able to breathe could find something to be thankful for.

SELF ESTEEM - I know it's not politically correct to use this phrase, but it is still important for success in your life. Set your goals and make them real. Believe in your abilities.

Oh - one more thing. Come by and see me over the years. I care about you.

Thought for the Week: "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." -Thomas Jefferson

Edward Mooney, Jr., of Palmdale, is a teacher at Quartz Hill High School and the author of the novels "The Pearls of the Stone Man" and "The Journey of the Stone Man".