The worst excesses of self-preservation

It’s hard to know where to begin with this one. Today’s New York Daily News reports that a teacher, ironically named Wayne Brightly, gave a formerly homeless man $2 and a strong dose of intimidation to take the state teachers’ exam after Brightly had failed the test numerous times. Only after the stand-in, who has Asperger’s syndrome, scored very highly did officials become suspicious of the discrepancy.

Although no teacher or student will speak in Brightly’s defense, who else but the teachers’ union steps forward to claim that the school board has insufficient safeguards in place to prevent such teachers from obtaining certification by fraud. The union’s answer? Let Brightly keep his job. Outside the dystopia of the monopolistic public education “system” and an environment where empty credentialism thrives in anti-competitive unions, such a teacher would be rightly handed his sorry ass.

Emily’s fourth birthday

Today marks the day Emily would have turned four years old.

At the start of this week, well meaning people asked Kristi whether this has been a tough week. Every day is tough, and having to explain this at work only makes coping more difficult. The notion that we can confine this grief—to the day Emily was born, to the anniversary of her passing, and to holidays—is untenable.

Another mother, whose only son died of cancer, stopped by this morning to deliver presents. Pointing skyward, she remarked that “we have a lot of friends up there,” to which I replied, “We do.” She continued, “We’re going to need some help from them…” to which I replied that I don't count on any help from above, that I think it’s just a bill of goods.

The notion that we can gain by asking for help from above—from those who have gone before us, from Mother Mary, from Jesus, or from God “Almighty” Himself—is an illusion shattered since our prayers for Emily to continue living here, with us, went either unanswered or answered tacitly in the negative. How will knowingly lying to ourselves comfort us?

Today, the unexpected visit prompted tears. Time is too long for those who grieve.

Wherever you are, happy birthday, Emily Jane Nowels.

Love,

Daddy