I love the way Christenbury is her own person. Even though she sincerely believes that teachers should be ethical in and out of the classroom, showing a positive view for others to live by; she also has taken it upon herself to help students in need and give them hope for a future when it has meant breaking rules. Ray's story was heartbreaking because I have always held a view that administrator's should be ever so careful to give students' every reason to continue their education. To hear about one verbally abusing a student, making them feel worthless, makes me want to put them through the ringer. I know this happens more than we hear of. I know good ethical standards are important for teachers, and when we go against our authority it's a chance we take. Noone wants to lose their job. I don't know that I could work with him on things after losing the respect for him as I would in this case, though.
Chapter 10 leads you into chapter 11 well, going on in 11 to talk about the 30-40% of teachers that don't last after their third year. After the Ray story, it would make you feel like your school administration really needs counseling. What will make us stay? The book says "love of students, intellectual engagment, the chance to make a difference...shape futures." I think these things are why I want to make a difference in education, too. Maybe I can help the system weed out people who are willing to break an innocent student's spirit, such as this V.P. did, somehow. I have already heard several teachers use the language detecting teachers that will continue and not that Christenbury discusses. Luckily, my language has been the continuing teacher, so maybe I'm a keeper.
Just as Christenbury talks about teaching as relating to her favorite metaphor that portrays it "Making the Journey," I'm going to pursue it as such. In chapter ten, when she explains how education has changed, and education has stayed the same, it motivated me to make the best of it. Whether it changes, or not, I think the key to continuing the journey might possibly be being able to change as education does. We need to keep up with the changes in certain areas, but be able to adapt in others to the old school notions. Hopefully, the areas that need to change will, and the areas that need to stay the same, likewise.

Priscilla