In the United States, today is Martin Luther King, Jr Day. MLK was many things, but his most important contribution is to the Civil Rights Movement. MLK Day is often spent doing volunteer work or doing something that benefits the community. It is a national holiday, so public schools have the day off.
Since I teach online, this is just another day. In fact, Mondays are normally my day off, anyway. Today I had some grading to finish, so I was working. Oh, I was so annoyed, to be answering emails on a nice day like today (the sun is even shining!).
Then I stopped myself. Ophelia, this is an important day. Ophelia, this is a holiday that is not yet 100% commercialized, that still has meaning. Ophelia, you should be grateful for a job that includes classes of diverse students: students from every state, ethnicity, socio-economic background.
I grew up in the South, in a very diverse classroom in a big city. As I grew older, I realized how segregated the United States still is. There is still a lot of fighting to be done, for all minorities. But my day, today, is made a bit easier because of Martin Luther King, Jr.
What kind of a cushy online job is that, with Mondays usually "off"? My online gig goes every day, all year. And Mondays in particular are the days we must introduce the week by posting - regardless of any holidays. If Monday falls on Christmas or Thanksgiving, so does class.
ReplyDeleteSusan B. Anthony et al helped secure the right to vote for ~20 million women. Where's *their* holiday?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the day, Ophelia!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Ophelia! Well said. Certainly a deserving day.
ReplyDelete@Adjunct Slave: It took a really long term to learn how to manage my schedule. I usually take off on Mondays and/or Wednesdays.
ReplyDeleteSome weeks, I actually take off three days (Saturday, as well). Some weeks, I work every day. And some days just for 20 minutes and some days for 13 hours.
I really wish I had a secret. It was really just burn out that led me to figure out a better way. You can email me if wish and we can discuss it: online[dot]ophelia [at] gmail.
@Ovreductd: I totally agree!
@Prof Poopiehead and Eating Low Salt: Thank you!