Shannon Costello

I took a sick day today and I will probably take another one tomorrow. I’m sick enough so I have no energy and well enough to worry that my sickness is not enough to merit two days off.

Does our society put more pressure on its members than the society of, say, 150 years ago?

In one of her books, Laura Ingalls Wilder recounts what she went through in order to become a teacher. She first of all studied intently over a period of time. She was extremely motivated. I could digress by pointing out that, if pressure is truly increasing, motivation is decreasing. I see this in many students who do not care to take any initiative in their own education. I am afraid that many, if not most, of my students cheat. They are motivated to get by but not to improve themselves. Did I digress?

Laura was certified to teach in the course of a single evening. An examiner came to her home, tested her, graded the test, and issued the certificate. When I decided I wanted to become a certified teacher, I embarked on a lengthy process that will probably never be completed. The initial process in the state of New York involved 18 credit hours, a workshop on child abuse, and a formidable battery of tests. Here in Maryland, one never “arrives”. I know of a teacher who, at age 57 and with around 20 years of teaching experience, is still being required to take courses.

I suppose it is natural for a teacher to feel that many burdens are being placed on her. And, to be fair, I don’t have to deal with boarding in the home of a woman who threatened her husband with a butcher knife one night, as Laura did. It is only lately that I have begun to wonder if the burdens have been increased on students as well, or on society in general.

Certainly there is a great deal more testing. It is probably safe to assume that Laura put less pressure on her eighth grade students than the combined pressure that all of the seven or so teachers of a particular student place on that student. Students in my county tend to be involved in many extra-curricular activities. Sports take 5 nights a week—if you are in only one sport, that is.

Does driving at 60 miles an hour in a car put more strain on a person than driving at 5 miles an hour in a horse and buggy?

Just for the record, I’m sure the sick day dilemma of mine has more to do with mistrust of my motivations than with with societal pressures. Then again, will everyone think I’m taking the day off because it’s a work day and I don’t have to do sub plans?