The wisdom of the whole group exceeded that of the individual. The tedium of waiting was trying. But I put the time to good use reading and spreading the good word about schools and students. Repeatedly, I encountered school bashers. Repeatedly, I told them that my work was the best job in the world.
Schools are out of control.
If not, it was not because I had ignored the challenge. What I conclude is some of these negative perceptions are of our own doing. Those grocery store conversations overheard by those with no other window into schools may be our undoing. We must remember what stock people will put in our words about our work and utter our thoughts advisedly. We were given a lunch break each day, a veritable gift for someone who either eats lunch standing up or not at all.