I practice “education with permission” when I’m an employee of a university, college, or High School.

I just 2 days ago complted teaching (with permission) 42 days of Algebra 1 in summer school of an inner city high school in greater Los Angeles. I had about 50 students, in 2 classes, mostly Hispanic and African American, who had siociological, psuchological, familial, and behavioral problems. Together we achieved a great deal. But that was, in part, because the charismatic Principal fought for us in the school district, and the state capital.

This was grueling, but personally rewarding. Teaching is central to the values of freedom and liberty. There is no cure for stupidity, including state-sponsored stupidity, but there are cures to ignorance.

Education is the front line of the eternal battle between civilization and chaos. Teachers must, on principal, be defended against groups that try to stop them, whether for polotical reasons, or for relgious/ideological reasons (i.e. Creationism, Intelligent Design).

I urge readers to consider the petition.