Education

quit, cite the "politics" in the school.

One of my daughter's greatest teachers, Mrs. Poe, an accomplished journalist and author who taught English to fourth and fifth graders, gave my daughter sage advice: "you know you're right, but you don't know how to jump through the hoops. Learn to jump through the hoops and you'll do okay."

Politics. And racism.

I believe Mrs Poe was referring to her personal experience with a very contentious school administration (mostly Mexican-American) and a spineless principle (Caucasian, and who was later demoted to Vice Principle in a mostly Mexican-American school district) who did nothing to improve the palpable antagonistic atmosphere there.

Right after my daughter was promoted to sixth grade with a high GPA (nearly straight A's - thanks to Mrs. Poe), the good woman (even if she was a Republican) requested a transfer to another, less contentious elementary school in the same district. She's still there today.