This is the first entry of what I hope will be a two year long journey. I'm an incoming member of Teach for America, Oklahoma 2014, teaching elementary education in the charter district of Lawton. A year ago I graduated from Houghton College with a bachelor's degree in history, intending on going to graduate school. How I got across the country, and not in graduate school, is another story. Instead, this is my story, my new story.
Two and a half years ago, I moved into Buffalo, NY. At the time, I mused about making a peregrinatio, a journey made by Christians that was one part spiritual experience, one part public service, and one part adventure. Little did I know at the time that Buffalo would steal my heart and very nearly my entire bank account in parking fines. Now, as I lie on a bed in a hotel outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, waiting to head into a new home state, I realize that I'm on the same peregrinatio as I was then. My parking skills have only minimally improved, and my heart is almost as idealistic and tender as it was then. What will two years from now hold?
A note on the name of the blog. Didact- is the Latin root for "teaching." Before all the Latin nerds climb all over me, I understand that I'm mangling the root but it's for simplicity's sake. The -o blended nicely into Oklahoma, so Latin nerds don't hate on me.
Very well, this is a new beginning and a new blog. For all of those foolish enough to read this, this is Ted Janney, signing off.
