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Men In Black, Pathos, And Being A Teacher

 Tommy Lee Jones, if memory serves, is an Academy Award winner who has been charming audiences for ages. He’s probably best as a police officer or a soldier, ordinary guys forced to be extraordinary and heroic. He’s one of my favorite actors. He’s been the big lead, but he’s a character actor, and that’s probably the highest compliment I can give as a film and television patron.

Men in Black (1997) is a sci-fi buddy comedy that has way more pathos than it has any right to have. The sequels are still watchable because of Jones and the great Will Smith.

Agent K (Jones) convinces Smith’s NYPD detective James Edwards to join MIB. Edwards finds out that he’ll never see family or friends again, and it will be as if he never existed. It’s a heavy moment, and Agent K gives him until sunrise to decide. Edwards asks, “Is it worth it?” K answers, Oh, yeah. It’s worth it.” He pauses for a beat as he’s walking away and adds, “If you’re strong enough.”

Someone added that clip to a reel showing a school hallway. And added the caption, “What it’s like being a teacher.” That’s the truest thing I’ve seen for a month. 

On the one hand, it shouldn’t be as hard as it actually is, and that’s someone’s fault, above the classroom teachers. On the other hand, a lot of people are probably sick of teachers bellyaching. I’m not a hero; I’m just a guy. Even so, it’s absolutely the most noble thing I have ever done. Sitting on the sidelines now for health reasons gives me a lot of time to re-think particular strategies, mistakes, and lots of other things.

John Madden, legendary NFL head coach and TV analyst, once said that playing one down of NFL football changes a person in such a way that they are not the same person. Well, I have precisely 2 years and 256 days as a classroom teacher, and I have never seen or read a better analogy in my life. Folks that have done it longer and better can say whatever they like. Folks who haven’t done it at all, I invite them to sit down and shut up.

This gloriously pompous title is an attempt to get people to click on this post. You know, on the off chance that I say something interesting.

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