Boston Public2000

[during her tirade at the School Board meeting]

Marla Hendricks:
Let me tell you something, let me tell all of you something. The reason I've had it is because I have to go into a room day after day after damn day and try to break through to a bunch of damn kids who don't want to listen, don't want to learn, and don't want to give me the decency of being quiet. Mr. Senate shot off a gun? *I* would've rolled in a big CANNON if I knew where to get one. I'd have tried anything. And you show me a teacher who doesn't almost lose his or her mind sometimes, and I'll show you a teacher who's not trying. I can show you some parents who aren't. You send them off to school thinking: job's done. It's up to the teachers now. Well, it doesn't work that way. You got to get in on this, too. Kids coming in every day singing that jingle: those who can't do, teach. They get that from their parents! We KNOW what you think of us! Well, let me tell you, we're in there doing every damn day, and a lot of the doing we do is PARENTING! You want to compare failures? Step right up! Who's first?