Thank You Ms. Elverman
Originally published at Exponential. You can comment here or there.
For this poster that you boldly had up in your classroom, with no explanation, nothing but fodder for some girls’ minds if they were not paying attention in class. Now I remember it poignantly, and have gone seeking the internet to share it with others.
Perhaps someday, some girl will find it on my blog when she’s not paying attention at work.
“We are in for a very, very long haul.
I am asking for everything you have to give.
We will never give up . . .
You will lose your youth,
your sleep, your patience,
your sense of humor and occasionally
the understanding & support of people that you love very much.
In return, I have nothing to offer you but
your pride in being a woman,
and all your dreams you’ve ever had
for your daughters, and nieces, and granddaughters . . .
your future
and the certain knowledge that
at the end of your days
you will be able to look back and say
that once in your life
you gave everything you had
for justice.”
-From a speech by Jill Ruckelshaus, 1977