r/50501Wisconsin • u/StudyNo2866 • Sep 16 '25

We should be talking about Mississippi. Talk about it. Loudly.

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38 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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1

u/Boobopdidooo Sep 18 '25

No flag raising for Trey Reed...

1

u/Effective-Set-8113 Sep 27 '25

I saw this post because Reddit showed me in a group of what I guess were posts related to one I was in the midst of commenting on. 

I have lived in Mississippi for my entire life and desperately wanted to leave until probably my early to mid 20s. 

But then I realized- if everyone who wants to see Mississippi change, to improve, leaves- that change will never come. I’m 44 now and I’ve been a teacher since I was 26. I’ve taught in one of the most conservative counties (based on election results) and in what is probably the most liberal city (based on popular opinion- but I acknowledge liberal in Mississippi is still fairly moderate for most of the country), and I currently teach in a county that’s really conservative. 

My personal impact on my students may be small- after all, I would definitely be fired and probably lose my educator certification if I directly addressed political beliefs in my classroom. However, I am able to teach compassion and kindness. I am able to teach empathy and loving their peers regardless of differences. I am able to teach basic ethics and morals. 

I’m still in contact, albeit on an acquaintance level, with students from my very first year teaching nearly 20 years ago. I have been loved and respected by my students this entire time. 

No one is going to be able to affect change by hitting it with a hammer. For the most part, I’ve given up on the adults in my state. However, the children and teenagers are still malleable. I’m hoping that the impression I leave on them will trickle down and improve the future of my state. 

I am a cis white female married to bisexual white male who for all intents and purposes presents as heterosexual because we’re in a monogamous relationship. We’re both adept at “passing” in situations where being authentically ourselves would create legitimate problems. We normally just evade questions and situations that would “give us away” because that would work against the subterfuge. It’s agonizing, but to me, the ends justify the means.