Searching for Clark Kent

[proud2BlibKansan]

Unlike many people in America right now, I am not waiting for Superman. First of all, Superman is a mythical creature from another planet created to entertain the public. Nothing more, nothing less. As far as I know, we have yet to have contact with any intelligent life form from another planet, and–if we did–I doubt that its first prerogative would be to fix America’s education system. So if you are one of the people sitting around waiting for Superman, I’m afraid you don’t have much chance of him ever showing up. Instead, maybe it’s time to go out and search for Clark Kent.

I know, I know, “But Clark Kent is just a comic book character too!” is what all you nay-sayers are shouting right now, but if you just give me a second, I’ll explain. Clark Kent is the mild-mannered alter-ego of the all-powerful Superman. He constantly lives in the shadow of his red-caped friend but never seems to let it bother him. And while Superman flies around town effortlessly beating up bad guys and stopping bank robberies with ease , Clark Kent works tirelessly at his job as a news reporter making what one can only assume is a fairly moderate income. Who receives all the fame and glory? Superman, of course. He is the one who is featured in video clips, who makes the front page of the Daily Planet, and who everyone looks up to. And do you know why? Because he is an oddity. He is someone they can never be–no matter how hard they try, no matter how big their hearts are, no matter how much money they are paid–because he is one of a kind. Superman is the thing stars are made of.

Clark Kent, on the other hand, goes about his business consistently churning out one solid news report after another, not because he needs to, not because it brings him untold wealth or fame, but because he loves his work. Sure, the only real reward he ever gets is one of those peck-on-the-cheek kisses from Lois Lane that makes his glasses steam up, but he doesn’t mind. In fact, it seems that he likes it this way. Recognition isn’t what Clark aims for; doing his job and doing his job well is what matters. Even while the man with the famous “S” on his chest appears on the front page of the very paper Clark writes for, Clark is working on the bylines for the next issue; it’s as if he is perpetually working. Mr. Kent knows that he will never be featured in a documentary or be the focus of an entire nation. He knows that not everyone will appreciate what he does–people might even write letters to the editor talking about how much they despise what he is doing and that he is the reason that America’s newspapers are failing. Clark knows that he will always walk a fine line between making the public happy and doing his job professionally, but he always sticks to his guns and does what he knows is right for his readers no matter who might tell him he is doing it the wrong way. And Clark Kent knows that he is making a difference even while the nation’s focus is on Superman and how he is changing the world for the better.

The irony, of course, is that Clark Kent and Superman are one in the same. Yet, even though the Man of Steel’s secret identity is thinly veiled by only a pair of glasses, nobody seems to notice. They just go on praising Superman and taking all of Clark’s hard work for granted. So why, you may ask, doesn’t Clark just quit his job as a newspaper reporter and move onto the bigger and better things that he surely is capable of (I mean, he is Superman and all)? Because the world needs news reporters, and he’s darn good at it. He’s good at it because he cares about his job, he puts passion into his job, and he isn’t satisfied until his job is done correctly. This means staying up late, waking up early, writing an entire article then scrapping it because it just didn’t work, taking any story that crosses his desk instead of discriminatorily taking only the best ones, and even bringing his work home with him. And Clark does all of this without using any of his super powers.

Now imagine that America’s public schools were filled with Clark Kents. Imagine that you could take the qualities of Clark Kent, the comic book character, and instill them into a real person. Much easier, much more practical, and much more realistic than sitting around waiting for Superman, isn’t it? Well fellow citizens, just take a walk or a drive to your nearest public school building and you will be amazed to find it is teeming with Clark Kents. Except these Clark Kents don’t don a pair of tights and a cape in order to fly around town beating up bad guys and stopping bank robberies because this isn’t Metropolis, it is America. No, these mild-mannered public school teachers simply work their hardest to make sure that every child that passes through their doors receives the best possible education no matter the circumstances. They work for the American public without seeking fame, fortune, or headlines. Sounds like the perfect definition of a superhero to me.

http://www.edvoices.com/blog/2010/09/28/searching-for-clark-kent-not-waiting-for-superman/