My Nerves May Get the Best of Me

Long time, no blog.
I've been known to have a rather Type-A personality. My family sees it, my friends see it, my students, Lord knows, see it frequently.

I am not sure why, but lately, I'm more keyed up watching my nighttime docket of political pundits than I am teaching prime and composite numbers to kids who still haven't learned their multiplication facts.

I am trying to find some sort of balance this weekend with a steady diet of Corona Lights and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups thanks to my kids' trick-or-treat buckets.

If I could just take my mind off of the election while at home, life would be so much less stressful. I hope that work will remain status-quo... on Monday. This means that no one will broach the subject of politics. People will exchange Halloween party stories, and smile and giggle. This might be a good thing to calm my nerves. Monday night I may be sent into full-blown panic mode... and well, Tuesday night... there are always Corona Lights.

I Know How Joe Must Be Feeling

The final Presidential debate produced a new star, Joe. He's a plumber, in case you hadn't heard.

When beginning my blog about a month and a half ago, I DID think about my desire for anonymity, fear of being "found out". Occasionally, I might be critical of fellow faculty or administration here.

Poor Joe, he called out good old Barack on his socialist views the other day, and now his world is being turned upside down. My impression is that Joe can take it. I hope so.

I don't know if I could. I'm pulling for you Joe! When it gets to be too much, just start a blog on which you can vent-like right wing teacher did!

Phone Calls: Short and Sweet

I'm going to make this short and sweet on this beautiful, crisp, fall day in America.

I've been up since 5:15 due to little ones tossing and turning in their cribs, but also because I've been thinking of student "C". Student C comes with a past history of academic and behavioral struggles. In terms of behavior and participation, he's actually off to a great start, and I truly enjoy him.

Academically with responsible follow-through is another story. Well, last week, or was it two weeks ago, word broke (from him) that a parent is dying of cancer and has 2 years to live. Now, as that parent, wouldn't it behoove you to actually PHONE the school yourself and mention something like this: "Hi, this is Mr./Mrs. C, I just want you to know that I've been told I have a short while to live, and you might see a change academically and/or behaviorally in student C." ????

I thought that might have been a good idea, as I am still wondering how truthful C is being to our support staff. But I digress... three examples of lack-of-follow through occured yesterday. I need to make a quick phone call to let Mr./Mrs. C know about it today, a sunny, mild, crisp autumn day.

After sleeping on it, waking up to it, I'm ready for what might be an eye-opening phone call. In a public school, it takes all kinds.

A Tale of Two Types of Schools

I teach in a public school... this you know.

One of my children does not attend a public school. This is due in large part to my own history of schooling as a child. This is also due to religious convictions. Said child will attend a public high school soon enough.

In the meantime, I am left constantly comparing child number one's experiences in school with my own daily happenings.

Last week, things really got interesting. In an off-school-grounds-but-close-enough location, a sizable mob of kids at my school decided to beat the living daylights out of another student. By this, I mean that one student was doing the physical, and the angry mob took care of the emotional. So traumatic for the victim, but also for me. I was the lucky one to stumble upon it as I tried to drive home. So you can imagine my tasks.

What horror, how disturbing! I haven't been able to let it go.

Compare that with eldest child's experience today. A mixed-age group went on a supervised field trip. Ages 14 on down to 4. My husband was fortunate to have chaperoned...by fortunate, I mean for him and for my son. He came back with tales of two schools: At said field trip, the sometimes-sassy 8th grade boy was hanging out with nicest 6th grade girl, while all were looking out for the well-being of Junior Kindergarten rambunctious boy. This pattern continued as he observed the inner-dynamics of the kids from this school.

How refreshing... how sweet, nothing disturbing about it. If only my school day last week had been that innocent.