Adventures in Teaching

So.

If you haven't peeped the recent news cycles - the great state of North Carolina, is currently dedicating itself to the creation of the worst education system in these United States. The decision to appropriate funds to creating opportunities for parents to get their children out of public schools, instead of using those funds to making public schools better - is nothing if not a testament to the fact that our governor cares...almost nothing about North Carolina's children. He also cares nothing about the people who give their lives to educating those children - making the choice to continue our 6  year pay freeze (while citing the need for a "living wage" when he raised salaries for his staff); taking the cap of class size restrictions (when research shows that after 17, students start making smaller gains in the classroom); and I could go on...but a certain level of rage begins to build when I list all of the ways in which my governor told me that my profession is worthless.

Not the point of this post.

The most potentially harmful creation of this educational climate, is the rise in competitiveness among teachers. Let's be honest - if the only possible shot you have at getting a decent pay boost comes through your students excelling on a norm-referenced standardized test, that means that you have a better chance at making money if the teacher next door has a less-than stellar year. Veteran teachers are less willing to give novices the sorts of classroom management strategies that will make a learning environment possible; novice teachers are less willing to share innovative techniques geared towards educating an always changing population of students; and the administrators in any given building are more likely to make knee-jerk reactions (in terms of room-assignment, scheduling, and the like) based on year-to-year changes in test scores which can lead to even greater levels of resentment between colleagues.

But we're teachers....we love the children....we're supposed to rise above and work tireless hours, and help each other, and bla, bla , bla....but when I'm begging my friends for extra cash so I can buy supplies for my classroom - all the while praying that my car engine holds on until December when (hopefully) I get a little testing bonus and can afford to get my car serviced...it feels like it may be time to consider other economic opportunities.

Sorry. Again. Not the point of this post.

The point is this: It's no secret that teachers are under paid, over worked, and under appreciated - it would be nice if schools were able to provide an environment where we could still lean on each other for support.

Peace Be

Adventures in Moving

So.

It's no secret that I haven't posted anything in quite some time, but I promise I haven't been purposely trying to neglect you...just been crazy busy. And to that end...I have a new virtual stomping ground. You can check me out over at lumplestiltzken.com for all things related to performing and teaching. More than likely I'll keep this blog up and running in the off chance that I'll be sharing something personal, and if that doesn't happen I'll definitely continue to post my 30/30s here.

Adventures in Writing

So.

I woke up with the "intention" of working on the geometry review for my babies to work on today while I finalized grading, but I cannot get Marty McConnell's book out of my head. I cannot tell you why Wine for a Shotgun is amazing; I just know that it is. And I will tell you that I was skeptical. After thoroughly wowing me with the "saints to pop culture icons" series (special shout out to Saint Catherine of Sienna to Mary Kate Olsen), I was admittedly less wowed when I read the first few in the tarot inspired series....in a very "come on poet - I know that we all see the world differently....but please see it less differently" kind of way. But something about the collection is the first thing my mind went to at 2:30 this morning.

That to say - I love reading poetry. I love noticing what other writers do; I love watching them evolve - seeing what they do well. Good work of course, usually sparks and idea or two that I will run with at a later date (e.g. the notion for "Whitney Houston to Blue Ivy" piece came from Catherine to Mary...which you really should have read by now). Rarely reading/hearing another poet will compel me to rethink what I do...how I do it....do it better.

Excited to see what the words will do next.

Peace Be