Just Another Day With Me

Don't Stand.... Don't Stand So.... Don't Stand So...

There weren't strong words in the staff room... the accusations did not fly.... As I pulled this directly from the news.... 

SERIOUSLY???  I would or could say so much more, but I won't.  Disclaimer, I don't know this person, and I think office gossip seriously sucks, because I didn't even know we had an assistant band director.  Disclaimer, most of the teachers I know would NEVER do anything like this....and we have some very good people at our school.    Perhaps thats why the teachers weren't appreciated this week.   Ha....   Its weird, I would never socialize with students...  its wrong on so many levels.    I'm absolutely shocked!  

The proper way to associate with students is  YOU DON'T -  What a DUMBASS.    SIGH.  Really...  I don't know what to say or think about this.   

In honor of that little gem of a news article (I just got on to check the weather)....  I think I must post a song...
Don't Stand So Close To Me- by the Police.  Sting said that it was "Not Autobiographical" at his concert in May of 08 :-)   You know, I do love this song...  I have even read that famous book by Nabakov.   

21 Days... Thats All...

I'm tired.  Tomorrow is the last Friday of the school year.  I am so happy, but that also means the mad rush to complete any and all records is on.  As well as preparing for the end of instruction tests.  

Today the "no cell phone during contract hour directive" passed by the school board went into place.  I do know some people that I work with (who may be referred to as dumb-asses) who not only give students their phone numbers but add them as friends on their Facebook pages - then proceed to update their pages during school hours.   I would also like to add, that I feel that was the only appropriate term that I could find for a college educated educator who wants to network with teenagers.  How sad is that?  I personally have the opinion that the only way I don't mind socializing with students is when they say "would you like fries with that."  It seems like there are constantly news stories about dumb teachers who cross the line with students.   That is another soapbox of mine.   What is sad is some of these teachers who do socialize more than they should with students are MY senior, I mean people who have a good decade on me in age.   Can we say... yes, you are getting older..and stop trying so hard, you just look unprofessional and the kids really aren't interested in you as a person.  But, I don't know - the mentality is, well, I don't get it.  I really don't want to socialize and network with coworkers myself, there are a couple that seem acceptable for my personality but for the most part I've done a fine job of avoiding co-workers and that is a good thing.  Anti-Social... yes, that is my goal.   

 But, I know cell phones are a problem or an addiction, and I think if they are going to ban them they need district wide scramblers so no ones phones work at all, then the kids can go back to passing notes.  

I am tired... I'm going to take a nap today.  I'm glad tomorrow is Friday.   School is wearing me out this week.  

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On Repeat

Listening to that song "Soul Sister" on repeat on my iPod until I get sick of it. Isn't that nice when you find a song that you want to listen to over and over and over and over and over again.... I do that.  Bad habit, but If I LOVE a song, I love it and I'm hooked.   Well this Train song is awesome, happy lyrics, happy song.   Makes me happy.  I am fully intending to make myself hate it - by overkill. I'm going on 45 minutes of looping it now.  Did you know I have a bit of an obsessive compulsive - ADHD side.   LOL!    Good mood today, maybe that week off helps. I'm ready for spring, I'm ready for summer, I'm ready to feel good again.  This emotionally crazy bullshit isn't working!!!!  

My Mom and Hub and everyone are slowly beginning to be more normal.  I told them if they piss me off too much I'll go get me a job on the Rez and move off to New Mexico or Arizona where the sun is always shining and take whomever wants to go live with me.   I mean it.  Not even remotely joking....  :-D  I love the Southwest.....I'm tempted... so tempted....  I miss New Mexico.     

So I'm reading the news right now (yeah thats what cool people do on Friday evenings- we read the news, and the rest of you losers need to get with what us hip people do on Friday nights, we read "The NY TImes" the "Washington Post" "The WSJ" "News OK" oh and of course "Reason.com", etc... 

So in the Post some teacher told her student that she was dressed like a whore and some other teacher according to yahoo news wrote loser on a kids  paper..   COME ON DUMB ASS teachers....  I teach kids who have emotional disturbances who say inappropriate things and I TEACH them to keep those voices INSIDE Of their heads, we live in the "land of the law suits" and political correctness gone wild land.  Even if you think your student dresses like a lady of the night- don't tell them. Thats when you send them to the office for dress code violations... no boobs no butts... no pants on the ground... thats how it works at my school.   Perhaps they are only dressing like their Mothers.... HA!   And, seriously....  I work with some teachers who wear knee high boots with leggings, and short skirts, now if that doesn't cry hooker I don't know what does?   OH and I might add,  geesh, you know how many of these kids get cut down all the time at home or by their peers do teachers need to add to their complexes.   

Teacher Calls Student Prostitute, Its national news  (have you been shopping at the teenager stores lately)

Now, I'm sure some of it is unintentional, I imagine some people get too "relaxed" around their students and forget that they are in a position of power and might bring the wrath of angry parents down upon them.   But seriously dude, why would you write loser on a kids paper....  its ok to think whatever you'd like but don't write anything down. Idiot.  Sometimes I wonder how these people pass teacher certification exams and all the silly hoops you have to jump through for that certificate.   

Hmmm...and I want to put a plug here for my strong dislike of Nancy Pelosi,  she is an evil, snarky, woman... DISLIKE.   Can Nancy Pelosi Get The Votes  <---she is not my soul sister, lol..  OK back to being cool and reading the news...  SO glad its spring break.  So glad I feel good tonight. 

Virginia: Its OK to be Special.

Laundry is in the washer and I'm reading the education articles in the Washington Post and I found this one, which outrages me.  Virginia acts to limit use of exam for Special-Ed students after Criticism.  OK first I think the general public needs  a little background information about who the portfolios are aimed at.  Most kids on portfolios are in the Intellectually disabled classroom.   Most students on the portfolios reading levels are significantly delayed or they do not have the capability to learn how to read due to significant physical and cognitive disabilities.     

State legislators are looking at test scores and telling Virginia (if I understand the article correctly) that these districts can't possibly have that many kids on a portfolio.  I've had to create portfolios before, this was the year I taught in a severely handicapped classroom.  These kids could not be expected to take the state test.  Some of them were non-verbal, emotional and mental age of a two year old.  Most of the poor souls who are on portfolios are functionally NOT CAPABLE (do you hear this legislators) of passing standardized tests.  Are we realistic?  No, in an effort for so called equality we are so politically correct and so far in dreamland to assume that these students can take a standardized test.  Its just not realistic.   I thought one of the premises of this country is to protect the right of the minority from the right of the majority.  I thought that one of the main ideas behind the IDEA was to protect these students. Instead we are allowing our "race to the top" to get in the way of the sour taste of reality.   Reality does not coincide that not everyone will perform equally.  Not every one will read at grade level or we would be a nation of College Professors.  We are not.  I once read the average reading level was 5th grade, I've once read that the vocabulary of the media has been dumbed down to a certain number of words to appease the masses (I can't back my data up on that though).   

But on the bright side for those poor Special Education teachers in charge of ridiculous portfolios (which just preparing a portfolio for a special needs student in my state is a minimum of 70 hours of preparation per teacher). When I had to prepare them we had to take photographs of our special needs students doing work, and then turn in the work to the state, artifacts galore, it was a nightmare!  Perhaps the special education teachers will have more time to focus on actually teaching curriculum without doing ridiculous portfolios.   I teach special education and the thought of doing a portfolio sends me into fits of dread.  I hate portfolios, an utter waste of time to justify to the state that this student is indeed special needs.  I remember taking grad classes in college and the professors told us that if the kid could hold a pencil they should be taking the state exams.   Just because of the amount of intensive work the feds required out of portfolio kids.  Thats why we can't find severe and profound teachers.  They work with the bottom 1% of students, kids who may have feeding tubes, no social skills, non-verbal, the severely handicapped.   Kids who have serious mental and physical health issues.  

The other group that Portfolios are used on students who have significant cognitive and emotional delays.  If you are a senior in high school but want to play with toy cars or are mentally and emotionally a five year old we must continue to place paperwork and curriculum at you to give you a "normal as possible experience in High School" - as a parent of a child with special needs this makes me kind of sad.   I don't want my handicapped child to be forced to be emotionally the same, it just won't work.  We are forced to treat our kids who are emotionally delayed to on paper "be like everyone else"  - as a teacher we know this doesn't always happen.   God forbid a teacher were to give a Intellectually Disabled kid with the mentality of a four year old a coloring sheet nowadays, if they got sued the parent would win big time.   We must present high school curriculum.  

It is a mess...  common sense is dead in Special Education.  It started out as a great idea, that we will provide education to all and differentiate it for individual needs.  Now, the state lawmakers are telling people in Virginia that you can have special needs as long as you don't have TOO many with special needs.   What is fascinating is we will have MORE students with special needs, as we have more and more kids who are diagnosed and more kids with social and emotional problems due to societal issues.   

A very sad state we are coming to in education.    I think our lawmakers need to go read Torey Hayden Torey Hayden

Ummm... yeah, about those Files.... Ummmm yeah...

Ummmm.... yeah, let me just begin by saying my all time favorite movie (Besides Indiana Jones) is Office Space, a cult classic.   

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Peter Gibbons: The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care. 
Bob Porter: Don't... don't care? 
Peter Gibbons: It's a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and Initech ships a few extra units, I don't see another dime, so where's the motivation? And here's something else, Bob: I have eight different bosses right now. 
Bob Slydell: I beg your pardon? 
Peter Gibbons: Eight bosses. 
Bob Slydell: Eight? 
Peter Gibbons: Eight, Bob. So that means that when I make a mistake, I have eight different people coming by to tell me about it. That's my only real motivation is not to be hassled, that and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired.

 

I believe it is time for a career change, when I feel that this movie is the one that I equivocate with my job.   I can’t call it a career anymore because, it feels like a “Job” I don’t feel like one of those teachers who go and buy T-Shirts stating what a wonderful teacher I am, I don’t have cutesy teacher type decorations decorating my home and desk.  My personal space in my classroom is filled with postcards of far away places and my photography.  I’m a burnt out, tired teacher who thinks the system has taken over and paperwork trumps curriculum individualism and true education.

 

I love some of the quotes in this movie, because I couldn’t describe my working situation better.  Eight bosses, well that’s about the number I have, who come to tell me what I need to do on my paperwork.  This is the year of scrutinizing High School Special Education teachers.   My only real motivation is not to be hassled, when you work and work and you only hear about the bad things you do or your mistakes (which in the real world should be something inconsequential).  Of course my bosses motivation is not to be hassled bye the State Department of Education that demands we do this paperwork and they in turn are bowing to the Federal Government and their massive amounts ofunfunded mandates.  I’m just waiting on Obama to “fundamentally change education.”  The thing is, I'm sure well, that my supervisors surely think that much of what they do is ridiculous too.   So I really can't sit and blame them, as much as I like to sit and blame them. 

 

You might think that special education students who have special needs and disabilities would be exempt from the No Child Left Behind requirements for passing standardized tests… they are not. This is a dirty little unspoken of secret, I think.   Our Special Children are to be held 100% accountable for passing the tests and we are expected to get them ready for College just like everyone else.  Yet, they aren’t always like everyone else that is why they are “labeled” with a disability which may delay development or hinder reading skills or cognitive ability.   They are Intellectually Disabled and no longer the “R” word (which is all silly political correctness I suppose I’m not incredibly offended but I’m tired of explaining that Intellectual Disabilities is the new word for the “R” word).   So in the land of opportunity and individuals, individualism is frowned on because everyone must pass standardized tests made by textbook companies located on the eastern seaboard, thus filled with bias and teacher created editing error.  Individualism is dead in American Education.  

 

Not to mention they must pass the test, but we all have case-loads or a locked filing cabinet filled with the information regarding our students disabilities and the plans called Individual Education Plans or (IEPs) that we must maintain on each student.  We are over this student, we are their case-worker, which means if they are in our classes for one hour and a regular class for three we must maintain contact with all the teachers who are not special education teachers and make sure our kids receive classroom modifications and adaptations so they are successful (which means more paper documentation- pretty much a constant stream).  We then teach four or five different sections of a course of our own in our small classrooms within a class period and are expected to plan adequately for that and produce quality instruction, while having no materials (I’ve yet to see materials come out of the empty promises).   We then are held accountable for the 14 forms (or more) of paperwork required by the State and the Federal government on each student and to hold meetings.   Now, we are told that we are going to have to maintain a portfolio of class work on all students.

 

Did I mention how hard it is to teach United States History, Government, World History and Oklahoma history at once (simultaneously)  to kids who do not read well and having very little resources to do so?  Oh, it’s nearly impossible.   Of course by the time these kids are in High Schoolthe learned helplessness has kicked in.  These students have disabilities like Autism, Intellectual Disabilities and learning disabilities all grouped together at once.  Oh, yeah and then the grading which is due every Friday and 85 minute class periods because we are on block schedule. 

 

My main goal is to figure out how to talk, discuss, lecture teach history to maintain their interest so I know they are learning.  Paperwork is a nightmare for my students, who may have problems likedysgraphia (where writing is hell) or dyslexia (reading is  hell) or memory loss (that means learning history is hell), or ADHD (like me), they may also have problems like Schizophrenia, Bi-Polar, Autism, which when students have emotional or behavioral problems the first need they must have taken care of is their emotional state, you have to be emotionally stable before you can truly begin learning so we have to create a warm, comfortable environment,  you can’t learn if you fear.  

 

So when the bosses come around to tell me that I forgot a page in a report and I need to fill out this form before I do anything these words ring in my mind:

 

Dom Portwood: Hi, Peter. What's happening? We need to talk about your TPS reports. 
Peter Gibbons: Yeah. The coversheet. I know, I know. Uh, Bill talked to me about it. 
Dom Portwood: Yeah. Did you get that memo? 
Peter Gibbons: Yeah. I got the memo. And I understand the policy. And the problem is just that I forgot the one time. And I've already taken care of it so it's not even really a problem anymore. 
Dom Portwood: Ah! Yeah. It's just we're putting new coversheets on all the TPS reports before they go out now. So if you could go ahead and try to remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!

 

I try not to write a lot about my job and believe me I have loads of material about my job,  that I wouldn’t write about, because, I’d get fired, and what is funny, I love to express myself through writing all the while knowing that as an Educator we are governed by Moral Turpitude laws in Oklahoma, so anything considered “immoral” like perhaps using “bad” language, is a risk.  But I’m also a libertarian and have decided that speech is important and my freedom of expression is important.   People fear people who speak out.  People fear expressive people, artistic people, amazing people, because they have that spark within them but corporate America and our spark is dying.  

 

And I will close with my favorite quote from Office Space:

 

The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care

All Movie Quotes borrowed from IMDB.com

 

Christmas Vacation

Do you ever have a night where you take three hundred pictures and you only have one decent one.  That seems to be my luck with Christmas programs.  A camera that is called Rebel, Rebels in much the same way that my little pink point and click does at Christmas programs.  They did have pretty lights strungalong the bleachers which I got a few good shots of (see above).  

I am relieved it is Christmas vacation time. I need the time off.  I'm so glad that I'm finished with a half a year of work! 

Sad, hearing of companies laying people off right now.  Apparently one school district nearby is about to close and the other neighboring district is laying off 15 teachers and telling them no more substitutes and its just crazy.  With the Stimulus package which gave schools a ton of money for special education to create short term jobs, has not seemed to have worked out?  Interesting that schools are beginning to feel the burn of the economic meltdown.   And yet, the recession was miraculously declared "over."  Well, it is stressful.  

Tomorrow is the big Christmas shopping day.  I'm half excited, half dreading it.  Its such a crowded time of year to go, but I seem to be at the store constantly!! 

No Wonder the School Mascot is the Donkey

OK, so I went back to the school today.  I got a copy of my daughter's attendance, a copy of the rule book and a copy of the reading policy.  I went to go see the Superintendant but conveniently they were having a principal's meeting.  You would think that administration wouldn't schedule meetings during parent teacher conferences. Since they administrate all day, it seems like there would be plenty of time for them to meet.  So, I didn't wait around.  I came home and pulled up the State Department of Education. 

I called them, but they can't help me.  Its just a very stupid (or perhaps I should say Ignorant) policy put forth by a Local Educational Agency (e.g. my kids' school).  Not allowing time for work to be made up when the kid was out due to the "Great Flu Freak Out of 2009" So, my daughter may fail English and there is nothing I can do.  Now, her own procrastination and stupidity helped her out quite a bit.  Normally she gets all of her reading points in in August and is the top of her class.  Nope, not this year, what is sad is I own many books off of her reading list from when I taught sixth grade in New Mexico.  

Reading policy is as stated:

Parents and students,

Our required reading program has changed somewhat.  We still require that students read library books each nine weeks.  However, failure to read those books will not result in no-credit for the class.  Required readings are now worth 25% of the student's grade each nione weeks.  We used to give students a grace period at the end of each nine weeksto finish required reading points, but since lack of required reaading points does not fail a student any longer, we no longer offer a grace period.  Due dates for required reading are Ocober 9, December 11, March 5, and May 6.  Please acknowledge that you have read this note by signing below.  All language arts students are required to return this note to school by August 28.  Thank You.

The note is not well written.   I am not impressed, and honestly since they are refusing grace periods shouldn't reading points be allowed until the date that grades are due?  So these kids are losing over a month of time to get their allotted reading points in because of the due dates.   OK, well, I guess because I teach Special Education, I tend to look at everything in education from a legal perspective.  This battle isn't so much about my daughter but about fairness and equity, it is also about discrimination.  She was legitimately out sick, due to school policy.  So their argument that she came back to school one day doesnt' make sense, they expected her to take the test the day she was back, when she ws probably trying to catch up on a weeks worth of classwork not thinking of reading points.  

Stupid policy.  I'm glad they want them to read.  I was also told that they MUST read from their reading list and cannot read from another. When I asked this question, I got the wonderfully intellectual answer of "BECAUSE" - ok, now, don't answer with because.   Absolutely inflexible.  I hate inflexible people.   Ironic that many of the books on this list were on her elementary reading list.  But she can not read from the 8th grade, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade reading list.  No academic excellence there - its all about conformity and mediocrity.  I must say I like her Social Studies teacher, he said that she was gifted and bored.   Good answer, social studies teacher... good answer.

So I, once again am fed up with the American educational system, but what is new.  Oh, nothing.   I must admit the snotty little English teacher pissed me off.   And all I can think is "No wonder the mascot is the Donkey"  and, it is.   Yeah, embarrassing something I hate to admit to people, because of the chuckles and laughter that follows.   Oh and here is what the state department of education has to say about H1N1:

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is working in partnership with the State Department of Healthand reminds parents and school employees of the pivotal role they play in preventing the spread of illness among school children.

The U.S. departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control on Aug. 7, 2009 released updated guidanceto schools and parents regarding the prevention of the spread of influenza and 2009 H1N1. The guidancecan be found at www.flu.gov.

The Oklahoma State Department of Healthis the lead state agency in dispensing information and guidance crucial to the flu mitigation effort in Oklahoma.

The current guidance for schools includes:

1. Students and employees staying home when sick. Those with flu-like symptoms and a fever equal to or greater than 100 degrees should stay home at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever.
2. Immediately separating ill students and staff until they can leave school.
3. Routinely cleaning areas that students and staff touch often. The CDC indicates it is NOT necessary to clean with bleach and other non-detergent based cleaners.
4. Stressing hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette to students and staff. Wash hands frequently with soap and water; cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or into a shirtsleeve or elbow if no tissue is available.
5. Reminding students not to share anything that could facilitate transmission, i.e. make-up, drinks, school supplies, etc.
6. Increasing the distance between people at schools to the extent possible.
7. Being aware of people who are more at-risk of 2009 H1N1 complications, including those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems or have neuromuscular diseases, such as cerebral palsy or Down’s Syndrome. Those at high risk should consult their doctor if an outbreak occurs and follow his or her advice about whether to stay home until the outbreak subsides.
8. Temporary closures of schools are local decisions that will not be necessary in most circumstances. In Oklahoma, should a school site experience an outbreak of influenza or 2009 H1N1 this fall, county health officials will closely monitor the site. Should their surveillance lead them to the conclusion mitigation strategies will not be effective in curbing the outbreak and the outbreak will continue to escalate, they may recommend temporary closure of a school.

Strategies for preventing H1N1 flu, its symptoms, and up-to-date information on the public health emergency, including information sheets to be distributed to parents and schools in English and Spanish, are available at the State Department of Health's Web site.

Consistent and accurate information is key. So schools are strongly encouraged to use materials provided through the State Department of Healthand heed any guidance received from their county health departments.http://sde.state.ok.us/h1n1flu.html

Thanks State Department,  but we can't make allowances for kids who are out sick, they still lose 25% of their grade.  I wonder if the State Department of Health could help us out.   Just curious.  I suppose if you were diagnosed with Cancer and had chemo on the due date of your test there is no flexibility.  OR if you had 20 of 25 points and were a straight A student and missed on one of the due dates for the reading points you would still fail, because no one is allowed to do things last minute.