“Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t, you are helping them destroy themselves” (Proverbs 19:18 TEV).
Just as brick homes are built one brick at a time, the lives of our children are built with the bricks of presence, acceptance, guidance, and correction. Every time you give a child one of these gifts, you are building his or her life. The two most important corrective words you must teach your children early in life are “come” and “no.” Kids who never learn to respect and respond to authority will struggle their entire lives. Nobody gets their way all the time. If you don’t set clear limits for your children now, they’ll never understand the concept later in life, and they will have great difficulty in relationships—in their own families, with co-workers, and even with God. Will you have any influence on the next generation? When you die, your legacy should be far more than just what you did on Earth. Your legacy should include what others do after you’re gone.
Rick Warren
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
7-22-09 - The Lost Generation
This is the educators get out of bed every morning...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA&NR=1
Friday, July 17, 2009
7-17-09 - Damn It!
I grew up in a very conservative household and as a teenager my mother always drilled in my head that curse words were used by "trashy people" and she did not want them to come out of my mouth. I must say as an adult her words have always stuck in my head and I try to refrain from using profanities. I also might add, I wish parents today would "drill" this idea into this generation as they use explicatives so much they don't even realize what they are saying or a need to apologise.
I qualify this because, I can not find better words to describe this week than "Damn It." I have been an Assistant Principal at my current high school for eight years. I must say I have become quite comfortable in my position, sort of like getting the chair all worn out just so your bum fits in it just right. This was my first administrative job and I would have probably been very comfortable if it had been my last. I have an amazing boss who last let me conduct an experiment in school improvement and we have been seeing some incredible results. We started with the alignment of curriculum which has lead to departmental benchmarks, and eventually data analysis and collaboration among our faculty. Although a bumpy ride at times it has made our school leaner and aided more scientific approach to instruction. Each year we have been seeing a marked improvement in our test scores and API/AYP (state and national methods of measuring school success.)
Monday of this week, my boss called me to "meet him in his office in five minutes." OK... honestly I was a bit irritated since this has been my first summer off in four years I had just started to relax. He quickly got off the phone, as I rushed out of the door I thought ... he is probably excited that the new test scores can in and can't wait until August to share them. I bopped in his office and with one sentence he literally imploded my entire world... "You have been transferred." What? You're joking right... you have pestered me joking about this for years, this can't be true. I started looking on his desk for the test data... Nada. He looked up with watery eyes and said... "I'm not joking." I stood there for a couple seconds trying to process it all and suddenly waves of tears flowed down my face.
I closed his door and sat down and asked the obvious question... Why? I have always pushed the envelope and been considered a "Maverick" so my next question was "What did I do wrong"? He reassured me that the school across town was going into an accreditation year with 14 new teachers and they simply needed an experienced AP with a background in data and curriculum. As tears rolled down my face, how could this be? Doesn't the district office know that I love the people at this school? I didn't want to go the the other end of town because "no one is happy"!!! They do things very differently than we do, the teachers don't like data, there is no dress code, they have a different approach to discipline... there is no way this will work out. For the first time in seven years my boss got up and hugged me without screaming like a little girl... and I walked out of that office numb and angry.
So... I did what I always do when my world falls apart, I drive. And I drove, and drove, and drove some more... next thing I know I was about 100 miles north of our city. I tried to make sense of it all... this is NOT FAIR! I am the AP with the most seniority, I am building programs, I have just put together the best security team in the district, I we are showing real gains in our school improvement, DEBBIE!!! Oh my gosh... Debbie. My beloved secretary had been at my side for eight years, she had dried tears, listened to my ranting, been my best friend and even helped paint my office... how am I going to tell Debbie? What worse than that... How am I going to survive without her? I didn't want her to find out through the grapevine, so I broke CA state law and called her while I was driving. Heck the worst they could do is throw me in jail which sounded more fun than going to "the other school." I managed to tell her without totally sobbing, but it was one of the worst things I have ever had to do. With our classified staff unionized it is not as if I could just take her with me.
I finally stopped crying and decided to turn the car around and face my demons. The deed had been done, and there wasn't a darn thing I could do about it. It was getting late and I had not eaten all day, so I stopped off at a Chick Fillet (my favorite fast food) and ordered a special and a peach shake... after all I "deserved that shake." As I pulled away I layered the visor which had been shielding my teary eyes from the sun with whip cream and cherry stain, then suddenly I squeezed the middle of the cup too hard and I found myself in the middle of a peach volcano. There was milkshake all down the front of my t-shirt, on the steering wheel, on the console of my new car. I shouted to the world... DAMN IT!!!
I dried the mess the best I could with the two napkins they gave me and managed to drive home with two sticky fingers. When I arrived home I saw that my gardener had finished rebuilding a brick flower bed that was simply beautiful. I had dreaded taking the time to move the trash cans to the back when I arrived since of course it was "trash day" but found he had done this for me too. As I clicked the garage door opener tears welled up again as I got sappy over of my gardener's thoughtfulness. I was about to make a run in the house when I looked up and he (my gardener) pulled up behind me. He was proud of his job, and all I could do is grab him and start crying!! He works at our high school in grounds so he knew the depth of my love for the place. He did his best to console me, but he had to think I was nuts because I was standing there sobbing with milkshake stains covering the front of my t-shirt.
Since I was in no shape to "go to bank." I agreed to pay him the following day and went inside. Still crying I grabbed not a wash cloth or a hand towel, but a bath towel and sat down at my computer to proclaim "my wrong" on Facebook. In hindsight this was probably the best way to handle it as it allowed me to "pull off the bandaid quickly." In a matter of moments I had multiple comments and I just sat in my chair numb reading them, holding my bath towel sobbing uncontrollably. As funny as it sounds now, I felt as if I was grieving the loss of a family member. After all, I was literally ripped up from everyone I love and placed in a black hole and I was NOT happy about it.
The phone began to ring, and I could not stop crying to return the calls, so I took the chickens way out and simply texted back... "in cave, talk later." Those who know me well, knew exactly what I meant. Literally I have grieved for a week when memories of words spoken by mother rang in my head, "It's time to pull your self up by your boot-straps and get over it." This week I am been seeking the Lord's direction and spending much time in prayer as I know that God has a Purpose for my life and this is ultimately part of His divine plan.
Now as I unpeel this onion... "they don't like data," "they don't like change," "they handle discipline differently," "they have crummy offices," "no one is happy there," "parents are too demanding" "they don't like administration," I must admit the words DAMN IT, still roll off my lips.... of course my pastor, Rick Warren, has now started "tweeting" and when I say those words, invariably my phone beeps (notice of one of his Tweets has been posted) as if he is smacking me upside the head. There is a higher Purpose in all this nonsense... and I foresee many more blogs as I seek the Truth in it all.
I qualify this because, I can not find better words to describe this week than "Damn It." I have been an Assistant Principal at my current high school for eight years. I must say I have become quite comfortable in my position, sort of like getting the chair all worn out just so your bum fits in it just right. This was my first administrative job and I would have probably been very comfortable if it had been my last. I have an amazing boss who last let me conduct an experiment in school improvement and we have been seeing some incredible results. We started with the alignment of curriculum which has lead to departmental benchmarks, and eventually data analysis and collaboration among our faculty. Although a bumpy ride at times it has made our school leaner and aided more scientific approach to instruction. Each year we have been seeing a marked improvement in our test scores and API/AYP (state and national methods of measuring school success.)
Monday of this week, my boss called me to "meet him in his office in five minutes." OK... honestly I was a bit irritated since this has been my first summer off in four years I had just started to relax. He quickly got off the phone, as I rushed out of the door I thought ... he is probably excited that the new test scores can in and can't wait until August to share them. I bopped in his office and with one sentence he literally imploded my entire world... "You have been transferred." What? You're joking right... you have pestered me joking about this for years, this can't be true. I started looking on his desk for the test data... Nada. He looked up with watery eyes and said... "I'm not joking." I stood there for a couple seconds trying to process it all and suddenly waves of tears flowed down my face.
I closed his door and sat down and asked the obvious question... Why? I have always pushed the envelope and been considered a "Maverick" so my next question was "What did I do wrong"? He reassured me that the school across town was going into an accreditation year with 14 new teachers and they simply needed an experienced AP with a background in data and curriculum. As tears rolled down my face, how could this be? Doesn't the district office know that I love the people at this school? I didn't want to go the the other end of town because "no one is happy"!!! They do things very differently than we do, the teachers don't like data, there is no dress code, they have a different approach to discipline... there is no way this will work out. For the first time in seven years my boss got up and hugged me without screaming like a little girl... and I walked out of that office numb and angry.
So... I did what I always do when my world falls apart, I drive. And I drove, and drove, and drove some more... next thing I know I was about 100 miles north of our city. I tried to make sense of it all... this is NOT FAIR! I am the AP with the most seniority, I am building programs, I have just put together the best security team in the district, I we are showing real gains in our school improvement, DEBBIE!!! Oh my gosh... Debbie. My beloved secretary had been at my side for eight years, she had dried tears, listened to my ranting, been my best friend and even helped paint my office... how am I going to tell Debbie? What worse than that... How am I going to survive without her? I didn't want her to find out through the grapevine, so I broke CA state law and called her while I was driving. Heck the worst they could do is throw me in jail which sounded more fun than going to "the other school." I managed to tell her without totally sobbing, but it was one of the worst things I have ever had to do. With our classified staff unionized it is not as if I could just take her with me.
I finally stopped crying and decided to turn the car around and face my demons. The deed had been done, and there wasn't a darn thing I could do about it. It was getting late and I had not eaten all day, so I stopped off at a Chick Fillet (my favorite fast food) and ordered a special and a peach shake... after all I "deserved that shake." As I pulled away I layered the visor which had been shielding my teary eyes from the sun with whip cream and cherry stain, then suddenly I squeezed the middle of the cup too hard and I found myself in the middle of a peach volcano. There was milkshake all down the front of my t-shirt, on the steering wheel, on the console of my new car. I shouted to the world... DAMN IT!!!
I dried the mess the best I could with the two napkins they gave me and managed to drive home with two sticky fingers. When I arrived home I saw that my gardener had finished rebuilding a brick flower bed that was simply beautiful. I had dreaded taking the time to move the trash cans to the back when I arrived since of course it was "trash day" but found he had done this for me too. As I clicked the garage door opener tears welled up again as I got sappy over of my gardener's thoughtfulness. I was about to make a run in the house when I looked up and he (my gardener) pulled up behind me. He was proud of his job, and all I could do is grab him and start crying!! He works at our high school in grounds so he knew the depth of my love for the place. He did his best to console me, but he had to think I was nuts because I was standing there sobbing with milkshake stains covering the front of my t-shirt.
Since I was in no shape to "go to bank." I agreed to pay him the following day and went inside. Still crying I grabbed not a wash cloth or a hand towel, but a bath towel and sat down at my computer to proclaim "my wrong" on Facebook. In hindsight this was probably the best way to handle it as it allowed me to "pull off the bandaid quickly." In a matter of moments I had multiple comments and I just sat in my chair numb reading them, holding my bath towel sobbing uncontrollably. As funny as it sounds now, I felt as if I was grieving the loss of a family member. After all, I was literally ripped up from everyone I love and placed in a black hole and I was NOT happy about it.
The phone began to ring, and I could not stop crying to return the calls, so I took the chickens way out and simply texted back... "in cave, talk later." Those who know me well, knew exactly what I meant. Literally I have grieved for a week when memories of words spoken by mother rang in my head, "It's time to pull your self up by your boot-straps and get over it." This week I am been seeking the Lord's direction and spending much time in prayer as I know that God has a Purpose for my life and this is ultimately part of His divine plan.
Now as I unpeel this onion... "they don't like data," "they don't like change," "they handle discipline differently," "they have crummy offices," "no one is happy there," "parents are too demanding" "they don't like administration," I must admit the words DAMN IT, still roll off my lips.... of course my pastor, Rick Warren, has now started "tweeting" and when I say those words, invariably my phone beeps (notice of one of his Tweets has been posted) as if he is smacking me upside the head. There is a higher Purpose in all this nonsense... and I foresee many more blogs as I seek the Truth in it all.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6-16-09 - Graduates Looking Fine in 09!
This was an awesome class!!
This clip pretty much sums it up:
Sunday, May 24, 2009
5-24-09 - Boundaries
I am quite secure in my sanity despite the recent "ribbing" I have taken my friends and co-workers regarding my new obsession of Facebook. For those of you who have not come over to the darkside, Facebook is an online social networking site that allows people all over the planet to share thoughts, photos, updates etc... that link to their "friends" together via news feed. Given I have always considered myself a student (teacher) of sociology, this absolutely fascinates me! I have so many well defined "chapters" of my life, it has given me the opportunity to "marry" each chapter and connect an otherwise disjointed group of people in my life. I am quite thrilled that I now have 186 "friends" and absolutely love being able to "get to know them" on a much deeper level.
I mention this not only to publicly admit my psychosis, but to share a comment that touched my heart which was posted on high school friend's Facebook wall, "I have came a long way from my humble beginning in XXXXX. I was made fun of, mocked, talked about and ignored. But I wouldn't take anything for my journey. I never could have made it without the Lord." This precious person always had a bright beautiful smile and I would have never guessed that there was a deep hurt in her life. The truth of the matter is that we were ALL insecure kids who grew up in rural Southern Arkansas... none of us had anything to really brag about given our limited knowledge and experience of the world around us. But... our little high school like any other had it's share of narcissism.
All too often, I deal with teenagers living in cities 100 times the size of my own small hometown that could quote the exact words. Teenage years are painful! Other teenagers make it more painful than it has to be! And regardless of their location or position in life, they all feel the bumps and bruises and hopefully come out on the adult side prepared for the real world. As adults we "know" how to set social boundaries... or do we?
We are bullied as kids, which set us for a plethora of adult mental conditions... enabling, obsessive compulsive disorders, narcissism, addictive disorders only to name a few. As I see it, we are failing to teach our kids how to set "boundaries" with those around them. One of the best books I've read is by Christian author, Henry Cloud, entitled Boundaries. While in Texas, I co-taught a book study of Boundaries in our church, and I was amazed by all the "I've got it all together" women who were deeply touched by this book... including myself!
Being in school administrator in post-Columbine America, I quote this book often. When children are bullied to the point they bring weapons to school and kill their classmates and the adults to failed to do anything about their pain, we have a problem. School officials can suspend bullies over and over and it will not solve the problem. We need to equip our kids how to deal with those who routinely make stupid comments.
Children need to be taught how to develop "healthy boundaries" with their peers. As adults we face this every day! This week I had three examples of it myself. A number of campus security officers came to my office complaining of one of their co-workers who constantly crossed from his area to theirs to tell them how to do their job. As you can imagine they weren't very happy about the situation. I used the analogy of playing volleyball and just when the ball is coming your direction some hot shot steps in front of you and spikes it over the net... It pisses you off! Yet, everday we deal with folks who jump in front of us ready to whack the ball. I had a similar conversation with a colleague about a "pet project" of mine... stay off of my court!
When discussing a former boss, my current principal always asks me the same question, "Why do you give him so much power to upset you"? Not everyone is going to like you, accept you, or think that you are the most smart/gifted/beautiful person on the earth. So why do we care so much what these people think? By allowing their negativity to effect our mood or even feelings about ourselves we are in essence giving them "power over us."
If I had a quarter for every kid I suspended who fought because, "he was mad-dogging me" or "she called me fat/ugly/thin/homely etc... " I could retire and write this blog professionally! We are failing to teach our kids the appropriate way to deal with criticism. Sure it hurts, but chances are, the bully who said those things are feeling pretty crappy about themselves too or they wouldn't be saying those things in the first place. Think about it, happy people are not overly critical.
Furthermore, as adults when did it become OK to verbally berate others? This week I hung up on a mother who blamed the school for her child's ditching. Then she proceeded to begin cursing... I first told her to calm down, then when she dropped a "GD" on me, I simply hung up on her... she can just explain her kid's behavior to the judge! Folks you do not have the right to be verbally abusive to folks doing their jobs! And yes, we have the right to hang up on you or march your behinds out the front door when you do so! Sometimes even in families it is necessary to put distance between those we love to stop verbal abuse and remove toxic behavior from our lives.
There will ALWAYS be bullies... from rural southern Arkansas to Los Angeles. It is our job to teach our children healthy boundaries, and model them ourselves. Giving abusive folks power over us, only hurts us. By stepping back realizing that the problem is with the abuser, is the ONLY way to defeat them and allow the healing to begin.
I mention this not only to publicly admit my psychosis, but to share a comment that touched my heart which was posted on high school friend's Facebook wall, "I have came a long way from my humble beginning in XXXXX. I was made fun of, mocked, talked about and ignored. But I wouldn't take anything for my journey. I never could have made it without the Lord." This precious person always had a bright beautiful smile and I would have never guessed that there was a deep hurt in her life. The truth of the matter is that we were ALL insecure kids who grew up in rural Southern Arkansas... none of us had anything to really brag about given our limited knowledge and experience of the world around us. But... our little high school like any other had it's share of narcissism.
All too often, I deal with teenagers living in cities 100 times the size of my own small hometown that could quote the exact words. Teenage years are painful! Other teenagers make it more painful than it has to be! And regardless of their location or position in life, they all feel the bumps and bruises and hopefully come out on the adult side prepared for the real world. As adults we "know" how to set social boundaries... or do we?
We are bullied as kids, which set us for a plethora of adult mental conditions... enabling, obsessive compulsive disorders, narcissism, addictive disorders only to name a few. As I see it, we are failing to teach our kids how to set "boundaries" with those around them. One of the best books I've read is by Christian author, Henry Cloud, entitled Boundaries. While in Texas, I co-taught a book study of Boundaries in our church, and I was amazed by all the "I've got it all together" women who were deeply touched by this book... including myself!
Being in school administrator in post-Columbine America, I quote this book often. When children are bullied to the point they bring weapons to school and kill their classmates and the adults to failed to do anything about their pain, we have a problem. School officials can suspend bullies over and over and it will not solve the problem. We need to equip our kids how to deal with those who routinely make stupid comments.
Children need to be taught how to develop "healthy boundaries" with their peers. As adults we face this every day! This week I had three examples of it myself. A number of campus security officers came to my office complaining of one of their co-workers who constantly crossed from his area to theirs to tell them how to do their job. As you can imagine they weren't very happy about the situation. I used the analogy of playing volleyball and just when the ball is coming your direction some hot shot steps in front of you and spikes it over the net... It pisses you off! Yet, everday we deal with folks who jump in front of us ready to whack the ball. I had a similar conversation with a colleague about a "pet project" of mine... stay off of my court!
When discussing a former boss, my current principal always asks me the same question, "Why do you give him so much power to upset you"? Not everyone is going to like you, accept you, or think that you are the most smart/gifted/beautiful person on the earth. So why do we care so much what these people think? By allowing their negativity to effect our mood or even feelings about ourselves we are in essence giving them "power over us."
If I had a quarter for every kid I suspended who fought because, "he was mad-dogging me" or "she called me fat/ugly/thin/homely etc... " I could retire and write this blog professionally! We are failing to teach our kids the appropriate way to deal with criticism. Sure it hurts, but chances are, the bully who said those things are feeling pretty crappy about themselves too or they wouldn't be saying those things in the first place. Think about it, happy people are not overly critical.
Furthermore, as adults when did it become OK to verbally berate others? This week I hung up on a mother who blamed the school for her child's ditching. Then she proceeded to begin cursing... I first told her to calm down, then when she dropped a "GD" on me, I simply hung up on her... she can just explain her kid's behavior to the judge! Folks you do not have the right to be verbally abusive to folks doing their jobs! And yes, we have the right to hang up on you or march your behinds out the front door when you do so! Sometimes even in families it is necessary to put distance between those we love to stop verbal abuse and remove toxic behavior from our lives.
There will ALWAYS be bullies... from rural southern Arkansas to Los Angeles. It is our job to teach our children healthy boundaries, and model them ourselves. Giving abusive folks power over us, only hurts us. By stepping back realizing that the problem is with the abuser, is the ONLY way to defeat them and allow the healing to begin.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
5-8-09 - Beating Your Head on Concrete Walls
In this profession there are some days, you go home feeling that if you had spent your day banging your head against the concrete school house walls you might have actually been more productive. Full moons and spring fever do strange things to kids, and when you couple the possibility of "swine flu" you are just asking for more than you bargained! My day began with a summonsed to my boss's office. Being called to his office before school can only mean one of three things, 1) You have peeved some parent that is now screaming at him 2) The Superintendent called 3) Someone has died. The perspective of any of the options was not appealing, especially since I had not had my first cup of coffee for the day!
I was joined by my colleagues and we sat listening of how we could possibly have our first case of the "swine flu." News emerged from last night's volleyball game and one of the young men could have been infected as early as last week's prom... we all sat in the room with him! Concerned that these were NOT confirmed cases, the boss was afraid it would travel quickly through the grapevine and wanted a plan of action so that we didn't cause undo panic in the school and community. We agreed we would wait to hear from County Health officials and would direct all calls to the Nurse's office. (Later found out both boys had plain garden variety flu!) We also agreed that this would NOT be a good day, but little did we know how bad it would be and it would have nothing to do with panicked parents, kissing pigs, or sanitizing the gym! It had been a long week, we were all sick and exhausted... and we just wanted the day to be over!
We delayed our management meeting to allow counselors to begin Advanced Placement (AP) testing and quickly moved through the depressing agenda. Still no money, layoffs ahead and no hope in sight... then one by one the assistant principals were called out. Agitated by whatever environmental force you choose to blame, the children started behaving badly! My first case was an emotionally disturbed kid who told the teacher he'd do what he wanted that she couldn't tell him what to do... I didn't finish this one before panic calls started echoing over our now broken radio system.
Diego (you can't forget him) and Tyrone was facing off and standing behind them were groups of Latino males and African American males, now postured for the battle of the century! My colleagues escorted the two to the office and quickly dispersed the rest to their respective educational responsibilities. I left my ED kid in a fury as I had "dealt" this this situation two days ago and I wasn't in the mood for a repeat performance!
I walked into my colleague's office to find my boss sitting with Diego who was bobbing up and down from his seat slapping his fist in his hand and breathing like a rabid animal. I sat down, and said "Breathe." After we calmed him a bit... I asked him what had happened. He reported that Tyrone had been giving him looks (mad dogging) and he went up to him and said "Why you looking at me while I am with my lady"? Tyrone, later reported that he lost his temper at this point because Diego's friends wouldn't leave him alone regarding a situation that occured off campus (neither Diego or Tyrone were involved)... so he threw down his back pack and was ready to rumble! Diego became more and more agitated as he told his story... to the point I yelled for a secretary to call the police. Being that he was now on probation for gun charges this calmed him a bit. I asked him why he went up to the young man after I specifically told him to stay away from him? He replied, "I knew you would turn this around on me... I walked away I didn't hit him because my lady was there." I congratulated him on his few seconds of wisdom, then again asked him if he understood that his actions are what caused this mess to begin with... and why didn't he come to the office instead. He replied, "I don't do things that way."
I shook my head... for a moment I had forgotten that it was Diego's world and the rest of us were just passing through. Now totally frustrated, I told my boss that I was going to call his Probation Officer and left the room. I had just hung up my phone, when four police officers emerged with Truman (also mentioned several times in blog) in cuffs. According to their report, while we were "calming Diego," Truman decided to steal a pizza from the cafeteria. When asked to return it by and come with a Campus Supervisor, he rubbed it on his crotch and walked away! He refused to come to the office with any school personnel, and it took a police officer taking him to the ground (after he swung at him) to get him to my office. He was also swinging back and forth in the chair referring to the arresting officer with a racial slur and spitting on the floor. I spent the next twenty minutes calming Truman and calling for his father to come get him.
I stepped out of the office only to see my boss running to the side door telling me to come that their was another fight in the five building. By the time we arrived others had handled the situation of yet another face off and my colleague was being yelled out by a group of students all wearing red. It seems that Tyrone's "friends and family" network had now taken up his cause and was causing havoc. My colleague escorted them all to the office suspended them and spent the rest of the afternoon explaining to their parents why they could no longer wear the color red to school!
When I walked back into the office, I noticed yet another police officer standing by a door, to find Kevin, harmless member of the frequent- flyer club, sitting in the administrative conference room also in cuffs. I shook my head and laughed as I asked the officer... "and what did he do"? He was associated with the Truman incident and also refused to stop for the police.
Truman and Diego were now suspended. Diego was still "on ice" waiting for a nice little conference with the Boys in Blue. While waiting, Diego commented to my colleague, "if you suspend me there will be a riot on this campus." His counselor warned him about making threats, he replied, "it is not a threat it is a promise." HALLELUJAH!!!! We FINALLY have grounds to go for expulsion and get rid of him!!! Of course this was unknown to me, who was at the time calling my friend at the district office stating that it was "Bull S--" that he was at our school in the first place only because had threatened to "run away from home" if he was sent to the county school! Heck, I would have even offered to help him pack!!!
After that it became a blur, the last thing I remember is submitting paperwork for a drug bust that found it's way into the mix of chaos. Twelve suspensions and one expulsion later we thought all was calm... until the final bell rang. We were called to the quad for three additional unrelated fights that we will be dealing with come Monday morning!
There isn't a doubt in my mind that school officials suffer from traumatic stress disorder after a day like this... when I finally finished all my remaining paperwork at 6:00 pm, I went home and literally fell on my bed with tears rolling down my face. We had lost today's battle... my motto for the remainder of the school year is "Take No Prisoners." It is amazing how TWO kids can disrupt the entire school in one of the safest cities in America... this can not and WILL NOT happen again!
This is warfare people!
I was joined by my colleagues and we sat listening of how we could possibly have our first case of the "swine flu." News emerged from last night's volleyball game and one of the young men could have been infected as early as last week's prom... we all sat in the room with him! Concerned that these were NOT confirmed cases, the boss was afraid it would travel quickly through the grapevine and wanted a plan of action so that we didn't cause undo panic in the school and community. We agreed we would wait to hear from County Health officials and would direct all calls to the Nurse's office. (Later found out both boys had plain garden variety flu!) We also agreed that this would NOT be a good day, but little did we know how bad it would be and it would have nothing to do with panicked parents, kissing pigs, or sanitizing the gym! It had been a long week, we were all sick and exhausted... and we just wanted the day to be over!
We delayed our management meeting to allow counselors to begin Advanced Placement (AP) testing and quickly moved through the depressing agenda. Still no money, layoffs ahead and no hope in sight... then one by one the assistant principals were called out. Agitated by whatever environmental force you choose to blame, the children started behaving badly! My first case was an emotionally disturbed kid who told the teacher he'd do what he wanted that she couldn't tell him what to do... I didn't finish this one before panic calls started echoing over our now broken radio system.
Diego (you can't forget him) and Tyrone was facing off and standing behind them were groups of Latino males and African American males, now postured for the battle of the century! My colleagues escorted the two to the office and quickly dispersed the rest to their respective educational responsibilities. I left my ED kid in a fury as I had "dealt" this this situation two days ago and I wasn't in the mood for a repeat performance!
I walked into my colleague's office to find my boss sitting with Diego who was bobbing up and down from his seat slapping his fist in his hand and breathing like a rabid animal. I sat down, and said "Breathe." After we calmed him a bit... I asked him what had happened. He reported that Tyrone had been giving him looks (mad dogging) and he went up to him and said "Why you looking at me while I am with my lady"? Tyrone, later reported that he lost his temper at this point because Diego's friends wouldn't leave him alone regarding a situation that occured off campus (neither Diego or Tyrone were involved)... so he threw down his back pack and was ready to rumble! Diego became more and more agitated as he told his story... to the point I yelled for a secretary to call the police. Being that he was now on probation for gun charges this calmed him a bit. I asked him why he went up to the young man after I specifically told him to stay away from him? He replied, "I knew you would turn this around on me... I walked away I didn't hit him because my lady was there." I congratulated him on his few seconds of wisdom, then again asked him if he understood that his actions are what caused this mess to begin with... and why didn't he come to the office instead. He replied, "I don't do things that way."
I shook my head... for a moment I had forgotten that it was Diego's world and the rest of us were just passing through. Now totally frustrated, I told my boss that I was going to call his Probation Officer and left the room. I had just hung up my phone, when four police officers emerged with Truman (also mentioned several times in blog) in cuffs. According to their report, while we were "calming Diego," Truman decided to steal a pizza from the cafeteria. When asked to return it by and come with a Campus Supervisor, he rubbed it on his crotch and walked away! He refused to come to the office with any school personnel, and it took a police officer taking him to the ground (after he swung at him) to get him to my office. He was also swinging back and forth in the chair referring to the arresting officer with a racial slur and spitting on the floor. I spent the next twenty minutes calming Truman and calling for his father to come get him.
I stepped out of the office only to see my boss running to the side door telling me to come that their was another fight in the five building. By the time we arrived others had handled the situation of yet another face off and my colleague was being yelled out by a group of students all wearing red. It seems that Tyrone's "friends and family" network had now taken up his cause and was causing havoc. My colleague escorted them all to the office suspended them and spent the rest of the afternoon explaining to their parents why they could no longer wear the color red to school!
When I walked back into the office, I noticed yet another police officer standing by a door, to find Kevin, harmless member of the frequent- flyer club, sitting in the administrative conference room also in cuffs. I shook my head and laughed as I asked the officer... "and what did he do"? He was associated with the Truman incident and also refused to stop for the police.
Truman and Diego were now suspended. Diego was still "on ice" waiting for a nice little conference with the Boys in Blue. While waiting, Diego commented to my colleague, "if you suspend me there will be a riot on this campus." His counselor warned him about making threats, he replied, "it is not a threat it is a promise." HALLELUJAH!!!! We FINALLY have grounds to go for expulsion and get rid of him!!! Of course this was unknown to me, who was at the time calling my friend at the district office stating that it was "Bull S--" that he was at our school in the first place only because had threatened to "run away from home" if he was sent to the county school! Heck, I would have even offered to help him pack!!!
After that it became a blur, the last thing I remember is submitting paperwork for a drug bust that found it's way into the mix of chaos. Twelve suspensions and one expulsion later we thought all was calm... until the final bell rang. We were called to the quad for three additional unrelated fights that we will be dealing with come Monday morning!
There isn't a doubt in my mind that school officials suffer from traumatic stress disorder after a day like this... when I finally finished all my remaining paperwork at 6:00 pm, I went home and literally fell on my bed with tears rolling down my face. We had lost today's battle... my motto for the remainder of the school year is "Take No Prisoners." It is amazing how TWO kids can disrupt the entire school in one of the safest cities in America... this can not and WILL NOT happen again!
This is warfare people!
Friday, May 8, 2009
5-7-09 - Today Show - Story of Inspriation
When the odds are against us... continue running the race!
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30579116#30579116
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30579116#30579116
Sunday, May 3, 2009
5-3-09 - STAR WARS
The most dreaded part of my year... annual standardized testing! In California these is called STAR tests.. which includes Content Standards Tests (CST) CAPA (for low level SPED children) and now STS (standard exams in Spanish speaking students who have been in the country less than 12 months... guess state doesn't care about other languages???) Although I am never at a loss of words to complain about this process, I must admit it is better than when I first moved to the Sunshine State eight year ago when teachers literally lost two instructional months to testing.
After eight years and thirteen revisions to the schedule this year, my boss and I finally worked what I consider to be the best schedule ever! Students were to report to school ONLY when they were testing... to avoid the mass check out in the front office because our students each year would convince their parents that they couldn't sit in a room and watch a video/study for an hour. And... since children now rule to world, parents would take off work and check them out by the hundreds so they wouldn't get bored. Not a fun moment for the office staff!!!
To avoid overlapping the STAR exams with Advance Placement Exams (AP) and/or make ups for California High School Exit Exams (CAHSEE) we opted to test at the beginning of the testing window... which meant giving up half of my spring break to begin the set up which usually takes at least six full days in THE HOLE. On the east side of our Multipurpose Room lies a dusty, smelly old textbook room I have claimed to set up testing each year. Because I literally feel banished from civilization during testing, I have loving named it "THE HOLE."
I was joined by my precious secretary, Debbie and our incredible lead campus supervisor, Helen to prepare for the monster exam. About 2000 students are provided a separate grade-level exam booklets for English and (11th grade social studies) as well as separate booklets for both science and math end of course exams. The 10th grade World History exam is in a separate exam booklet as well. In my wisdom, I suggested to the math and English departments to give benchmark exams to 9th graders since they did not take exams in social science which also have to be sorted and placed in the bins.
Now if this isn't confusing enough, our school prides itself as being student-centered... meaning we do what is right for kids! So... we found that for some students, the traditional two semester Algebra and Geometry courses were too fast paced, so we broke down Algebra I to Algebra A, Algebra B, Algebra C and Geometry to Geometry A, Geometry B, Geometry C. This is good for kids... bad for Pam!! This means each child's math exam must each be verified one by one. For example: if a student is in 9th grade and enrolled in General Math, Consumer Math, Concepts of Algebra, Algebra A or Algebra B... they must take the General Math Exam. If a student is a 10th grader and is in any of the previously listed math courses they do not take a math exam... because even with a perfect score would be rated is "Far Below Basic" because they are below the grade level. If a student is enrolled in Geometry A or Geometry B they must take the Algebra I exam even though they are currently enrolled in a Geometry class because they have not reached the highest level of the course. Probability and Stats students do not take an exam, but AP Probability and Stats take a Summative Math exam. ANY WONDER I GO HOME WITH A HEADACHE?!!!
Now remember that during the six days of setting up these "blessed" testing bins (total of 88 bins) they are packed with all the materials needed, including answer documents, exams booklets for each subject (student names attached with stickers on the exams), Directions for Administration book, pencils, scratch paper, etc... This is quite a monumental task!!!
And the most frustrating part of this entire process is the questions that occur during testing. Now I realize I am not the most patient person on the planet, but I train proctors each period all day a few days before testing complete Power Point handouts as well as time for questions at the end. I am so Type A, I even make a "Potty Break" schedule so everyone will know when their breaks are scheduled and who will be providing them. I printed the phone number to the Teachers Lounge at the bottom so that any one needing an extra break could call and someone was assigned to the phone as well as potty breakers "on call" for such emergencies. Knowing questions would surely follow... each day I provide a "QUICK INSTRUCTIONS" complete with the page to start reading directions and what time to begin each exam. Some questions are so frustrating to me that this year I posted the TOP TEN STAR QUESTIONS OF 2009 on my Facebook page:
1. Where are my answer docs?
2. Which Science exam are we giving on Day 1?
3. Why don't I get an extra break because I have 10th graders w/extra exam?
4. Do I have to stay in the teachers lounge why I am "On Call"?
5. What is the phone # for the teacher's lounge?
6. What if I am running late and can't get through to the switchboard?
7. Where do I bubble the version # for the English exam?
8. What page are the questions on again?
9. I can't find the Directions for Admin in the student books
10. Can I change my break schedule 30 mins earlier so I can go get a swim in before the aquatics class meets???
ARGH!!! After answering all of these questions during training (except the last one... didn't think of that one) it goes without saying that I am NOT a nice person during the testing process!
STAR testing (AKA STAR WARS) went well this year... with the possible exceptions of the staff member who left the popcorn in the microwave too long and set off the fire alarm in the middle of the math exam, and the teacher who sent the one kid who had not finished to the office because she had not finished the exam when everyone else did early - had to call the state over that one!
Friday finally arrived and all I had to do is sort the makeup exams for the following week. The task began at 9:00 AM, I finally finished about 5:45 PM! (This was just in time to go supervise a volleyball game which began at 6:00 PM) I walked in the gym to make sure the campus supervisors had my cell number and walked to the next building where "THE HOLE" is located. I looked up at the mound of testing bins that needed to be inventoried for shipment, took a deep breath and thought... I am exhausted, but I can do this! About that time there was a BIG JERK!!! The bins swayed and rattled around me... IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE!!! It was over as suddenly as it came... luckily nothing collapsed on my head. I sat down in the broken rolley chair I had claimed for THE HOLE and began laughing. What irony... so much of my life is consumed by TESTING, how strange would it have been if come Monday morning, Debbie had to dig my life-less body from under a mound of testing bins???? Lord help us! I can only begin to imagine my epithet now!!!
After eight years and thirteen revisions to the schedule this year, my boss and I finally worked what I consider to be the best schedule ever! Students were to report to school ONLY when they were testing... to avoid the mass check out in the front office because our students each year would convince their parents that they couldn't sit in a room and watch a video/study for an hour. And... since children now rule to world, parents would take off work and check them out by the hundreds so they wouldn't get bored. Not a fun moment for the office staff!!!
To avoid overlapping the STAR exams with Advance Placement Exams (AP) and/or make ups for California High School Exit Exams (CAHSEE) we opted to test at the beginning of the testing window... which meant giving up half of my spring break to begin the set up which usually takes at least six full days in THE HOLE. On the east side of our Multipurpose Room lies a dusty, smelly old textbook room I have claimed to set up testing each year. Because I literally feel banished from civilization during testing, I have loving named it "THE HOLE."
I was joined by my precious secretary, Debbie and our incredible lead campus supervisor, Helen to prepare for the monster exam. About 2000 students are provided a separate grade-level exam booklets for English and (11th grade social studies) as well as separate booklets for both science and math end of course exams. The 10th grade World History exam is in a separate exam booklet as well. In my wisdom, I suggested to the math and English departments to give benchmark exams to 9th graders since they did not take exams in social science which also have to be sorted and placed in the bins.
Now if this isn't confusing enough, our school prides itself as being student-centered... meaning we do what is right for kids! So... we found that for some students, the traditional two semester Algebra and Geometry courses were too fast paced, so we broke down Algebra I to Algebra A, Algebra B, Algebra C and Geometry to Geometry A, Geometry B, Geometry C. This is good for kids... bad for Pam!! This means each child's math exam must each be verified one by one. For example: if a student is in 9th grade and enrolled in General Math, Consumer Math, Concepts of Algebra, Algebra A or Algebra B... they must take the General Math Exam. If a student is a 10th grader and is in any of the previously listed math courses they do not take a math exam... because even with a perfect score would be rated is "Far Below Basic" because they are below the grade level. If a student is enrolled in Geometry A or Geometry B they must take the Algebra I exam even though they are currently enrolled in a Geometry class because they have not reached the highest level of the course. Probability and Stats students do not take an exam, but AP Probability and Stats take a Summative Math exam. ANY WONDER I GO HOME WITH A HEADACHE?!!!
Now remember that during the six days of setting up these "blessed" testing bins (total of 88 bins) they are packed with all the materials needed, including answer documents, exams booklets for each subject (student names attached with stickers on the exams), Directions for Administration book, pencils, scratch paper, etc... This is quite a monumental task!!!
And the most frustrating part of this entire process is the questions that occur during testing. Now I realize I am not the most patient person on the planet, but I train proctors each period all day a few days before testing complete Power Point handouts as well as time for questions at the end. I am so Type A, I even make a "Potty Break" schedule so everyone will know when their breaks are scheduled and who will be providing them. I printed the phone number to the Teachers Lounge at the bottom so that any one needing an extra break could call and someone was assigned to the phone as well as potty breakers "on call" for such emergencies. Knowing questions would surely follow... each day I provide a "QUICK INSTRUCTIONS" complete with the page to start reading directions and what time to begin each exam. Some questions are so frustrating to me that this year I posted the TOP TEN STAR QUESTIONS OF 2009 on my Facebook page:
1. Where are my answer docs?
2. Which Science exam are we giving on Day 1?
3. Why don't I get an extra break because I have 10th graders w/extra exam?
4. Do I have to stay in the teachers lounge why I am "On Call"?
5. What is the phone # for the teacher's lounge?
6. What if I am running late and can't get through to the switchboard?
7. Where do I bubble the version # for the English exam?
8. What page are the questions on again?
9. I can't find the Directions for Admin in the student books
10. Can I change my break schedule 30 mins earlier so I can go get a swim in before the aquatics class meets???
ARGH!!! After answering all of these questions during training (except the last one... didn't think of that one) it goes without saying that I am NOT a nice person during the testing process!
STAR testing (AKA STAR WARS) went well this year... with the possible exceptions of the staff member who left the popcorn in the microwave too long and set off the fire alarm in the middle of the math exam, and the teacher who sent the one kid who had not finished to the office because she had not finished the exam when everyone else did early - had to call the state over that one!
Friday finally arrived and all I had to do is sort the makeup exams for the following week. The task began at 9:00 AM, I finally finished about 5:45 PM! (This was just in time to go supervise a volleyball game which began at 6:00 PM) I walked in the gym to make sure the campus supervisors had my cell number and walked to the next building where "THE HOLE" is located. I looked up at the mound of testing bins that needed to be inventoried for shipment, took a deep breath and thought... I am exhausted, but I can do this! About that time there was a BIG JERK!!! The bins swayed and rattled around me... IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE!!! It was over as suddenly as it came... luckily nothing collapsed on my head. I sat down in the broken rolley chair I had claimed for THE HOLE and began laughing. What irony... so much of my life is consumed by TESTING, how strange would it have been if come Monday morning, Debbie had to dig my life-less body from under a mound of testing bins???? Lord help us! I can only begin to imagine my epithet now!!!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
4-19-09 - Parents
I sit here on the last day of Spring Break reflecting if I have spent my time wisely. As I age, I begin to see more and more the value of each minute on this planet. I have tried to pack my week with family, friends, work, chores, and a whole lotta nonsense. Although I never enough quality time with any of these, I have the feeling of satisfaction of a job well done!
My Uncle Clayton has always been a role model to me. Clayton, my father's youngest brother is the prankster of the family. I always admired my uncle, who always had an innate ability to balance his career (first as a school administrator and later County Judge) and his family. He has never lost sight of his roots and his rural upbringing. Although very different from my immediate family, (I am an only child) my Dad's family consisted of four brothers and a sister. It was always a treat to me to spend time with my large extended family of uncles, aunts, and many cousins. The Castleman family reunions are always filled with practical jokes, deep belly laughs and much love.
It was simply my delight when Clayton approached during the Christmas break with the suggestion of a surprise 70th birthday party for my Dad. The past few months I have the time of my life planning this event with my Uncle, my beloved Aunt Carolyn and cousin, Amanda (Aka Stinkerbelle.) From early morning calls planning the menu to the text messages about the special cake made for very special family memories for me. I often worried as a child, being an "only" how I would care for my parents as they age. I have been pleasantly surprised how my Dad now 70, and my sassy little Mother have been running circles around me! Attempting to facilitate that "role reversal" I find great joy in stuffing their Christmas stocking, sending them special gifts and planning special trips for them...a poor attempt to repay the spoil I received as a child.
During spring break I was able to play the Easter Bunny and leave chocolate bunnies (Mom's was sugar free) for them before Easter services. These two people have invested so much love in my life it brings joy to my heart to surprise them. My Dad has always been my hero, the knight in shining armor who was able to battle any dragon in my path and save his little princess. My Mother has always been my coach! She was never one to coddle me, but would kick me in the butt and send me back in the game! Making many sacrifices of her own, she fiercely defended me yet wasn't afraid to damaging my self-esteem to shape me into a strong independent woman! (This one attribute is greatly lacking in parenting today) She knew the meaning of "No" and wasn't afraid to use it. It was most difficult to conceal my Spring Break surprise from my Mother. You just don't put one over on Shirley!!
I flew into DFW (my airport of choice) late Friday evening... rented a car (NEVER ask for " an intermediate" it lacked a functioning radio and cruise control and the change oil light flashed the entire trip!) I stayed at the Omni Hotel (my favorite) and called my Mother and LIED! Pretending to know about the weather in California, I laid in the bed in Dallas Texas attempting not the spill the beans! All went as planned, I was able to get up and drive to southwest Arkansas (after a short shopping excursion in Texarkana.) I called and texted Amanda all the way. She has texted me a photo of the cake that she transported from her home four hours away... and make numerous threats of sticking her nappy fingers in the icing!
I arrived at my Aunt and Uncles home just in time. My Dad was in line to fill his plate with labours of Clayton and Carolyn's love, when I snuck up behind him for a BIG hug! Surrounded by about fifty of his family members, buddies from the mill, and church family he gave me a BIG grin that told me he was truly surprised. (Talking about your Kodak moments!!)
I spent a couple of days with my parents... then flew back home to uncrate 70 boxes of STAR exams that would manipulate my life for the next three weeks. Sitting on the plane as I reflected, I wished all children had the relationship with their parents that I have enjoyed. In my office I see too many shattered families. Many of them broken unintentionally due to a lack of time spent together and a genuine ability to communicate with each other. This summer I will be planning a 50th wedding anniversary for my parents. Trust me, if I have learned anything from those two people it is the ability to communicate! Although very different individuals they spoke their mind and worked out all of life's little issues which has kept them together for 50 years!
Parents... take time to communicate with your kids and your spouse. Kids love your parents... one day the tables will turn and it will be your opportunity to care for them. Get to know them, love them, learn what they love and what they despise. Parents slow down and let your kids get to know the "real" you. Don't be afraid to be the parent. I advised one father before break... to be the parent or suffer the consequences. When boundaries are not clear, children get confused and make stupid decisions. Love your children unconditionally, but tell them when they mess up and impose your values. This is not always a pleasant task. but a necessary one.
My sincere prayer is that families will slow down, communicate and grow together to strengthen those young characters that you are entrusted to build. God Bless.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
3-21-09 - Every 15 Minutes
"Every 15 Minutes" a teenager is killed from a drug or alcohol related incident. We can't remind our kids enough the consequences of drinking or substance abuse. We have buried one or more students every year I have been an administrator here... now eight years. Our students acted in this powerful program for their fellow students and produced the video below:
Royal High School - Every 15 Minutes from Morgan Lott on Vimeo.
Royal High School - Every 15 Minutes from Morgan Lott on Vimeo.
Friday, March 20, 2009
3-20-09 - The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!
Before I finished my teaching credential I had the opportunity to substitute teach in my home town of Ashdown, AR. The experience was one that I consider one of the most valuable of my career, as it allowed me to sample all levels of world of teaching from kindergarten to high school. It didn't take me long to realize I was better suited for secondary education because I did not have the patience for the "It's my turn to be first today because I have a bear in my folder," "Miss, he's touching me" and " Little Johnny is throwing up on my book." High School is easy... no little bears and kids are pretty much mortified to allow any bodily function to occur. When I was teaching, if a kid misbehaved I would simply point to the door like the Grim Reaper and everyone knew what I meant... GET OUT NOW! Problem solved.
During my short tenure as a substitute teacher, I remember a book that I read to a 2nd grade class, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! by Judith Viorst. In midst of life's chaos, this children's book has often come to mind. Today was one of those days! You know, the sort of days you know the minute the alarm sounds in the morning that you just want to pull the covers over your head and hide. I walked in the administrative building this morning and you could cut the tension with a knife. With pink slips floating around and fear of that the worst is yet to come everyone was on edge.
I trotted to my boss's office for a 9:00 management meeting. Arriving early I began to share my frustration that our time was wasted by giving a placement exam for one of the state universities. Surely, I remarked, they should be able to administer their own exams... this lead to a heated discussion regarding how we prepare our students to attend universities and honestly I really don't remember the rest. All I know about mid-way through yelling match for no apparent reason we started laughing and stated the obvious... I'm not mad, you're mad... No, I'm not mad you're mad. Which lead to, "Well... you are the most stubborn person I know!" No, you're the most stubborn person I know! " The fact of the matter is that both of us are scared to death not knowing what the future holds now facing huge cuts to the education budget. We knew that we were "safe" yelling at each other.
While our colleagues hid in the secretaries office lest they get pulled into the madness, I snuck to the ladies room to dry the tears seem to always roll down my face when I get frustrated. While attempting to restore my eye makeup I heard staff members in the lounge honoring our Computer Tech for all the incredible services he performs for our school family. Now too late to shift my focus... the tears began rolling again. All I could think about was that stupid budget and if the state cuts SIP "site" funding how would we be able to pay his salary... what would he do? Who would fix our computers and classroom technology? I attempted a second time to adjust my makeup and finally made it back to the meeting.
We had just shared some funny stories when my colleague's secretary walked in and summoned her out of the meeting. She shortly returned to share that a girl had reported that her parents had struck her arm and left a mark. As Mandated Reporters, we needed to interview the student and contact the authorities. This was a problem today, as all five of our Counselors were out... one had jury duty, two had comp days, and two had pre-paid for a conference. I suggested someone get our incredible School Nurse, forgetting how buried she was at the moment herself. I stepped out of the meeting to check on the situation to find our bubbly Nurse (aka patron saint of the down-trodden student) having a crisis of her own.
Although we "disciplinarians" do not always make the best comforters, I found my colleague with all under control. I returned to the meeting for the dim budget overview. I learned that any stimulus funds given to our state by the federal government has already been sucked up by the state and none made it to help the education crisis, the outlook for passage of the props in the May special election looks dim, and if they don't pass our $8 billion education shortfall will become $13.4 billion dollars. (Try saying that without a breath!) If this happens, our "worst scenario" will become the "best scenario." Surely the voters will come to aid of our schools... RIGHT?
It was now 1 pm and head hung low I walked to my office... only to find a referral on my desk. I called an irate campus supervisor to my office who had been cussed out by Truman. (You may remember Truman for Summer School blogs. ) Apparently today he opted to throw food at a visiting choir as they boarded their buses. This incident was reported to the Campus Supervisor who immediately went to him and asked for his ID. He refused to hand it over and told him, "Go F--K Yourself" and began flipping him not one, but two birds in the air! The Campus Supervisor demanded, "You have to do something with this kid"! So... I summoned "The Kid" to my office. Truman thought it was quite funny and chuckled that he didn't do anything wrong. I had him get his father on the phone and the minute I told his father he was suspended he jumped up out of his chair, slammed his fist into my door window, ran of the the office began kicking walls and cussing at the top of his lungs. I followed him out, and yelled for the secretaries to call the police and the principal . I demanded that he come back in the office lest the police "take him away." He walked back toward the office, then began kicking the golf cart and the brick wall. He then attempted to push the golf cart over. Now concerned for his safety, I knew I needed to restrain him. I had put my foot in position and grabbed his shoulder when my boss, who is a former college football player walked out of the office. Now out numbered, he began to calm down. With three police officers waiting in the hall, for the next hour and half I talked this kid through a maze of family issues that would make a trained therapist cry. His Dad was "too busy" to come get him.
It was now 2:30 and I walked down to my boss's office to eat my lunch. He thought he was funny as he announced me as the WWF champion. I had just walked out when the front desk informed me that a kid had their cell phone confiscated for the fifth time. (We suspend them after the third violation.) I had already suspended this kid twice and she wasn't getting the message. Her mother came and signed for it, I told her that if she was my daughter, she probably wouldn't be getting it back. Obviously, it didn't stick because she handed it back to her before she left my office. Come on Mom... make the kid do without for at least 24 hours!!!
I finally walked out the door, anxious to start the weekend and to end this awful day only to call my mother and argue with her about the benefits of becoming a member of Facebook... I hung up the phone angry. Good Grief! I realized the safest place for me is back in my bed with the covers pulled over my head... where I wanted to be in the first place!!!!
Is it Saturday yet?
During my short tenure as a substitute teacher, I remember a book that I read to a 2nd grade class, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! by Judith Viorst. In midst of life's chaos, this children's book has often come to mind. Today was one of those days! You know, the sort of days you know the minute the alarm sounds in the morning that you just want to pull the covers over your head and hide. I walked in the administrative building this morning and you could cut the tension with a knife. With pink slips floating around and fear of that the worst is yet to come everyone was on edge.
I trotted to my boss's office for a 9:00 management meeting. Arriving early I began to share my frustration that our time was wasted by giving a placement exam for one of the state universities. Surely, I remarked, they should be able to administer their own exams... this lead to a heated discussion regarding how we prepare our students to attend universities and honestly I really don't remember the rest. All I know about mid-way through yelling match for no apparent reason we started laughing and stated the obvious... I'm not mad, you're mad... No, I'm not mad you're mad. Which lead to, "Well... you are the most stubborn person I know!" No, you're the most stubborn person I know! " The fact of the matter is that both of us are scared to death not knowing what the future holds now facing huge cuts to the education budget. We knew that we were "safe" yelling at each other.
While our colleagues hid in the secretaries office lest they get pulled into the madness, I snuck to the ladies room to dry the tears seem to always roll down my face when I get frustrated. While attempting to restore my eye makeup I heard staff members in the lounge honoring our Computer Tech for all the incredible services he performs for our school family. Now too late to shift my focus... the tears began rolling again. All I could think about was that stupid budget and if the state cuts SIP "site" funding how would we be able to pay his salary... what would he do? Who would fix our computers and classroom technology? I attempted a second time to adjust my makeup and finally made it back to the meeting.
We had just shared some funny stories when my colleague's secretary walked in and summoned her out of the meeting. She shortly returned to share that a girl had reported that her parents had struck her arm and left a mark. As Mandated Reporters, we needed to interview the student and contact the authorities. This was a problem today, as all five of our Counselors were out... one had jury duty, two had comp days, and two had pre-paid for a conference. I suggested someone get our incredible School Nurse, forgetting how buried she was at the moment herself. I stepped out of the meeting to check on the situation to find our bubbly Nurse (aka patron saint of the down-trodden student) having a crisis of her own.
Although we "disciplinarians" do not always make the best comforters, I found my colleague with all under control. I returned to the meeting for the dim budget overview. I learned that any stimulus funds given to our state by the federal government has already been sucked up by the state and none made it to help the education crisis, the outlook for passage of the props in the May special election looks dim, and if they don't pass our $8 billion education shortfall will become $13.4 billion dollars. (Try saying that without a breath!) If this happens, our "worst scenario" will become the "best scenario." Surely the voters will come to aid of our schools... RIGHT?
It was now 1 pm and head hung low I walked to my office... only to find a referral on my desk. I called an irate campus supervisor to my office who had been cussed out by Truman. (You may remember Truman for Summer School blogs. ) Apparently today he opted to throw food at a visiting choir as they boarded their buses. This incident was reported to the Campus Supervisor who immediately went to him and asked for his ID. He refused to hand it over and told him, "Go F--K Yourself" and began flipping him not one, but two birds in the air! The Campus Supervisor demanded, "You have to do something with this kid"! So... I summoned "The Kid" to my office. Truman thought it was quite funny and chuckled that he didn't do anything wrong. I had him get his father on the phone and the minute I told his father he was suspended he jumped up out of his chair, slammed his fist into my door window, ran of the the office began kicking walls and cussing at the top of his lungs. I followed him out, and yelled for the secretaries to call the police and the principal . I demanded that he come back in the office lest the police "take him away." He walked back toward the office, then began kicking the golf cart and the brick wall. He then attempted to push the golf cart over. Now concerned for his safety, I knew I needed to restrain him. I had put my foot in position and grabbed his shoulder when my boss, who is a former college football player walked out of the office. Now out numbered, he began to calm down. With three police officers waiting in the hall, for the next hour and half I talked this kid through a maze of family issues that would make a trained therapist cry. His Dad was "too busy" to come get him.
It was now 2:30 and I walked down to my boss's office to eat my lunch. He thought he was funny as he announced me as the WWF champion. I had just walked out when the front desk informed me that a kid had their cell phone confiscated for the fifth time. (We suspend them after the third violation.) I had already suspended this kid twice and she wasn't getting the message. Her mother came and signed for it, I told her that if she was my daughter, she probably wouldn't be getting it back. Obviously, it didn't stick because she handed it back to her before she left my office. Come on Mom... make the kid do without for at least 24 hours!!!
I finally walked out the door, anxious to start the weekend and to end this awful day only to call my mother and argue with her about the benefits of becoming a member of Facebook... I hung up the phone angry. Good Grief! I realized the safest place for me is back in my bed with the covers pulled over my head... where I wanted to be in the first place!!!!
Is it Saturday yet?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
3-13-09 - PINK FRIDAY!
Twenty-six years ago I graduated from high school on Friday the 13th. Even at that time, I knew I wanted to be an educator, even though at the time I was going to college as a psychology major it wasn't long before I came back to my first love, education. I say without hesitation that this week has been the worst of my professional career. My heart aches for those who have just entered our profession or have been in the classroom for less than three years.
Today was labeled as PINK FRIDAY by the CTA, the California Teacher's Association. Labeled appropriately, March 15 is the deadline that districts could present (postmark) thousands of teachers all over the state with pink slips. In our district alone, over two hundred teachers were given pink slips. I watched my principal fight tears himself all day as he gave notice to 20+ teachers that they too would find heart-break in their mailboxes. This week has been hell for all of us... those who anticipated the worst, the survivor guilt of those who have tenure as well as those of us who provided Kleenex to the steady stream of tears that flowed all week. Some of them new families with babies with both parents given "notice."
As administrators, we could provide little comfort, as we ourselves do not know what the future will hold. This current year's budget was only approved weeks ago, the Governor's revision is not expected until June/July, and the fate of our state educational system lay in the hands of voters in the May special election. Concerned that voters will not choose to increase their taxes in during these tough economic times we fear the current worse scenario will become the best. Not only do teachers have to fear being cut themselves, but becoming a victim of seniority "bumping" by other teachers in the district that was originally put in place as a safe-guard for professionals. As we enter into the spring semester, making scheduling decisions for the upcoming year are next to impossible as we have no idea what our faculty will look like for the upcoming year. I am sickened and angry that our society pays professional athletes millions, while unpaid educators are given a pink slips. WAKE UP AMERICA!
In our profession, this is truly the worst of times...
http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/dennert/archives/2009/03/pink-friday-ral.html
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
3-7-09 - Raising a Generation of Clones?
Last week I could bear the constant stomach pain no more, so I actually kept an appointment with my Gastrontologist to perform an endoscopy. Now to most folks this is no big deal, but please bear in mind I still have my gall bladder, appendix, tonsils and wisdom teeth. The thought of "being cut on" and "put under" has always caused me much alarm. To the point I have advised those around me that when I croak I do not want to be pumped fill of formaldehyde and gawked at in a coffin. After all I am quite sure they will not get my hair just right anyway. Just throw me in a pine box and dump me in the ground!
OK... now that I have chased that rabbit down a morbid hole, let me follow up by saying I was not at all thrilled about being "put out" and having a camera stuck down by throat! My friend, Judie shuttled me to the surgical center... not only because they told me I couldn't drive afterward, but my boss thought I might back out of it and spend the day at the beach. Judie is almost as ornery as I am and he knew she'd make me follow through! We arrived early... too early because we both got a bad case of the sillies! We would watch good people being called back, but no one was coming out! I became quite convinced that they were piling up bodies in the back room and advised Judie to take a look at the map posted on the desk (not quite sure why it was there) and come grab me if she heard screaming! She would hit me every time the nurse called a name and I followed with a "Run Don Run" or "Tom is still standing at the door... do you think he's gonna make a run for it"? There was a gentleman wandering around the parking lot when we arrived who came in who later entered the waiting room and asked a man for a bottle of water. When I looked at her in the eyes and said... "See what I mean, look what they did to him, that boy just ain't right," it was more than she could take and had to go outside for a smoke!
When she came back, she giggled and told me to behave myself and think of something serious. So... I did! The night before I couldn't sleep and about midnight found an interesting program on the Science Channel (yeah I know I'm a nerd!) According to this program, the Japanese are contemplating building a huge pyramid. (the size of 55 Luxor hotels) in the ocean. This open-air mega-pyramid would contain a number of skyscrapers and a series of pods which would contain a mass transit system so people could more quickly from place to place. They are now consulting with environmentalists and engineers from all over the globe to work out the bugs in the project. The reason for the feat of architecture is to alleviate the population explosion which has occurred in Tokyo and excessive pollution that goes along with the dense population.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimizu_Mega-City_Pyramid
I watched in awe of how the Japanese were looking to the future of their country much like our grandparents did following the Great Depression. The single generational focus was "How can we make our nation a better place for our kids and their future." As a student of sociology, I am afraid that our country has lost that vision! I remember when I was in the classroom, being frustrated watching kids who I knew could perform much better, being quite content with their "C."
One day during a lecture on intrinsic motivation, I asked my psych students, "How many of you would like to ride with a pilot that lands a plane safely 70% of the time"? Or "How many of you would like to be operated by a surgeon who has a success rate of 70%."? They all laughed and said "No way," but that is exactly what we are perpetuating within our society. It seems the new American dream is to do the very least to make the most money for recreation. It grieves my heart that we are not fostering the work ethic of our grandparents. With the exception of a few scholars at MIT is there anyone seriously thinking about the America of the future?
I declared to Judie... "We are raising a generation of clones"! In the near future will our kids be building pyramids for the Japanese because they lack the intrinsic motivation to better their own society? After all someone will surely come along and bail us all out, won't they? With China being forced to dump billions of dollars in the American economy, is this our wake up call? Is it time to teach our children the value of hard work rather than hoping for the lottery?
As we enter into the most dreaded of weeks with thousands of teachers getting pink slips in our state, I have to stop and reflect... how did we get here? And do we have the ability to crawl out of this black hole which was created by our own hands? The future is in the hands of our children...
OK... now that I have chased that rabbit down a morbid hole, let me follow up by saying I was not at all thrilled about being "put out" and having a camera stuck down by throat! My friend, Judie shuttled me to the surgical center... not only because they told me I couldn't drive afterward, but my boss thought I might back out of it and spend the day at the beach. Judie is almost as ornery as I am and he knew she'd make me follow through! We arrived early... too early because we both got a bad case of the sillies! We would watch good people being called back, but no one was coming out! I became quite convinced that they were piling up bodies in the back room and advised Judie to take a look at the map posted on the desk (not quite sure why it was there) and come grab me if she heard screaming! She would hit me every time the nurse called a name and I followed with a "Run Don Run" or "Tom is still standing at the door... do you think he's gonna make a run for it"? There was a gentleman wandering around the parking lot when we arrived who came in who later entered the waiting room and asked a man for a bottle of water. When I looked at her in the eyes and said... "See what I mean, look what they did to him, that boy just ain't right," it was more than she could take and had to go outside for a smoke!
When she came back, she giggled and told me to behave myself and think of something serious. So... I did! The night before I couldn't sleep and about midnight found an interesting program on the Science Channel (yeah I know I'm a nerd!) According to this program, the Japanese are contemplating building a huge pyramid. (the size of 55 Luxor hotels) in the ocean. This open-air mega-pyramid would contain a number of skyscrapers and a series of pods which would contain a mass transit system so people could more quickly from place to place. They are now consulting with environmentalists and engineers from all over the globe to work out the bugs in the project. The reason for the feat of architecture is to alleviate the population explosion which has occurred in Tokyo and excessive pollution that goes along with the dense population.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimizu_Mega-City_Pyramid
I watched in awe of how the Japanese were looking to the future of their country much like our grandparents did following the Great Depression. The single generational focus was "How can we make our nation a better place for our kids and their future." As a student of sociology, I am afraid that our country has lost that vision! I remember when I was in the classroom, being frustrated watching kids who I knew could perform much better, being quite content with their "C."
One day during a lecture on intrinsic motivation, I asked my psych students, "How many of you would like to ride with a pilot that lands a plane safely 70% of the time"? Or "How many of you would like to be operated by a surgeon who has a success rate of 70%."? They all laughed and said "No way," but that is exactly what we are perpetuating within our society. It seems the new American dream is to do the very least to make the most money for recreation. It grieves my heart that we are not fostering the work ethic of our grandparents. With the exception of a few scholars at MIT is there anyone seriously thinking about the America of the future?
I declared to Judie... "We are raising a generation of clones"! In the near future will our kids be building pyramids for the Japanese because they lack the intrinsic motivation to better their own society? After all someone will surely come along and bail us all out, won't they? With China being forced to dump billions of dollars in the American economy, is this our wake up call? Is it time to teach our children the value of hard work rather than hoping for the lottery?
As we enter into the most dreaded of weeks with thousands of teachers getting pink slips in our state, I have to stop and reflect... how did we get here? And do we have the ability to crawl out of this black hole which was created by our own hands? The future is in the hands of our children...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
3-6-09 - Pink Friday
Due to incredible cuts to the state budget, next week teachers will be given pink slips all over the state of California. Please join us in wearing pink on 3/13/09, now named "Pink (Slip) Friday" to protest this travesty.
Education is now only allocated 40% of the state budget and it is getting cut an additional 60%. Surely our kids deserve more attention. California now ranks 50th in the nation in funding per/student:
http://www.pinkfriday09.org/
http://www.pinkfriday09.org/
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