Saturday was a very satisfying day. I managed to keep myself busy all day and resist the urge to follow the news. (register and read why) Tweety had a birthday party to go to so I took Froggy shopping for house stuff. We needed to buy two new blinds and a few other items. I’m frustrated with contractors and blind companies. Seriously, can we get some standardization? What I bought will not fit, despite the fact that I did measure. I really don’t have time to deal with that. We have someone coming by tomorrow. They have reviewed the house on-line and asked questions via email. It isn’t like they don’t know what to expect.

(continued Sunday)

I spent the morning cleaning again…the little things and laundry. I’ll have to download the podcast of the church service this morning. I hate missing, but it was nice to be home all day. We had two couples come by to walk through the house. We can’t tell how interested they were, but time will tell.

Friday I made sure I could watch the news at 5, 6 and 10. It seems that the original story that indicated the murder was solved since his wife committed suicide changed to ongoing investigation that wasn’t even news worthy (sensational) enough to make the news. I can’t imagine the damage that the first story did. Our students weren’t told cause of death and they certainly weren’t told she was suspect. They go home and they hear the first news story that is sensationalized? And OH I HATE the news guys voice that makes everything so broadcaster like. Yellow journalism at its finest sometimes.

Today, it isn’t even a story listed on the website of the local paper. Not a story on the TV station site that originally broke the story. And not in their hometown paper either. Funny how things tend to disappear when you jump the gun.

It is very strange how something that will impact us for the rest of the year is no longer a story. Not that I want it to be, but there is a need to know the truth. I can’t imagine tomorrow. Will the students ask questions that we can’t answer? Have they had enough time over the weekend to forget about it? I’m not ask shocked as I was Friday and Saturday. Friday I was blind sided by the information. I wish I knew what to expect tomorrow and how to deal with it.

Here is the news story that explains this post: (click)

This was a teacher at my high school- in my building, upstairs. We had the same afternoon off period, the same lunch period, so I saw her daily. With over 150 faculty at THS, and 17 buildings, there are people that I haven’t seen this year. Our ninth grade building was close. It is the only building on campus housing a single grade. We teach the same kids and we operate almost as a separate school. When we found out that Mrs. Beatty lost her husband to suspicious circumstances it touched all of us. She hadn’t been to school since her husbands death and the science dept was stepping up to fill the void. With state tests coming up this past week it was necessary for everyone to pitch in.

We knew that she was not doing well with the death of her husband. This seemed understandable, they had been married for 23 years. When we found out Friday that she committed suicide we were shocked. How were we going to handle this? The students had to be informed. What was the best way? It was decided that the teachers would tell their classes and we were given a statement. It did not include the manner of death. At that time we didn’t know that she was suspect.

It was only at the end of the day that we discovered the news stories that implicated her in the death of her husband. Students had been speculating all day, many had apparently received texts about the story because they were asking us if it was true. We were having to say that we didn’t know anything more than what we told them and if they had questions they needed to speak with the counselor or ask their parents.

I do not agree with the fact that we withheld information from our students. We were not to tell them that she committed suicide. Instead they had to find out from the rumor mill and from news reported that evening. Not only did they find out that their science teacher was dead, they had to find out that it was of her own doing, AND that she was allegedly involved in the murder of her husband.

In dealing with grief and shock it is helpful to talk about the situation with others who are also facing it. I think the manner in which we handled this was not one where we fostered trust with our kids. Their trust in one teacher was already shattered. I really don’t know a better way. I do know that the teachers in my building are really struggling with the shock. Our building administrator is too.

We are not supposed to discuss things concerning the school outside of school. That’s why this post is private.

Here is admins news response and it is how the rest of us remember her as well:

Tupelo teacher remembered as cooperative, professional

4/28/2007 12:15:17 AM
Daily Journal

By Danza Johnson
Daily Journal

TUPELO – High school principal Mac Curlee on Friday remembered Dorothy Anne Beatty as cooperative, professional and a good teacher.

Beatty, a 59-year-old biology and science skills teacher, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday in McNairy County, Tenn. Corinth police described her Friday as a “suspect” in the death of her husband, Don Beatty, a few weeks ago.

She had been a teacher at Tupelo High School since January 2005.

Curlee said Beatty was an easy teacher to work with.

“She was a very cooperative teacher,” he noted. “She had an assignment a couple of years ago that required her to move from class to class. Usually that means going across the hall, but she had to move from building to building and it wasn’t a short walk. She took the assignment professionally and with a smile on her face.”

Describing her as very professional with students and staff, he remember her as “very conscientious about her work and gave full effort.”

Students and staff were told about Beatty’s death after lunch. Curlee said several students visited school counselors after hearing the news.

Beatty graduated from Corinth High School in 1965. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in 1972 and did some course work at the University of Mississippi. Before joining the staff at Tupelo High School, she’d taught at Southside High School, Alcorn Central and Corinth High. She also taught in Ft. Walden, Fla.

Sitting here watching AI tonight, not very impressed with the IGB show. It just seems to go on and on and on. There are times that I’m wondering if they are mocking the “call-a-thon” shows. The other thing that irks me is the number of celebs that will step up for Africa, but not the States. Not that I have anything against third world aid, anyone who knows me knows that is not true. I would just like to see more for the home front. At least Sanjaya is gone, although I really think Chris has been worse lately. I won’t be disappointed to see him go.

However…after 2, yes TWO hours, no one goes home.

It is state testing week. Our schedule sucks, but that’s just my opinion. Each day will be started with 3+ hours with one class and then regular schedule for the remainder of the day. Should be interesting.

According to my Google countdown there are 33 days remaining. That deserves a nice woohoo.

And the WAHOO of the day: I am now certified to teach in AL!!! My license came today. I was a little stressed that it was going to be a long miserable process…longer than it has been. Big relief.

Sorry nothing more substantial…just another manic Monday.

Today was spent cleaning and minimizing. Our house is officially for sale. Only nibbles so far. We’ll list in a week or so. 35 days left until the end of school…or so my Google personal page says. I shouldn’t count down, but I am ready for this school year to be done. But that is NOT what I want to blog about today.

Yesterday, I was so glad to see Friday. It was rush rush all day. I attended a Premiere Jewelry party in honor of a friends daughter who is graduating this year. So not my thing, but I needed to go. I got a really cute bracelet out of it and Froggy found an adorable necklace that I can wear too. I’m really not a jewelry kind of gal, but I do like simple pieces that have a sweet elegance about them. After the jewelry party I rushed home so Froggy could join Tweety at the neighbor’s bonfire. It was a birthday celebration for their middle son and since he and Tweety are inseparable it was OK for the girls to join the festivity. I ventured over as well and then joined in for the hide-n-seek like game of sardine’s. If you are not familiar with this game it is really a lot of fun. You play in pairs or small groups. The first group has two-three minutes to hide. (Keep in mind this is a bonfire. It is dark and we live out with woods and trails for a backyard.) After time for the first group to hide the second group sets out to seek, then each remaining group at two minute intervals. If a group finds the first group they are to join them in hiding. Yes, everyone packs into the same hiding place- hope it’s a good one. You have to be quiet to be successful at this game, especially when it is dark out. We had flashlights but you don’t want to give away your position so you use it sparingly. We started out with 6 boys, one 14 and the rest around 10, my girls (10 and almost 7), and two adults. By the time I left at 11:30 all the kids in the neighborhood and one more adult had joined the group. You try cramming sixteen people into a single hiding place in the woods. the first few rounds were hilarious because some of the kids just didn’t “get it” and joined other groups making a ton of noise. Once they figured out how the game worked it became really interesting. The night was a great way to relax and forget the stress of the past week. Spending time with young kids also helps to bring you down to Earth and remember that there is more to life than professions, bills, and the everyday stresses we face.

One of my favorite toys is my iPod. Djembe bought it for me for Christmas. Actually, he bought Zune, which was pretty cool, but we exchanged for the iPod. I love it. All my favorite music at my fingertips. I have recently discovered the joy of podcasts. I do not have the time or desire to sit through the news, but I can download the podcasts and listen during travel time and other down time. I’ve also discovered a way to improve/learn Spanish. My favorite podcast is Coffee Break Spanish with Mark and Kara from Scotland. I also really enjoy NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me and the NPR Story Corp. The podcast is a great way to stay on top of news. It would be so easy to get more podcast subscriptions than there is time to listen.

I’ve mentioned several times before that my Gran was sick for my entire life. Raising me was a chore but it was one she took on, and dedicated herself to. I contribute who I am today to the influence and encouragement of Gran.

To keep me busy Gran would play the piano for me, read my favorite Mother Goose rhymes/stories, or tell stories of her growing up years. My favorite was the railroad story.

As a young girl Gran and her siblings would have to walk to and from school. As most children who walk here and there do, they had rules and a route to follow. One day Gran was walking without her brothers and sisters. I don’t remember why, but this was the day she was going to see what it was like…she wanted to walk the RR trestle.

Apparently there was a walking bridge and a railroad bridge over the waterway. Since this was in Gorgas, AL I can only imagine the area was a portion of the Warrior River.

Walking alone Gran decided to do it. She made sure no one was watching. Her instructions were clear, don’t EVER walk the trestle. It is just not safe. So true, but being a headstrong young lady she wasn’t going to be held back by something so trivial as the rules. Her excitement building, she starts across. A few steps in she realizes the magnitude of her decision. Where her confidence had been strong she found herself rethinking her decision and taking each step with great deliberation. As she reached the half-way mark she froze.

I’m sure at this point she is seriously rethinking her decision to walk across the train bridge. It was in strict violation of her Daddy’s rules. She is probably thinking about how high the bridge is and how ridiculous it was for her to start this little adventure. She may even consider how wise the decision was considering her options if a train was to come. It has been so long since I heard this story that I can only imagine the terror I would have felt if I froze in the middle of a train trestle.

It wasn’t long before Gran was overcome by a greater fear. No, a train wasn’t coming down the track. It was much worse than that. As she stood there, frozen on the tracks in the middle of the train trestle, she looked up to see her Daddy driving slowly across the car bridge…staring straight into her terrified eyes. Forgetting the terror of crossing the bridge she proceeded to run to the other side, and her waiting Daddy.

No, he didn’t yell. In fact, I believe it had to have been worse than yelling because he didn’t say a word as a young Gran climbed into the car. As they drove home I imagine the silence was deafening. Finally, he says to her that he thought she had been told not to walk the trestle. The “yes sir” that followed had to be the hardest two words for her to utter. I don’t remember what the punishment was, or even if there was one, but I do remember Gran saying she never walked the trestle again.

As I recall the many stories Gran used to tell I imagine what she must have been like as a child. It is very scary because I now see where comes the free spirit that our youngest seems to exhibit. She is very sneaky and does not fear danger. For her, rules are merely suggestions to be tested for validity. If she grows up to be the woman Gran was, I will be proud.

OK, Dawn…I’ll play.

‘da rulz’
Every person starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog with their own 7 things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, tag seven people & list their name. Don’t foget to leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged & to read your blog…

My 7 random things:

1. I said I would NEVER date a drummer. Fact is, I really didn’t date him long and he is better than a drummer…He is a percussionist and can play anything in the “drum” family.

2. Dawn once bought a house because of the pink flowers in front…I chose this house because of the giant garden tub that offers hours of relaxation. Nothing like soothing bubbles, a glass of wine, and a great book.

3. I want to move to New Zealand and teach. I would also be willing to teach in Haiti or various other 3rd world countries.

4. I really don’t like NASCAR but thanks to Djembe I probably know as much about it as the average fan and can discuss it intelligently. Obnoxious really.

5. Everything I like about MS has come into our lives in the last year and a half. Up until that point I was pretty much miserable here. Sad really.

6. I’m scared to death about this move and there are a few people that I will really miss.

7. When I really get stressed I go through a psycho cleaning fit and organize everything. My students think it’s hilarious and call it my OCD fit.

*the bonus*
I love the sound of rain on the roof and am fascinated by thunderstorms and the weather…to the point of checking weatherunderground everytime I get on the web just to see what is happening or will happen.

I don’t like tagging people…but feel free to do this if you choose.

This four day week felt like 30 hour days in a 10 day week. Going in tomorrow so I can do paperwork and enter grades. Seriously looking forward to getting through the next two months.

Now…going to bed to the sound of rain. I love it. Very soothing.