Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.

1957 – Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2010 – School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.

Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.

1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2010 – Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.

1957 – Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2010 – Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.

1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2010 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.

Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school..

1957 – Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock
2010 – The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.

1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2010 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.

1957 – Ants die.
2010 – ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents — and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.

1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2010 – Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

I’m hoping. Praying. Sittin’. Watchin’. Waitin’.

A brief thought, but I will save my full TFA rant for another day. Due to budget cuts, over 500 individuals did not receive contracts for next year. Yet, the district is bringing in 150-250 TFA to teach. These individuals have no teachings experience, did not attend college for education, and statistics show they will be out of education in two years. For them, it is simply a resume boosting opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, all TFA are not bad. In fact, I know two who are rather talented and the profession is lucky to have them. Unfortunately, this organization is taking jobs away from career teachers. That really bothers me. I wouldn’t mind as much if they were dedicated to the profession for ten, even five, years.

I refuse to spend another day keeping vigil at my computer, checking websites for employment postings. We are going to get out for the day. It is time to enjoy a little sun and fun at Carowinds.

I have a workshop this week. Not sure how I feel about that. I’m looking forward to the information and learning how the Promethean software/hardware can help me in the classroom, but if I don’t have a contract next year there is very little benefit to me. My former principal has not responded to messages, but the workshop coordinator said I was welcome to attend and that I should receive credit. I desperately need CEU credit so I am going to go and hope for the best. I have been offended by being a part of the reduction in force (RIF) but maybe it is God’s way of letting me know that I really do want to be back with my gangsta thugs next year. I haven’t always been sure, and I still don’t think I’m certain. If they offered I would accept. I wouldn’t mind working in the same district as my girls though.

It really is late for me and I’m not used to the late night hours yet. Time to call it what it is…night.

Doing the friends and family thing lately…life is good.

Student number 2 was extremely unhappy because of group work. I get it. I know. Everyone hates group work, but it is a tool for learning. It provides collaboration opportunities, which we are required to do. Strategic grouping allows stronger students to teach weaker students and in turn strengthen themselves. It provides an opportunity to be more hands on in your learning and it builds a connection to your classmates. She was not happy with her assignment and felt that it would bring her down. She refused to listen to reason. She refused the opportunity to move herself away from the group she wanted to work with and work alone. It wasn’t a simple expression of concern. She had to loudly exclaim how she would have her momma call up here and it wasn’t her responsibility, etc…yeah, um…goodbye, here is your security escort. From this point forward she will work alone, test alone, and not receive the benefits of our group test preparations and activities. Kind of hard to do from ISS anyway.

I feel slightly better now. Once the chaos of removed we really had a good day today.

My nephew happens to be the other passenger who undergone surgery this morning, do to this tragedy. What has become to our youth of today? When the only way they feel they can express themselves is with the use of a gun. Think hard people . . . where were they “educated” to believe that acting and treating others like prey is common and acceptable? It’s time to re-direct the education.

I’m sorry for the tragedy, but is she blaming the educational system? Really? What about the lack of positive role models in the African American community? Where was this young man’s daddy in his life? What about the daddy of the shooter? Guns aren’t allowed in school. Violence is not allowed in school. We do all that we can to keep students safe. We educate them in our subject areas. We mentor them whenever possible. We listen when they need counsel. We provide pencils, paper, pens, notebooks, binders, backpacks and anything else they need. We make them behave and send them out when they refuse. How is it the fault of the educational system? I did not birth your child and am not responsible for parenting and raising him/her. Sad.

It is the end of the school year, and if that isn’t stressful enough around 1000 jobs will be cut from my district. The general assumption is that these jobs will be cut from those with negative evaluations and licensure deficiencies. Don’t buy into the documented CYA report. The fact is that cuts will be based on experience, admin desire, and coaching capabilities. I have experienced one five minute evaluation, by someone who was not my direct supervisor, and have already been given a heads up that I will likely be on the cut list. The first question of this conversation was, “do you coach?” No, I teach and focus on the academics. If you look at my scores you will find that I have the third highest in my department. The second highest is going to another school next year, and the guy with the top scores has at least one honors class (and I think two). I have two that are basically remedial and one regular. I also do not have another teacher that is in my room to help with the sped kids.

The possibility of getting cut was on my mind when I accepted this position. I knew it was likely and viewed this job as a transition back to public school and a doorway to other opportunities. I can now include in my portfolio that I have taught at one of the worst schools in this area, and did it rather well. It isn’t that I will not be asked to return, it is why. I don’t coach and have no interest in coaching. Why is school putting emphasis on anything other than academics?!?! I was a band kid and it made all the difference in my life, I get the importance. However, extras should not take the place of academics.

So anyway, that’s life. It is what it is. (Gotta love that phrase.)