I don't have anything particularly interesting to say on this rather mundane Friday night. I do have, however, a curious question - who are you?
I was checking my little map to the right and I see all sorts of places and no comments left. That's okay, I guess. I just would like to know who you are. I'm pretty sure I know many of my three or four loyal readers. But the rest, I haven't a clue. Please leave a comment here and introduce yourself. If you feel comfortable, tell me what part of the map you claim as your own. I won't bite, I promise.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
What's next?
Proposal 2 did not pass last night. I spent the early part of the day, freezing my toes numb, talking to voters outside the precinct. I worked from seven until about 2:30, when my back could no longer handle it. I'm glad I did it, though; that type of work makes me feel alive.
Now that collective bargaining is not constitutionally protected (but anti-gay marriage is) in Michigan, what does it mean? I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about the future of education in the state. I am worried that "right-to-work" legislation will pass in a heartbeat. A bill like that will financially choke the unions, as many teachers in a variety of districts, mine in particular, have taken pay cuts. We still have the threat of a charter school over our heads heads at my school and I am quite certain the for-profit company that were to take over would fire anyone for organizing activity. Maybe I should go down a rebel. The idea is appealing.
Or, I can start to formulate Plan B - a career change at the age of 45. This is a scary prospect, but one I cannot dismiss. Perhaps the universe is sending me a sign to take a chance on something new. I have to gather my wits and figure out my qualifications for anything. I am certain I must have marketable skills.
In the meantime, I will continue to try and impress some agent with my book. And, of course, I will continue to teach to the best of my ability.
Now that collective bargaining is not constitutionally protected (but anti-gay marriage is) in Michigan, what does it mean? I don't know, but I don't have a good feeling about the future of education in the state. I am worried that "right-to-work" legislation will pass in a heartbeat. A bill like that will financially choke the unions, as many teachers in a variety of districts, mine in particular, have taken pay cuts. We still have the threat of a charter school over our heads heads at my school and I am quite certain the for-profit company that were to take over would fire anyone for organizing activity. Maybe I should go down a rebel. The idea is appealing.
Or, I can start to formulate Plan B - a career change at the age of 45. This is a scary prospect, but one I cannot dismiss. Perhaps the universe is sending me a sign to take a chance on something new. I have to gather my wits and figure out my qualifications for anything. I am certain I must have marketable skills.
In the meantime, I will continue to try and impress some agent with my book. And, of course, I will continue to teach to the best of my ability.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Proposal 2
In the week leading up to the election, I want to review some of the proposals that are on Michigan's ballot. The first I want to discuss is the one that is most vitally important in my world: Proposal 2. On the ballot, Michigan voters will see
I want to urge all of you to vote YES on this proposal. The seventeen years I have spent in education have proven to me just how important the right to collectively bargain is, on many levels.
On a personal level, if the right to collectively bargain is effectively destroyed in the state of Michigan, I will no longer be able to afford to teach. In February 2011, Diane Ravitch explains that a starting teacher in Arizona makes only $26,000 a year. I don't care how low the cost of living is any given area, a teacher could not afford to pay off student loans, pay rent, and pay for a large percentage of classroom supplies on that salary. More than likely, a person making this salary is going to work two jobs, making him/her a less effective teacher. In my own district, due to pay cuts, we have teachers who are eligible for food stamps. Way to save the government money.
Did I mention classroom supplies? A teachers' union contract can address the issue of basic supplies, such as paper, pencils, etc. Teachers must have access to basic supplies; if not, the union will file a grievance on behalf of the teacher. Just yesterday, I met an Ontario teacher who has not been given the supplies she needs to properly teach her class. I saw her at an office supply story, buying paper for her classroom with her own money. This widow could have been spending that money on her own daughters or saving it for the future. Instead, her principal has refused to give her any resources. I urged her to file a grievance, but like so many people, she is afraid of bucking authority. Her contract and all teacher contracts, properly should protect people like her.
Let's look at class size. I have sat on the negotiating team for my local. I was stunned to listen as the administrative team suggested that we do away with class size caps. It makes no sense. As a teacher, I cannot effectively teach classes of 35 or more teenagers. As a mother, I do not want my third grader sitting in a class of more than 20. I find it deliciously ironic that Mitt Romney declares that class size doesn't matter. He attended a school that has, according to a friend who currently works there, about 15 students per class. Given his philosophy, his own children must have attended crowded public schools. Before you ride my case, I get the security risks, but why is what is good for the golden elite never a good enough investment for the rest of us? Rhetorical question, never mind.
Lastly, I would bet good money that there is "Right to Work" legislation waiting on someone's desk in Lansing. Of course, once teachers' unions are destroyed (along with all other unions) those all important test scores will soar where only eagles dare. Well, not really and not really again.
Well, if in the US, we get to the point of actually have destroyed unions, we will be in great historical company.
This is an interesting map, I think.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSAL 2 and feel free to share this information with anyone who is interested. As American writer Will Durant once said, "We Americans are the best informed people on earth as to the events of the last 24 hours; we are not the best informed as the events of the last 60 centuries."
PROPOSAL 12-2
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
This proposal would:
- Grant public and private employees the constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through labor unions.
- Invalidate existing or future state or local laws that limit the ability to join unions and bargain collectively, and to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements, including employees’ financial support of their labor unions. Laws may be enacted to prohibit public employees from striking.
- Override state laws that regulate hours and conditions of employment to the extent that those laws conflict with collective bargaining agreements.
Should this proposal be approved?
- Define “employer” as a person or entity employing one or more employees.
YES __
NO ____
I want to urge all of you to vote YES on this proposal. The seventeen years I have spent in education have proven to me just how important the right to collectively bargain is, on many levels.
On a personal level, if the right to collectively bargain is effectively destroyed in the state of Michigan, I will no longer be able to afford to teach. In February 2011, Diane Ravitch explains that a starting teacher in Arizona makes only $26,000 a year. I don't care how low the cost of living is any given area, a teacher could not afford to pay off student loans, pay rent, and pay for a large percentage of classroom supplies on that salary. More than likely, a person making this salary is going to work two jobs, making him/her a less effective teacher. In my own district, due to pay cuts, we have teachers who are eligible for food stamps. Way to save the government money.
Did I mention classroom supplies? A teachers' union contract can address the issue of basic supplies, such as paper, pencils, etc. Teachers must have access to basic supplies; if not, the union will file a grievance on behalf of the teacher. Just yesterday, I met an Ontario teacher who has not been given the supplies she needs to properly teach her class. I saw her at an office supply story, buying paper for her classroom with her own money. This widow could have been spending that money on her own daughters or saving it for the future. Instead, her principal has refused to give her any resources. I urged her to file a grievance, but like so many people, she is afraid of bucking authority. Her contract and all teacher contracts, properly should protect people like her.
Let's look at class size. I have sat on the negotiating team for my local. I was stunned to listen as the administrative team suggested that we do away with class size caps. It makes no sense. As a teacher, I cannot effectively teach classes of 35 or more teenagers. As a mother, I do not want my third grader sitting in a class of more than 20. I find it deliciously ironic that Mitt Romney declares that class size doesn't matter. He attended a school that has, according to a friend who currently works there, about 15 students per class. Given his philosophy, his own children must have attended crowded public schools. Before you ride my case, I get the security risks, but why is what is good for the golden elite never a good enough investment for the rest of us? Rhetorical question, never mind.
Lastly, I would bet good money that there is "Right to Work" legislation waiting on someone's desk in Lansing. Of course, once teachers' unions are destroyed (along with all other unions) those all important test scores will soar where only eagles dare. Well, not really and not really again.
Well, if in the US, we get to the point of actually have destroyed unions, we will be in great historical company.
This is an interesting map, I think.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSAL 2 and feel free to share this information with anyone who is interested. As American writer Will Durant once said, "We Americans are the best informed people on earth as to the events of the last 24 hours; we are not the best informed as the events of the last 60 centuries."
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Rape
In my wildest nightmares, I never thought I would write about this. Sadly, the issue keeps coming up in regards to reproductive rights for women, specifically the right to choose an abortion.
I am ardently pro-choice. I don't begrudge someone for having qualms about the issue of abortion. For me, the line that many anti-choice people cross is a burning desire to ban contraception. That is until this recent election cycle. The issue of pregnancy and rape has been a hot topic. Hottest has been the notion by extremists on the right that abortion should not be allowed under any circumstance, including rape. There have even been comments that a pregnancy caused by a rape is a gift from God. I am a woman that has had to fight off a date in my lifetime. I've never told anyone this because I was ashamed. That is not the story I want to share.
That story starts at the age of five, when a family member began to act "odd" around me. He would try to be alone with me; he was found alone with me in a closet. He would pull me onto his lap and tickle me. Yes, I could feel his penis as I tried to squirm away. This family member made comments and passes at me until I was in my early 20's. I can't fully remember what he did manage to do to me, but I feel quite certain that I was victimized.
I had my first period when I was nine. That's pretty young. I was still playing with my dolls and stuffed animals at that age. I remember being very confused and embarrassed. Now, as I hear and read these comments about rape and pregnancy, I feel physically ill. I can only imagine what would have happened if that family member had managed to rape me when I was a child. I know he desired me because he made an open pass at me when I was 22 or 23. He tried to caress my hair and tell me how beautiful I was and had always been.
What if he had impregnated me when I was only nine or ten years old? It was biologically possible. Is that really God's will? A gift? What sick bastard truly believes that? Someone who is aiming to help shape policy for a nation of 330 million people? These lunatics cannot be allowed to win.
I am ardently pro-choice. I don't begrudge someone for having qualms about the issue of abortion. For me, the line that many anti-choice people cross is a burning desire to ban contraception. That is until this recent election cycle. The issue of pregnancy and rape has been a hot topic. Hottest has been the notion by extremists on the right that abortion should not be allowed under any circumstance, including rape. There have even been comments that a pregnancy caused by a rape is a gift from God. I am a woman that has had to fight off a date in my lifetime. I've never told anyone this because I was ashamed. That is not the story I want to share.
That story starts at the age of five, when a family member began to act "odd" around me. He would try to be alone with me; he was found alone with me in a closet. He would pull me onto his lap and tickle me. Yes, I could feel his penis as I tried to squirm away. This family member made comments and passes at me until I was in my early 20's. I can't fully remember what he did manage to do to me, but I feel quite certain that I was victimized.
I had my first period when I was nine. That's pretty young. I was still playing with my dolls and stuffed animals at that age. I remember being very confused and embarrassed. Now, as I hear and read these comments about rape and pregnancy, I feel physically ill. I can only imagine what would have happened if that family member had managed to rape me when I was a child. I know he desired me because he made an open pass at me when I was 22 or 23. He tried to caress my hair and tell me how beautiful I was and had always been.
What if he had impregnated me when I was only nine or ten years old? It was biologically possible. Is that really God's will? A gift? What sick bastard truly believes that? Someone who is aiming to help shape policy for a nation of 330 million people? These lunatics cannot be allowed to win.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
It takes a village.
Andrew has been playing all summer with the girl who lives next door. She is a year older than him. She has an older brother (let's say 19 or 20) who appears to do nothing all day and dropped out of high school. Mom works in the medical field and is a screamer and a thrower of objects. We share our living room walls and I can hear everything.
I like the girl. She and Andrew play well together; he's happy when she is here. He's been bugging me for a sibling, which is not going to happen, so as many play dates he can have, the better. However, I'm wondering if her mom isn't dumping her here at my house. As I write this, she is plunking away at my piano. This is her second visit to my house today. The first happened around 4:30, just before dinner. She was still here as I pulled dinner out of the oven at 5:45. I could have invited her to dinner. Instead, I said that I was sure that her mom wanted her home for dinner. The girl, H., said that she had already eaten dinner. Hmmm. I sent her home. Then, I second guessed myself.
I teach kids whose homes are in the type of chaos as H.'s. I know they need all the caring adults they can get. I know that she's a bit lonely as she and Andrew are the only kids their age on the block. Still, I don't want to train her mother into thinking that I am going to feed her kid. Kindness, yes. Doormat, no.
I like the girl. She and Andrew play well together; he's happy when she is here. He's been bugging me for a sibling, which is not going to happen, so as many play dates he can have, the better. However, I'm wondering if her mom isn't dumping her here at my house. As I write this, she is plunking away at my piano. This is her second visit to my house today. The first happened around 4:30, just before dinner. She was still here as I pulled dinner out of the oven at 5:45. I could have invited her to dinner. Instead, I said that I was sure that her mom wanted her home for dinner. The girl, H., said that she had already eaten dinner. Hmmm. I sent her home. Then, I second guessed myself.
I teach kids whose homes are in the type of chaos as H.'s. I know they need all the caring adults they can get. I know that she's a bit lonely as she and Andrew are the only kids their age on the block. Still, I don't want to train her mother into thinking that I am going to feed her kid. Kindness, yes. Doormat, no.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Class anxiety
I am not feeling anxious about the classes I am teaching. As a matter of fact, I am, at this moment, feeling like a pretty competent teacher. Instead, the class to which I am referring is socio-economic class. Based on my income, I am middle class. I was born middle class, though I might not die middle class. That's too morbid to muse on a Sunday morning, so let's not.
Thanks to the draconian educational policies that currently exist, I am not securely middle class. Should I lose my job, who knows what I will do. I need, therefore, to try to put aside some money, and come up with some sort of investment plan. I think I can do all of that and still travel. This post isn't about any of that.
I have both spinal arthritis and spinal osteoporosis. On most days, I don't suffer from too much pain. A little here, a little there - nothing the heating pad can't handle. I am, however, finding it more and more difficult to complete a handful of household cleaning tasks without being incapacitated for 24 hours. I know this going into the cleaning, thus I avoid these tasks for slightly longer than I should. Eww.
I hate letting things get dirty and I hate pain, so I have fully come to the realization that I need to hire someone to do clean five things in my house: the kitchen floor, the bathroom floors (one full bath and one w.c), both the toilets (the bases, not the bowls), and the tub.
My problem is that I don't want to hire someone to essentially clean up my shit. In high school, I cleaned two houses and did not enjoy the experiences. I have read Nickeled and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, I know that many cleaning companies treat their employees like dirt. The injury rate is high for these women. And yet, I am aware that sometimes any job is better than no job. I even know that I cannot physically handle cleaning these areas. None of that seems to mitigate the guilt that I am feeling as I am about to look for someone to hire. I am feeling a kind of middle class guilt about hiring someone who has slipped to, what is essentially, the bottom of the food chain. To be honest, I'm not so sure that I won't slip that far myself.
This is first world problem that I am sure will be mocked by someone, somewhere. I can't help that. I just hope that I am not the only person who has ever felt this way.
Thanks to the draconian educational policies that currently exist, I am not securely middle class. Should I lose my job, who knows what I will do. I need, therefore, to try to put aside some money, and come up with some sort of investment plan. I think I can do all of that and still travel. This post isn't about any of that.
I have both spinal arthritis and spinal osteoporosis. On most days, I don't suffer from too much pain. A little here, a little there - nothing the heating pad can't handle. I am, however, finding it more and more difficult to complete a handful of household cleaning tasks without being incapacitated for 24 hours. I know this going into the cleaning, thus I avoid these tasks for slightly longer than I should. Eww.
I hate letting things get dirty and I hate pain, so I have fully come to the realization that I need to hire someone to do clean five things in my house: the kitchen floor, the bathroom floors (one full bath and one w.c), both the toilets (the bases, not the bowls), and the tub.
My problem is that I don't want to hire someone to essentially clean up my shit. In high school, I cleaned two houses and did not enjoy the experiences. I have read Nickeled and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, I know that many cleaning companies treat their employees like dirt. The injury rate is high for these women. And yet, I am aware that sometimes any job is better than no job. I even know that I cannot physically handle cleaning these areas. None of that seems to mitigate the guilt that I am feeling as I am about to look for someone to hire. I am feeling a kind of middle class guilt about hiring someone who has slipped to, what is essentially, the bottom of the food chain. To be honest, I'm not so sure that I won't slip that far myself.
This is first world problem that I am sure will be mocked by someone, somewhere. I can't help that. I just hope that I am not the only person who has ever felt this way.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Trying to breathe
I always have butterflies before the first day of school. I mark that as a good sign, that I still care after 16 years in the profession. Part of me sees significant similarities between being a teacher and a performer. We both have audiences, with whom we interact, and we both present a body of information: be it American Literature, songs, or a script. Like a performer, I take great care in my presentation. I know, however, that my presentation is supposed to stick with the audience, and help them attain skills that they will be able to use later. For a school like mine, the ability to use those skills on tests in the spring has become a life and death matter.
I've talked about testing before, so I won't bore you with a rehash of how it works (though if you don't know, please comment and ask me). If you read this blog on a fairly regular basis, you'll have a basic understanding of my school's demographics: high poverty, high percentage of non-English speakers or English as a second language. Numbers like that don't bode well for standardized tests. My students read too slowly to do well on a timed test. They lack the cultural background to handle the reading passages on the ACT (part of our state's testing mandate).
Anyway, if schools perform poorly on those tests for a long enough time, they will fall to the bottom of the state rankings and then all hell breaks loose. If a school is in the bottom five percent, it becomes a "Priority School." Yay us!!! We're a "Priority School." This does not mean that the state will pour extra resources into much needed areas. Nope, it means that we enter the year with the sword of Damocles dangling overhead.
A weasel...I mean monitor from the state will be on-site. I will have to not use the word weasel when addressing this person. We, as a staff will have to decide on one of four options, if we do not meet, as yet unstated, goals: a. closure, b. restart as a charter, c. turnaround (fire principal and 50 percent of staff), or d. transformation.
That is all I know. We have no more details than that.
I must try to stay positive, but I also cannot be oblivious. The state will likely set unattainable (without cheating) goals. I must not only teach my ass off, but I must really forge ahead on finding something else for me to do. I must try to stay calm and not stress eat. I must keep my son as my number one priority and not let him know the churning that is eating away at my insides. I'd really like to find a date or two. Who knows if there will be time for any fun?
Anyone want to hire one slightly used teacher?
I've talked about testing before, so I won't bore you with a rehash of how it works (though if you don't know, please comment and ask me). If you read this blog on a fairly regular basis, you'll have a basic understanding of my school's demographics: high poverty, high percentage of non-English speakers or English as a second language. Numbers like that don't bode well for standardized tests. My students read too slowly to do well on a timed test. They lack the cultural background to handle the reading passages on the ACT (part of our state's testing mandate).
Anyway, if schools perform poorly on those tests for a long enough time, they will fall to the bottom of the state rankings and then all hell breaks loose. If a school is in the bottom five percent, it becomes a "Priority School." Yay us!!! We're a "Priority School." This does not mean that the state will pour extra resources into much needed areas. Nope, it means that we enter the year with the sword of Damocles dangling overhead.
A weasel...I mean monitor from the state will be on-site. I will have to not use the word weasel when addressing this person. We, as a staff will have to decide on one of four options, if we do not meet, as yet unstated, goals: a. closure, b. restart as a charter, c. turnaround (fire principal and 50 percent of staff), or d. transformation.
That is all I know. We have no more details than that.
I must try to stay positive, but I also cannot be oblivious. The state will likely set unattainable (without cheating) goals. I must not only teach my ass off, but I must really forge ahead on finding something else for me to do. I must try to stay calm and not stress eat. I must keep my son as my number one priority and not let him know the churning that is eating away at my insides. I'd really like to find a date or two. Who knows if there will be time for any fun?
Anyone want to hire one slightly used teacher?
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