C'mon Dad!

One of my yearbook students, a girl, came to me on Thursday last and asked me what her grade was in the class. I told her that no one was going to get less than a "B" but some students would get an "A" because, for one thing, they did more work than others in the class.

She objected in her usual very calm and composed voice, "That's not fair because we're not all the same."

"Exactly. And because you are not all the same you didn't all do the same amount or quality of work. And therefore you don't all get the same grade." That she knew she was on the "B" list went without saying -- she didn't even have to ask.

She continued to object using the same argument and we went in circles for about a few exchanges until I "had" to go and help some one. The bad thing is that she's a composed loudmouth prima donna in the class so I knew this would circulate amongst the other "B" students.

So I called her pa and asked him to explain to his daughter what my grading criteria for the class was. I told him that some students had put in a great deal of extra time in completing not only their own yearbook page, but extra pages. Some students had stepped up and helped out in ways that others had not, and those students would be rewarded with an "A."

The dad told me, "Well, I'm going to have to talk to my daughter. I have your side of the story but now I need to hear hers."

WHAT?! Do you think I'm lying about something here, sir? I've only asked you to explain to your daughter what my grading criteria is?!

So I said, "There's no dispute here, 'Mr. Jones.' I would only like for you to explain to your daughter what my grading criteria is."

"OK," he said weakly, "I'll talk to her." I could tell be his tone that he had already lost this "battle" with his 14 year old daughter.

"C'mon Mr. Milqetoast! Take charge. Don't let your daughter dictate the terms for your family."

This is the problem with many fathers today: they are not in charge of their family.

So the next day I asked the girl if her father had talked with her. Her answer showed clearly that he had, but it didn't make any difference. She was just as disgruntled as ever and, as far as she was concerned, the battle will rage on the next time I discuss her grade with her. Why? Because that's how it works in her family. She continues to argue with her parents until she gets her way. Her parents are the enablers here.

It's the egalitarianism that I've mentioned in a previous post. Many students don't see themselves as subordinate to their own parents, let alone a teacher. So they argue, pitifully, until their parents fold. It works again and again for them so they continue to do it.

How did we get to this point? How will we get back?

Chico State Robot

A friend of mine from the Latin Mass community invited us to see his group's demonstration of their robot before they go to a competition at the end of May. It was a great show.

Gothic Girl

About a month ago a little 6th Grade student of mine came to me for help with her assignment. I told her what she needed to know and told her to ask a friend if she needed additional help with the concept. I do this because I don't want them to rely solely on me for answers. She then told me that she didn't have any friends. She is cross-eyed and shy, probably as a result of the eyes.

I talked to her about being a friend herself, smiling at others, saying hello, and just generally being a nice person, but it didn't seem to go anywhere with her.

Today this little girl informed me that she was "going Gothic." I asked her why and she said that her friend is Gothic. "Well," I says, "what exactly does that mean?" She told me that she is going to start wearing black and probably dye her hair black, too.

So this poor girl who has no friends has found a friend in a Goth. And what I've learned is that as Goths mature in their Gothhood, many become "Emo." (see 3-11-08 post) And now we're talking about all kinds of antisocial behaviors.

What my little 6th grader needed was a friend, and she found one in a deviant.

Bean In The Nose

I remember the first time I read about a child putting a bean in his nose. It was probably 10 years or so ago. It was an awful tragedy. All I remember was that the boy had to have surgery to remove it, but what struck me most was where in the world he got the idea in the first place. When I was in grade school no one I knew ever mentioned such a thing.

Well this year I am teaching typing using a program called Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. It is a terrible program from the start but I had my biggest surprise last week when I was observing my students typing the practice lessons. I was walking around the room making sure that everyone was observing good posture, hand position, etc, when I noticed that one student's practice lesson, had the sentence, "My mother was angry with me for hitting my little brother, but what was I supposed to do when he put 10 beans up his nose?"

Terrific! Two lessons here from Mavis in one sentence: hit your little brother when he is endangering his well being, and put beans up your nose.

There's the answer. Even ignoramus Mavis Beacon can't just teach children to type without exposing them to harm. And hers is the top typing program for at least five years running!

Too much...

At the staff meeting today the principal told us that all electrical appliances and such that we are using in our rooms have to be removed post haste. But there was one special exception: space heaters.

Because the school district can't seem to regulate the heat very well and there are many teachers throughout the district who use space heaters, these would be allowed provided that the teacher pay the electrical bill for it! There was a whole resolution in DRAFT form for the principal to read to us, complete with the WHEREAS and WHEREFORE business.

I thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. Someone at the district office actually spent time writing that out. I'll have to put a .pdf of it on this post.

A Great Year of Teaching

For all the complaints I have about student underachievement, I have to say that this is winding down to be one of the best years of teaching I've ever had.

It started some months ago when I decided to start wearing a suit and tie to work. It was this small act that made me recognize that what I do is more important than just conveying information to bodies in my classroom. First of all, I saw that I am a professional. My students also recognized it. At first many students wondered about my new attire. Then, they started to tell me things like, "Nice tie," and "Nice suit." Students who I've never had in class started to say hello to me and call me by name.

I guess the next thing that changed is that I started to feel for these kids who I was learning had these terrible problems at home, and I formerly had always made it a point to distance myself from that aspect of my interaction with students. I realized that just saying hello to them and calling them by name had a terrific effect on them (and me). Yes, it helps that I know what the heck I'm doing when it comes to what I teach. But I really engaged myself in their accomplishment of the work I assigned to them. Being interested in them, in what they do right and complimenting them again and again has just paid dividends that I never imagined.

Sure, I've been laid off and don't have a job there next year, but what does that have to do with it? These students are mine for 55 minutes a day, and I might be the only bright spot in their day. Could I really do less than my best for them and still consider myself a good Catholic? Would God really accept my argument that because I've been released by the district I have a right to be bitter?

Giving Perspective

I was talking to my 7th graders today while they were doing their warm up typing. I told them how important it is for them to drink plenty of water, especially now that it's getting warmer and they are losing more water due to perspiration. I told them they should drink eight eight ounce glasses of water a day. To give them perspective I tried to relate this to a gallon because I'm pretty sure they've all seen a one gallon milk container.

I began by asking what 8 X 8 equals. Silence.

"OK," I said, "Anybody, what's eight times eight?"

The first two guesses: "Twenty?" "One hundred?" Oh, boy.

Finally, a bright eyed and proud girl gushed, "Sixty-four!" My, I couldn't help but give her a warm smile and say, "Right!"

I was encouraged so I pressed on. "What part of a gallon is 64 ounces?" I should have known better.

"OK. How many ounces are in a gallon?" Silence again. Then the guesses poured in.

"Twenty."

"No."

"One hundred."

"Close. OK, it's 128. Now, what part of 128 is 64?" I might as well have been speaking Urdu.

So to ease the tension I tried again. "What's half of 128?" Blank stares...or was it just their awe of me? Maybe they think I'm a genius.

Well, my attempt at giving them perspective failed. As a teacher, I've been taught to reflect on my teaching. Where are the gaps? How is my delivery or method not working? If my students don't understand something, what am I doing wrong?

Well, I guess it's true. I must have failed as a teacher. The fact that my 7th graders don't know how many ounces are in a gallon has nothing to do with it. Just because they don't know what half of 128 is beside the point. If I try to point out the student deficiencies to a college education professor, then HRH will inform me that I am sidestepping the real issue: the deficiency of my teaching.

So, how should it have been taught? Maybe I should have brought in eight eight ounce glasses of water and told them to drink this much every day.

"Concrete Evidence"

This post pertains to the drug dealer from the last post.

My email to the VP:

Dear -----,

Last Friday we talked about a certain student's involvement in drug trafficking, and how the police were after his supplier. From the details you gave me, this student is small time in the drug dealing world and his "upline" would be a better catch. Again, I understand that the police are involved here and are being given the authority to call the shots.

But -----, what is our responsibility to the patrons of this school? We have the obligation to provide a safe environment for our students, and it seems to me that would include eliminating drug dealers from the campus when they are identified. What if it gets out that this student was allowed to walk the campus after he had been identified as a known drug dealer? What would the liability of the school and the district be? Would the school and the district be able to use the defense that the police wanted the drug dealer left on campus unfettered?

This whole thing stinks pretty bad, -----. And I'm no genius, but I guarantee you, everyday he's on this campus, there's another recruit to take his place when he gets taken down. The longer we wait to make an example of him the worse the problem gets. And this doesn't even touch on the fact that we are exposing our students to harmful, illegal drugs. What is our moral imperative there?


And his response:

Dear -----,

There is no concrete evidence that points in his direction of supplying drugs other than rumors of usage at Friday night dances at [the skate rink]. We do not have any authority over what our students do on their free time away from school. The police are conducting their investigation. However, as soon as there is a whiff of wrong-doing at school we will do everything we can, but until then I will not take action based on second and third-hand rumors of events that happen over the weekend. Thanks for understanding.

Drug Dealer on Campus?

Well just when I thought I had heard it all.

This new student came to my class in January. A good student, on the ball, getting ahead by doing extra work. The kind of student we all wish filled our desks. He did pretty well for a couple months. Then last week he started slacking off, or perhaps I just began to notice it. For example, on Monday last he was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. I asked him what was wrong and he gave me a story about the horses breaking through the fence last night and having to round them up and rebuild fences until five in the morning. I asked him if he didn't think that maybe this wouldn't have been a good day to stay home and get some sleep. No, I'm alright, he said.

During the week I noticed more of the same. So I called him over and began to discuss his work ethic with him. He informed me that he was going to go into his family business and he didn't need any schooling. In fact, he went on, he was going to drop out of high school just as soon as he reached the age when he could do so.

Whoa! I continued the conversation with him and he was just determined that his was the right course of action. So I sent the details to the counselor (they're the official kow-towers of the school) and she sent me a courteous "Thank you." I should have known they don't want work.

On Friday of last week the Vice Principal was going by during that period and I was talking to this very student out of the class. I had the student return to the class so I could talk with the VP who asked me to come by his office after school so he could discuss the student with me.

When we were alone in his office he confided to me that this kid was known to be dealing "ecstacy" at the weekly dances at the skate rink. That's right...KNOWN to be a drug dealer by the police. However, the police want to nab the supplier, so they are keeping this kid on ice until they get the big fish.

That's right. A known drug dealer is walking the campus making connections and future deals.

I fretted about this all weekend. I talked it over with my wife. I thought to myself, "What if my children were going to this school? They could conceivably come into contact with this pig either through a class contact or through a friend, and then I might have to deal with my children wondering or even experimenting with drugs."

I returned to the Vice Principal's office today after school and told him that I felt a mix of pity and hatred for this kid when I saw him today in class. Hatred for what he is doing to who knows how many kids on the campus. I told the VP that my own children could be going to this school with a known drug dealer and I just didn't understand how he could still be there. We were interrupted again and again by other teachers with "burning" issues so we couldn't keep our conversation going.

But tomorrow I'm going to meet with both the VP and the Principal to talk about this.

Also, this evening I talked with my father who is a retired Deputy Sheriff. He was a detective, a coroner, and he ran the county jail as a Division Chief, so I figured he'd have some good advice for me. He told me that by the time they take this kid down there will be five more to take his place. So much for getting the big fish.

Great Article

Subsidize what kills you?

By David N. Bass

Social scientists have long documented the cultural costs of divorce and unwed childbearing, but a report released this week reveals a new array of consequences: the economic ones.

Conducted by Georgia College & State University economics professor Benjamin Scafidi along with several pro-family organizations, the study found that U.S. taxpayers spend billions each year on fragmented families. To arrive at an estimated cost, researchers traced the relationship between broken homes and poverty and the resulting increased public costs in criminal justice, welfare measures and education programs.

The total tab: at least $112 billion per year, or over $1 trillion each decade.

Apparently, private decisions about marriage, sex, and childbearing are not so private after all.

It's not a conclusion we want to hear in an individualistic society. Contemporary America puts a high value on personal moral license – so much, in fact, that government subsidizes the results of our behavior. The public costs associated with treating and preventing sexually transmitted diseases are hard to fathom, let alone the millions in taxpayer dollars devoted to abortion. And those are just two examples of many.

That's the trouble with a citizenry that seeks a government solution to every problem. Income redistribution is simply a catalyst for punishing one taxpayer for the poor choices of another (assuming the other even pays taxes). A young man who waits to have sex until he is able to support a wife and child is penalized in favor of his friend who chooses the path of loose living.

Take health care as another example. Government-run care, and the inevitable tax increases associated with it, would have the effect of punishing the healthy since those who exercise and eat right could pay out significant amounts but receive fewer services than couch potatoes and fast food aficionados. Government subsidies always encourage the activity being subsidized.

It's hard to argue that personal decisions about sexual activity and divorce have no impact on anyone beyond the individuals immediately involved. If a taxpayer has to shell out a portion of his income because government subsidizes another's poor choices, it's not unreasonable to expect that taxpayer to want a say in how his friend's activity is regulated.

That's why social conservatives have legitimate cause to fight for the cornerstones of our society: heterosexual marriage, two-parent families and child rearing, to name three. Unlike single-parent families and unwed motherhood, these institutions and activities bring myriad benefits to culture. They don't drain the public coffers but rather create stability and serve as a means of economic growth.

If we're interested in societal progress, look at what works. No clear-thinking social scientist can argue that a stable, two-parent family leads to poverty and crime. On the contrary, research shows that traditional families are the best atmosphere for raising children. Yet in our politically correct era, it's taboo to say heterosexual marriage and family are the best way to go.

In his study, Scafidi is wise enough to connect the dots. Broken families generate greater public costs, while stable families generate greater economic growth. "Marriage is more than a moral or even social institution; it is also an economic one, a generator of social and human capital, especially when it comes to children," he writes.

In a society with massive rates of divorce and cohabitation, it's easy to lose sight of the value the institution of marriage brings to all areas of culture and the negative implications of living arrangements that attempt to mimic traditional matrimony. Many of us ignore that value because it doesn't agree with our lifestyle or beliefs. So be it. That doesn't change the facts.

It's legitimate to discuss and debate whether government's role is to encourage institutions and behaviors – like heterosexual marriage – that benefit society. What should not be up for debate is whether government should subsidize institutions and behaviors that harm society. Nothing could more regressive than government outlays for irresponsible behavior.

That's the crux of the matter. America is swiftly drowning in a sea of decadence, and taxpayer dollars are paying the way for many of the worst offenders. Such a system can't endure for long. We're concerned with rising gas prices and a falling dollar, and rightly so, but what about tax policies that promote cultural decay? Is America strong enough to weather such a financial burden?

Or is it the more likely case that America is subsidizing her own death?

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=62211

School Budget Woes

I just about fell out of my chair. The school district business guru came to our staff meeting today to tell us all about the district financial problems. It was the usual "not our fault" routine. First was the potential deficit that had been mounting. Then the "action" the district had taken. Then, the terrible flu epidemic that took away funds that they were counting on (you know, less ADA). Finally, the governor delivered the coup de gras with his budget cuts.

Well, I was plum torn between wanting to fall asleep and holding back the tears during this moving discourse. It was truly sad, as if no one there knew financial troubles. But school districts are unique in that they will never have enough, unlike the rest of us who have to meet the hardships by cutting expenses.

The guru talked about certain individuals in the community who help particular schools financially. But while this helps that school, said she, this doesn't help the district. I thought, how does that not help the district? Doesn't that relieve the district of at least some of the funding for that particular school? I think that what she really meant was that the district doesn't get to handle the money first, skimming a little for their own needs.

After about 40 minutes of soul wrenching facts, the guru delivered the answer: raise taxes! But wait, there was more. Teachers could each give $10 a month to the United Way with our own school district as the beneficiary! How the guru could say this with a straight face was indeed a marvel. I wanted to applaud her for it, but that would have been like applauding Hitler as a man of vision.

I think that I'll send out an email to the staff and ask them if, while they are giving money back to the district to help it out of its predicament, maybe they could donate just $1 to my own family fund. I would even go so far as to set up a PayPal account for them to just click and donate. Heck, I'll even give them the credit card option so that they can donate the $1 per month automatically! That way they won't even have to think about it! I can be generous, too.

Housebroken Husbands

I know a lot of people disagree with me on this one. It's the whole issue of men being driven around by their wives. Every time I see a woman behind the wheel and her husband (or boyfriend I suppose) in the passenger seat I just have to wonder what's behind this. Why do so many women drive while their husbands sit back like they're being chauffeured in a stretch limo? Is it a sign that we live in a more equal society? Or are men just "in their place" today after all the oppression of the past? Boy, that's great. "Equal" means women now drive their husbands. That must have taken some ambition.

But something else about this that I can speak to as a teacher. Even on the school database of students, the mother "field" is always listed first. She is the one to contact first about anything pertaining to the student, whether discipline related, illness, injury, etc. Isn't that telling. The mother is the responsible one and the father can be contacted if the mother can't be reached, no doubt to tell him to contact the mother. And so it seems that men are fulfilling that role. Don't expect him to be responsible as the head of the household. Agh! What did I say? The man is the head of the household? That's heresy in education today. If I say that too loudly it could earn me a trip to the unemployment line. Or at least to the fringes of "normal" teachers.

How I long for a society that values women, rather than this hogwash that undermines their God-given beauty as mothers.

Been a while

Well, it's been a while since posting something. What's happened over the last month in the teaching world? Things are still pretty crazy here. The weather is getting warmer so the girl's clothes are getting skimpier. It's probably just me but it seems that every year it's worse.

I remember when I was a 13-14 year old boy attending St. Luke's Catholic School. We all wore uniforms and the girls were pretty conservative, except for the pants that they had the option to wear. But overall the girls were modestly dressed.

Today in our public schools it is absolutely outrageous. I don't know how a 13-14 year old boy can even concentrate on his work, let alone prevent whiplash! And many of the boys don't concentrate. They are too busy taking in the sights. Honestly, I don't understand how educators can allow this, even though they are all women.

Recently, I saw a female teacher with a 7th grade girl in the office telling the counselor that the girl had to put a shirt over her...shirt! Well I guess that's what they call it, although it was more akin to a camisole that a woman might wear to bed. This girl was duly escorted to the counselor's office where she was given a shirt to put on. I thought to myself, "If I were to have said something about the girl's clothes I probably would have been out of a job by the end of the day!

But even though this one case was taken care of in the right way (except that her father should have been contacted), there are still dozens of immodestly dressed girls on the campus. It is a real crime that all men and boys on the campus are supposed to act like this is normal. No one is really supposed to say anything, and for the most part no one does. Again, what am I doing in this profession?

Crazy Week (what's new?)

Another crazy week. This week there was no school on Easter Monday, the day after Easter Sunday.

Yesterday, when I was bidding my class farewell between classes, I saw a former student wearing his hat in the building where my classroom is. I told him to take off his hat while in the building. Knowing he was supposed to comply he just looked at me defiantly. I told him by name to take off his hat in the building and that he would get a detention if he did not remove it. He argued.

That's when another student who I didn't know decided to deal himself in, basically telling me with scorn that the other student did not have to remove his hat, and what was I worried about. I told him that I was not talking to him and to mind his own business. The first student tried to take advantage of the exchange and get away. But as he did so I told him he had a one hour detention for refusing to follow the school rule. He then removed his hat but I told him it was too late. These poor kids do this day in and day out with their own parents and get away with it, so their parents are to blame in large part for their children's infractions.

Well, another teacher was in the same area but the second kid did not know it. He made the comment, "I hope that teacher comes out so I can stab him. I'm gonna kill that f---er."
The teacher came in to tell me what happened. We went to the room that the student and I called him out. He was defiant and rude but I gave him no choice but to come with me. The teacher who heard him, the student and I all went to the office and the teacher wrote out a referral detailing what the student said. We gave the referral to the principal.

The student apologized for getting involved, thinking that that was all I knew. I told him that he could not say whatever he pleased without there being consequences. He apologized again and it seemed that this time he suspected that I knew what he had said (the threat). I thanked him for the apology but told him that there a consequences to our actions. I can be sorry for smashing into someone's car, truly sorry, but that if it's my fault, I still have to pay for the damage. I left and he went in to see the principal.

The principal emailed me later and told me that the student had in school suspension the next day and that a "letter" would go in his file.

That's it. I emailed the principal back and asked her what was going to happen to the student. She didn't reply.

OK. What is the liability of the school district and the Principal's personal liability if the student acts on his threat?

In a separate, less eventful incident, I emailed a parent about the rudeness his son shows to me. I detailed how the student sighs when I speak to him, ignores what I say, refuses to look at me, etc. The parent emailed back and told me that his son "paints a very different picture." He then went on to say that he would like for himself and his son to meet with me. He was also concerned about the "blatant disrespect you referenced."

There you have your Judge Judy parent, the parent who will watch as the two sides (hopefully) battle it out so that the he can decide who is right. I didn't answer the email and instead apoke to the counselor about transferring the student to another class. By the time I had the student today, the arrangements were made for his transfer.

Will the parent object? Probably. But more important to him will probably be to get his son and me to battle it out while he sits in judgment. He may even insist that his son stay in the class, just to spite me. Believe me, the student is a manipulator and his dad is his puppet.

Dad will be disappointed. I have talked to the teacher into whose class the student has been transferred and she is more than pleased to have him.

The Home School ruling

I think this article Homeschooling and Parental Rights Under Attack in California by Chris Banescu sums up nicely the state of our "public education" system. It's a laughingstock.

In a state that allows minors to have abortions without parental notification and consent, having the court complain about the welfare and safety of children who are homeschooled is laughable. The court also conveniently turned a blind eye to the increasing levels of violence and murder in many California public schools, as well as the abysmal quality of education in those very same schools. With California ranking near the bottom in the quality of its public education system, a state-wide illiteracy rate of approximately 24 percent, and drop-out rates hovering around 30 percent, the California public education system is not the shining example and standard the courts should be applying and measuring against.

My wife's birthday

Yes, my wife's birthday is about a week after mine. Happy birthday, Sweetheart. We got a line on good Chinese restaurant, Gingers, and boy was it good! We all enjoyed it immensely.

I talked with my good friend Jeff Culbreath who blogs at Stony Creek Digest. He's a good blogger, very up to date, great commentary. We talked about the home schooling decision in Southern California and the responses from people around the state. It seems that people overwhelmingly support home schooling. Jeff gives a couple of reasons why he believes this is so.

Not surprisingly, public education officials support the court's decision. Chuck Norris gives his reason why they don't.

I'm on vacation now for the next week and the day after Easter. I'm looking forward to this Holy Week, making the most of it in reparation for my sins.

After Mass today, Jeff, my wife, and I talked about the fact that our home schooled children are exposed to the kinds of things that we all wished we had been. Good literature, poetry, music, and an overall appreciation of beauty. But we had to admit that it could have been worse: we could have been raised today -- with the internet and all the sin to be had at the click of a mouse.

That's an interesting point. Kids today get into so much trouble -- skewed world views, "cutting" and other anti-social behaviors, disdain for the very mention of God -- because they are exposed to these ideas largely through the internet or friends who learn of them through the internet. They can quickly find a community of like-minded non-thinkers who buttress and encourage them. I can only thank our dear God that the internet was not around when I was growing up. I also thank Him for leading me so that I do allow my children exposure to the internet.

"EMO"

You can't believe it. A girl in my last period class of the day tells me the day is not good because she went to counseling. (This is the girl I spoke of in a post a few days ago whose dad hit her mom.)

I asked her what her counseling was about and she tells me, "I cut myself so I have to go to counseling."

I first learned about cutting a few weeks ago from one of the counselors. Basically, a person cuts himself with a sharp object. They generally carve a word or words that describe how they feel. This particular girl had carved "Life sucks." Well no wonder she feels that way.

She was perturbed by the counselor's nonchalant attitude toward her "cutting." The counselor's strategy was to laugh at her and tell her that it was dumb. This strategy supposedly has as it's object that the subject will see the act as ridiculous and stop doing it. I doubt that will happen here.
After a minute another student heard her telling me about her "cutting."

"You told him that you cut?"

"Yeah, everybody knows."

She then went on to tell me that almost all her friends cut. Another helpful student sought to clear the air: "they're called EMO, and they're really mad. They cut themselves when they get mad. EMO stands for emotional."

So I ask, "And there are students like that here?"

"Yes. A lot."

Well, there you have it. Teaching today.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Well tomorrow is March 8th. My birthday!! I'll be 42 but it seems like I've been saying I'm 42 for some time now.

This past Tuesday I had a parent meeting. I decided to wear a tie and sportcoat to dress it up a little. You know, I haven't worn a coat and tie as a teacher since 2000 when I was a 1st year law student. I didn't stay with law school nor with the coat and tie, but at that meeting I felt professional for the first time in years. So, I decided to wear a coat and tie for the rest of the week. And today I upped the ante and wore a suit.

The students campus wide treated me differently. Many of my own students told me they liked my suit/tie/coat. More students called me by name this past week than any other week this year. Maybe they felt it was a tribute to them. In a way it was...I think I need to show myself a professional through the respect I show to those whom I serve, parents and students.

Whatever the analysis behind it, it felt right to have that coat and tie on.

One female teacher, a brash wannabe New Yorker, a feminist who has the whole campus buffaloed, a humbling example of what rejecting civility will do to a person, walked by me, looked me up and down, and said with contempt, "Look at you all dressed up." I said, "You got a problem with it?" Well maybe I shouldn't have spoken to a woman that way, but I was ticked. All week long I've felt better about what I do than ever. And this elf tried to spoil it all in 4 seconds. In any case, she showed herself a four flusher and backed down like a spanked dog.

I also got "the notice" today. My district is in financial straits so I and several others are laid off. Pray for us. We have been through this several times and St. Joseph has always helped us. Nevertheless, we humbly ask for your prayers for work to provide for our family next school year.

What a day

Well I wore a sportcoat and tie to school today. The occasion? Well, I wanted my seventh graders to take this state test seriously so I got a little duded up. I also had a meeting with a parent this morning. Plus, I like to wear a coat and tie because teachers should dress like professionals.

The top story for today in the Chico ER: new Chico State prof selling pot. Click here. Great! As if the number one party school in the nation needs help from profs.

Learning in Two Languages?

From the Chico Enterprise Record. Click here.

O.K. so there's merit to learning to speak a second language, no doubt about that. But is our public school system the place to do it? Well if you're Bush you say "si" because you're working toward the North American Union (NAU). This is where the United States, Canada, and Mexico join hands and eliminate borders. And the 1st world US descends to the 3rd world.

Just checked my email. Here is the standout message today:

We had 30 attendees this last Saturday for the following reasons: Behavior, not attending detention, not turning in homework and absences.

...

For each Saturday School that a student attends, they make up one day of missed school and we recover the ADA! (emphasis added)

So that's what it's about -- we recover the ADA! Well, truthfully it's not only about that. We also have to keep the misguided kids in line. We try, but with the Bolsheviks having control of our public education system, and the useful idiots falling right in line, we have a way to go before we can right the wrongs.

OK, That's it!

I'm walking out to stretch my legs between classes here and as I'm coming back to class, I see these two girls giggling at each other, holding each others clothes, getting closer, closer....

No, no, no. What is happening here? Lesbian 7th graders? What? Out there for everyone to see?

Sick, sick, sick.

Many taxpayers oppose homosexulaity as a violation of God's law. In fact sodomy is one of the four sins that cry to Heaven for justice. Many of these people have kids in the schools that they are paying to support through taxes. These people tell their children that homosexuality is wrong, is a sin, etc. But their kids come to this junior high school and see two lesbian 7th grade girls physically advancing upon each other.

I don't know how much more of this filth I can take.

The garbage I deal with as a teacher

Here's the latest that I've just now noticed even though it's been happening for a while. When corrected for doing something wrong, many kids will respond with, "Okay?" as if they're asking a question. Some will say "Okay" with total indifference.

One of my classes is filled with bilge water. These "high achievers" are in this particular class because they have done will throughout the first seven years of school. And this class is their elective. It's a sort of privileged group of kids who have all been in the top tier or their class for most of their schooling up to now. The object of the class is to produce the yearbook.

Now the class started with 35 kids. 35 kids! And right away I could see the egos involved. Know-it-all kids -- not all of them mind you -- but enough to make the class a pain in the neck. And there are several kids who remain good despite all the bilge they have to deal with in that class.

News You Wouldn't Believe

Well, you thought the last post from Sunday the 24th was something to let your mouth hit the floor. Hmm. How about this: yesterday at a staff meeting the principal told us about some of the crazy things going on from our own students. "These aren't the frequent flyers," she said, alluding to the fact that these aren't the bad kids we would expect to be in trouble. No, these were kids she'd never known before the incident. Regular hit the books kids, no time for misbehavior.

Well it turns out that the girl who took the picture of herself while undressed and sent it to several boys, also had someone take a video of her and another girl taking a shower. THIS IS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL! But that's not all. She then sent the video out to boys and girls and had it posted on MySpace. When the principal told us this I turned to the lady next to me and said, "This is why we homeschool." She nodded.

In another precious moment from the staff meeting: a boy who recently started dating a girl at the school (I don't know exactly what that means today) took a picture of his nude lower half with his cell phone and sent it to the girl. She then sent it on to her friends. Again this is a junior high - 6th to 8th graders.

There are a lot of pretty good kids here. But again I ask, how long will it be before they are infected by this garbage? Why do the parents of good kids, who are trying their best to raise their kids to be good and honest, in particular viewing sexuality as God would have us view it...why do these parents have to contend with this? Where is the justice in that? Their kids are going to be exposed to these things, either through seeing it directly or hearing about it. How will they deal with it. I hope they see the boys and girls involved in it as frauds of human respectability. I hope the parents see that they can't let their kids run wild on MySpace and the various web sites they browse to their heart's content.

The staff meeting had more. We then watched a 30 minute video on how to administer the STAR test. The same video we watch every year at test time. These tests have become everything to school districts across the country.

As for me, I'm about completely fed up with public education.

Past week in school

This past week I have dealt with a few interesting situations.

1. A 7th grade female student looked pretty bad with misty eyes and such, so I asked her what was wrong. She said her dad had hit her mom and her mom was coming to the school to talk with the counselor to sort it out.
2. A 7th grade male student was telling me about a great new video game, something about the devil smiling. He told me that it was rated "M" for various reasons. I asked him what "M" meant and he said "Mature" players. Why? Due to bad language, violence like smashing heads, blood squirting, etc. He then said to me, "You must be asking yourself 'Why do your parents let you play that?'"
• Yes, I did ask myself that. But more important to me was that this kid had not lost his conscience. He was still aware that what he was doing was somehow not good.
  
3. The principal told me about a junior high girl from the school who, while at a slumber party, went to the bathroom, stripped out of her clothes, took a picture of her naked self with a cell phone camera, and then sent it to a host of boys from the school.
• Any wonder why I homeschool my children? My kids are good, yes I'll say that. But given the wrong influences they will be bad. They have to first learn what is right, and how to deal with wrong. They will be in the world soon making their own decisions, and they will be ready.
  

This all happened this past week! At a junior high school. Not to mention some of the smart aleck kids I have in one of my classes. A true pain in the neck. Teaching ain't what it used to be.

Not that it's all bad. I have lots of kids who are decent, disciplined kids who really put forth the effort to do well. But how long will it be before these good kids are influenced for the worse by the bad kids?

Last night I read a Louis L'Amour short story. I like to read one every night. The thing that caught my attention was when the author was describing a man who was caught flat-footed in a lie. The author described him as looking "like a school kid who had been caught cheating." Ha, ha, ha. When I think of the kids I have caught cheating. They don't look ashamed, scared, abandoned. They look at me like they haven't done anything wrong, and why am I making such a deal out of it. They totally turn the tables and make the teacher out to be the victimizer! Oh, teaching today is truly a wonder.