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.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
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.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
"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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, March 3, 2008
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.
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
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.