Those vagabonds. Really. First the tulip and daylily traded places. Now there's a hollyhock in the middle of the as-yet-unplanted garden plot. How does this happen? I blame the squirrels for the bulbs moving. But the stray hollyhock? Maybe a bunny or bird ate a seed and, er, dropped it there.
I transplanted it before spreading the compost. Here's hoping it thrives in its new home.
I get my news from a variety of sources: my local newspaper, news websites online, and more. I find people who are like-minded online, too. This primary election -- you know, the longest one in recent history -- isn't as dull as some say. In fact, even as I worry that Party conflicts may provide the opposition with too much ammunition, I'm finding it downright fascinating.
Teaching is a political profession. Besides the internal district politics, administrative power and control, my daily work is affected by decisions made in the state capital and in Washington, D.C. When my friends tell me that they just want to "close their doors and teach," I want to grab them by the shoulders, look them in the eyes, and say, "You can't shut out the laws! You need to help make them! And change them!" And then I want to go home and write a letter to my senators and congressional reps.
A few years ago Rod Paige, then Secretary of Education, called my national association (the NEA) a nasty name. He asserted that our tactics were terrorist in nature. I wrote letters. I sent emails. Many, many educators did the same. By calling teachers terrorists, he put us in the category of those with whom our government is at war. This kind of outlook in the Bush cabinet has been very damaging to public education.
Now the NEA (National Education Association) is looking for slogans to help publicize the need for professional wages in education. I have a few ideas, and I know there are clever educators who can access their inner salesperson and come up with a really good campaign. What do you think, boys and girls? Women and men? Ladies and gentlemen of the classroom and beyond? Educating everyone takes everyone -- in the village and beyond -- and it's not cheap.
My slogan thoughts so far:
Do the math: pay like a pro.
No Classroom Left Unfunded
A "free" Public Education is priceless, not costly.
There are slogans built into existing quotes, too:
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
But for now, I'll keep informed on the upcoming election and I'll keep writing creative and effective lesson plans to connect with students in every way I can. I feel fortunate to work in a great field, one where I can make a difference. My votes can help ensure support from the legislatures and the White House.
Yours can, too.
I am looking forward to our family vacation.
That said, I still need to teach four more weeks, grade a few more (lots more) papers, complete a big batch of NCLB-related paperwork, complete a full set of progress reports, and clean/straighten/ close up the classroom.
And... help Amigo with his homework. Keep track of his finals schedule, figure out his transportation for that week, and get him there and home on time.
Move La Petite home from school. This might not be as bad as it's been in the past, since she's not living in a dorm any more. She has a year lease on the apartment, and most of the furniture and other large items will stay there. We'll just have to move her mattress, her stereo, her clothing, her shoes, her rabbits... well, maybe it will be a big trip after all.
And then, when the school year is actually over and I've locked the classroom door and left it behind, I need to get the family ready to travel.
One of Husband's many sayings is this: "When you're up to your neck in alligators, it's hard to remember that your goal was to drain the swamp."
I think I need to rephrase the first sentence of this post. I will look forward to vacation the day we leave and everything else is done. Then, and only then, will I be able to breathe freely and easily. I'll be ready to leave my own "swamp" behind.
"Mom, Grandpa sent me a white elephant!" La Petite moaned one Christmas morning. Grandpa's heart was in the right place. He knew she loved rabbits, and he had picked out a ceramic candlestick shaped like a rabbit. The rabbit was, I kid you not, this rabbit was scary. He meant well, and she kept it (at the back of a shelf somewhere), but thank goodness she was old enough to appreciate the thought behind the gift!
As kids get older, it's harder to shop for them. La Petite is in college, so we let the grandparents know what she needs for her apartment and for school. They often pick up gift cards for her favorite online stores, too, knowing that clothes and Converse shoes make this girl happy. Most of the time we're lucky that way.
Amigo is a little tougher. When he was young, his toys were easy to pick out; they were the ones that talked, sang, and made noise. The noisiest, of course, came from the grandparents. We think they were laughing all the way through the store knowing what they were plotting for their own offspring! Now he is interested in cooking, so they buy him Braille cookbooks and kitchen utensils. Kitchen utensils make great fidget tools for a fidgety kid, too.
Parent Bloggers Network suggests Grandkids Gift Guide, a resource for gift giving. This could be handy! It doesn't have a specific area for teens or college kids (yet), but there are some unique and fun items in the 12 and over section. No candle holders. Darn.
