Meeting

So one of the nice things about summer vacation is that I lose track of the day and date.  The bad thing is I don't know what the date is in case I have to be somewhere.  Like today.  I have a union meeting in Wayne on the 26th.  I thought the 26th was Friday.  Then, yesterday, when I had to write a check for the plumber, I asked hubby what the date was.  Then several hours later it dawned on me - Hmmm..... if Wednesday is the 25th, that means Thursday is the 26th.  That means my meeting is Thursday.  Whoops.

But I still had time to spread mulch and compost on the rest of the property, start reading a new book, and go swimming.  I will soon be off to the meeting with a few stops on the way for cat food and hair dye/bleach/stripper.  I am excited that we get pizza at the meeting.  It makes up for the fact that I have to go to Wayne.  Not a fun place to drive.  Woo hoo!

The End...

This is the first school year I have been happy to see come to a close.  It has nothing to do with the students or the school.  It is because of all the busy work we are now mandated to do.  That comes from the state.  Tests after tests after tests.  Data collection.  Scoring.  Assessing.  As if we did not assess our students each and every day (hello daily/weekly work grades) or test our students' comprehension of taught concepts and methods (hello tests, report, projects, and other sundry assignments.)  I do feel bad for my kids.  I wish we could have celebrated more at the end of the year.  However, we were all beat.  We all need the summer to recharge.

I did get a couple of amazing thank you notes.  I would never post anything they wrote but what I read made me confident that I am a good teacher.  They do get it.  I might not think they comprehend what, how and why I teach the way I do all the time, but they do get it.  I also like that they want to keep in touch with me.  I will miss them, but they are not gone.

I have the summer problem already.  Yesterday, I am reading and drinking coffee in the morning while listening to the radio.  I felt anxious.  Like I was supposed to be doing something...  RIGHT NOW.  I am so used to being on the go all the time that I am not used to slowing down.  Correction.  I do not know how to slow down.  Someone even told me to slow down a bit recently.  I can't.

So I am on a weeding and deadheading craze.  I am trying to deadhead all the violets for the new growth.  And I am trying to pick all the mulberries (made four jars of jam and a tray of mulberry mash ice cubes and mulberry ice pops), cut the lawn, trim the grass, trim the alleyway, and feed the veggies.  The summer projects include cleaning the gutters (I need someone to hold the ladder for me), widen the doorway to the pantry and install the Dutch door I refurbished, and do some art.  I also want to do another issue of my zine.  And I need to finish the latest batch of scanning for the Historic Trust.  I have a ton of reading to do and already got through four publications and I am almost done with the book on women in the Medieval era.

I am also making sure to have fun with friends.  Since the Loop Lounge is still closed for repairs... nowhere to dance.  But I did go on an adventure with a friend today.   It was a blast.  We took tons of pictures and plan to do tons of adventures.

Here's to a good summer....

While people are busy bashing teachers and trying to take away the few benefits we worked hard for in exchange for paltry salaries, I thought I'd think back on some of the things we do for our kids (either I have done this or good friends have):

• contribute money to help a student's family
• contribute food and/or clothing
• buy food/clothing for a student
• attend a former student's wake or funeral (because they never stop being our kids, even after they graduate)
• attend the wake or funeral of a former student's family (see above)
• go to the performance of a student (or a kid you just happen to have gotten to know) when the performance is not school connected
• give advice to former students (career, college, resume, etc.)

While I am so happy the school year is coming to an end (for the first time ever), I don't stop caring.   And that matters.  

A California judge just made a ruling that could unlock the revolving door of teacher positions.  See if those quick hires (and fires) will care this much about your children when they can't stick around long enough to get to know them.  Because many years down the road, we all still care about our students.  And we aren't paid to, we just do.

Peee-uw

Oof.  The saga of the Vasa sewer line is to come to an end.  The plumber is here and doing some heavy soldering.  Now, as a Metals and Jewelry major, I like the smell of molten metal as much as the next gal, but whoa this is strong.  And he's in the basement and Millie and I are on the second floor.  And it is too darned cold to open all the windows.

But it is sunny and 75 in Paris.  Ugh....

So the roller coaster ride that is the 2013-2014 school year is about to come to an end.  I was just working on my PDP (Professional Development Plan) and this new form is intensive and not necessarily in line with what we do here in NJ.  Hmmmm.....

Mother apparently talked to one of our assemblymen about the upcoming skipping of the pension payment.  She wanted to know why they can't fix all this stuff but blow money on other things.  Way to go mom.  But sad that it takes her two teacher daughter nearly breaking under the stress to see the light.

Went to pick up the massive enlarger donation from William Paterson University yesterday.  The things I hear about what it is like in that department are astonishing.  The woman who is the senior photo professor is killing the program.  However, other programs are growing.  They lose art kids to other schools.  I just cannot understand why ego ever comes into play with some educators.  And that is apparently the root of the issue here.  There is no recognition that the declining numbers have to do with her, her methods, lack of availability, lack of innovation, and smugness.  When I see that my former students are starting shooting companies, working for places in NYC, and generally doing better than their business major compatriots, I have to wonder when this woman will wake up.  In another time, I would go for that job.  Not right now though....

On to garden info....  Almost everything is coming up in the veggie garden.  Hooray!!!!  I picked my first six strawberries.  They were pretty big.  And huge in taste.  Amazing.  Herbs are going well, sharing them with friends, flowers on tomato plants, fennel all fluffy, mulberries and raspberries, and so on.  I am so looking forward to a summer of relaxation and fun with my friends.  I am going to have Art Days at Casa Vasa with Amy and any other cool cats who want to come over.

Oh, and it looks like I have arthritis in my right knee and ankle.  Great....

Ending...

So with only four students in seventh period, Friday's class turned out pretty cool.  They are all moving along nicely with their final assignment.  We reviewed sample images from past years...  Then we got to talking.  I have no idea how this happened, but I like when it does.  So many topics covered, and the kids just took the reins.  One student commented that the US is headed towards Communism.  Based on what he was saying, I had a hunch he was mistaken in his choice of -ism.  We clarified what Communism entails.  I read him the definition of "oligarchy" and he said that what what the US is really headed towards.  Then another student chimed in about the inequality in the country and how it is getting greater.  She was so fired up.   Her father was unemployed for two years and she talked about how welfare helped him. She understood unemployment assistance as welfare, like in other countries, and sees the value in it.  She was saying that we should take care of each other.  Then she commented that the Scandinavian countries have it right.  The other kids agreed.  Talk moved to social programs and such...  Then they started talking about cancer research and the pharmaceutical industry.  They view it as more money maker than life saver.  Whoa.

I was floored.  Where was this coming from?  I told them I can't give them my opinions, but I did interject as devil's advocate.  The thing is, they all clearly came to these conclusions based on experience, not what someone told them.  In this group were students who: have family in Kosovo, have lost family to cancer, have endured unemployed/ disabled parents, no income, near homelessness.  None of them knew this about each other.  It was such an invigorating period.  And the best part is that they all plan to take Photo III next year.  I will file this discussion in my mind palace for future use next year.

And then talk moved on to the zombie apocalypse, and I remembered that I am in high school.  Ha ha...

Show

So we set up the Art Show yesterday.  We changed things around a bit.  I was sick of the same old layout and we could probably walk the floor in our sleep....  Photo is all together, not split.  I also configured the panels a bit different in an attempt to convey its own space.  I did research online for this.  I looked for art show layout pictures from other schools around the country.  I saw one that reminded me a lot of what they did at Morris Hills High School.  However, that was too radical a change for anyone.... I will bide my time.

So I have been proud of the skills acquisition of my Photo I classes.  I truly believe that when the students look at the the labels on these pictures, they will be surprised at who did this work.  Not what you expect form the jock, goofball, or band geek.  Ha ha!  I like defying the stereotypes...

So what happens when you rip your husband apart for mixing soy mayonnaise and medium green salsa with a fish taco?  You get the same raging stomach problems he gets.  Even though you didn't have the fish tacos.  Ugh....  Barely made it home form my nephew's birthday party yesterday before getting sick...  I don't know what the heck we ate, but crackers are all that is passable for now.  And I can't call out over the next two days due to testing.  So the Brioschi stays in the lunch bag.

We went to the NYC Anarchist Book Fair on Saturday.  There were barely any zines and fewer tables, at least it seemed that way to us.  But there were many good books to peruse.  I bought a few:  A Howard Zinn piece on artists at times of war; a semi-autobiographical piece by the singer of a band I like; something on the cold war; and one I have been meaning to get for awhile - Hey Shorty - a book on how girls can combat sexism and harassment in and out of school.  There were so many good looking books on education.  It is refreshing to see the independent world getting into the topic of education.  For so long it was just viewed as another means of indoctrination.  But it is not in the hands of the right people.  I see being a teacher as a way of empowering my students, and that idea seems to be getting some legs.  I must find these books in the library so I know which ones are worth buying.

Today was a bit rough.  All through the day I was getting sharp stomach pains.  I was supposed to help my friend with the last of her moving, then go to a very important town meeting.  Both of those are out.  I sit here with Millie on my lap.  Typing.  I can only move my upper body with my normal speed.  I couldn't walk my normal speed at all today.  I hated it.  I can't stand slowness.....  And then hubby says he is still not 100%.  Darn germ carrier....