The boys were considering today... yes it will become part of the blog (as identified by Ron) that there is a particular time in your professional life when you feel that you can trust your professional judgment. Up to a certain age in your life you rely on the fear of being wrong or the group think part of collaborative work or the concern for job security to control our professional judgement.
Tom felt that when he reached his middle 40's he was able to make a decision for himself without outside concerns.
I think that this age is probably pretty much the same for all of us. We know that we are going to finish out our careers doing just about the same as what we were doing in our middle 40's and that we are pretty secure in making independent decisions regarding such.
The reason that we were talking about this is that one of our members made a school mistake. He posted a tee shirt with some student names on it. The reason for the tee shirt was to protest the decisions of a particular vice principal. It became a personal attack of this vice principal. Over one hundred of the 2,685 students arrived to school sporting this silk screen tee shirt. Apparently the rumor was that students were selling them for 13 dollars a throw. It attacked the hair style of one of the female vice principals and made dispersions of her sexuality.
Even though you may not like the decisions of the vp you cannot side with the students against her. It was this member's slip of judgment. He was called in an notes were taken by the HR person and the principal in regard to this incident, the hanging of the tee shirt in the room. He felt that it was a support for student free speech.
The principal made a all call that teachers were to send all students wearing the tee shirt to the offices. And that all teachers should submit a list of the students wearing the tee shirts. Lawyers were summoned from district office and no students were punished regarding the tee shirts. They were not allowed to wear them however for the rest of the day.
This would have devastated an under 40 year old teacher. This member was concerned but not devastated because he is over 40 and for most of his professional life lives very easily with his professional judgment... and sometimes there is a mistake.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Its Election Time
The school board election posters and commercial yard signs are out. The various candidates are getting their names on every available lawn space in town.
I was part of the local teacher's association's committee to interview the candidates running for our seats and suggest a candidate to support. We interviewed three candidates. One of the candidates was running unopposed and his name will not even be on the ballot. The other two candidates offer interesting contrasts. One candidate represents the old time interests in Merced. He has the most money. He owns an insurance agency in town and understands the pressure from a business viewpoint. He has the money to invest int he campaign and all he wanted from us was a sign of support and an education on the issues. He fairly represents what we already have on the board.Many of our members support him because he is a volunteer for the water polo coaching group. His idea of safety on the school sites was to prevent outside people from coming in and disturbing the environment. Student on student violence did not enter his mind. If elected he will be determining whether students will remain on district campuses for just this kind of action.
The other candidate needed and got some financial support from the teachers. He is a father of an new administrator at a local campus. He is supported by a campaign manager that was a former principal at the adult school. He has been a teacher at in the summer school program. He was well schooled on the safety problems that we face and was willing to dig into the financial basis of the district. It was interesting to interview the candidates. The one and half hour interview revealed interesting insights as to how they would operate. He was pro teacher. He understood student on student violence and understood why we were concerned about our own safety. He may be a little naive regarding the cultural diversity that we teach.
If we are going to make a difference at the negotiation table, the real interest is at the election booth. We need to mobilize our members to support candidates that will listen and consider our viewpoints not just listen to what the managers and the superintendents think that they need. Our district is expanding its managerial force . This often comes at the expense of the districts ability to fund innovative programs or provide adequate environments for students. We hope that we have picked and supported candidates that will do this.
: )
Pat
I was part of the local teacher's association's committee to interview the candidates running for our seats and suggest a candidate to support. We interviewed three candidates. One of the candidates was running unopposed and his name will not even be on the ballot. The other two candidates offer interesting contrasts. One candidate represents the old time interests in Merced. He has the most money. He owns an insurance agency in town and understands the pressure from a business viewpoint. He has the money to invest int he campaign and all he wanted from us was a sign of support and an education on the issues. He fairly represents what we already have on the board.Many of our members support him because he is a volunteer for the water polo coaching group. His idea of safety on the school sites was to prevent outside people from coming in and disturbing the environment. Student on student violence did not enter his mind. If elected he will be determining whether students will remain on district campuses for just this kind of action.
The other candidate needed and got some financial support from the teachers. He is a father of an new administrator at a local campus. He is supported by a campaign manager that was a former principal at the adult school. He has been a teacher at in the summer school program. He was well schooled on the safety problems that we face and was willing to dig into the financial basis of the district. It was interesting to interview the candidates. The one and half hour interview revealed interesting insights as to how they would operate. He was pro teacher. He understood student on student violence and understood why we were concerned about our own safety. He may be a little naive regarding the cultural diversity that we teach.
If we are going to make a difference at the negotiation table, the real interest is at the election booth. We need to mobilize our members to support candidates that will listen and consider our viewpoints not just listen to what the managers and the superintendents think that they need. Our district is expanding its managerial force . This often comes at the expense of the districts ability to fund innovative programs or provide adequate environments for students. We hope that we have picked and supported candidates that will do this.
: )
Pat
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Almost There
Linzi talked with me on the phone tonight. She finds it ironic that two adult families in the larger group are living in tiny apartments instead of their homes. Especially when that is a goal of some of the kids to get a home instead of an apartment.
Our foundation for the new addition was poured today. The pumper truck arrived with a hopper. The cement truck followed with a load. The pumper sent the cement for the foundation along the side using large tubes. It pulsated as it made its way to the backyard. When I got home at 4:30 The wooden forms had been removed and the cement was curing. All around the edges were reebar spikes that will tie the framing to the foundation.
We have been dragging across stuff for the new apartment. We made another trip to Costco to pick up some canned soup, soda, and some kitchen tools.. red of course.
Sue was at the apartment at 12:30 when our new sofa and upholstered chair arrived and was delivered and set up. We now have appropriate seating. The upholstery is thin waled cordorory. Sue is proud of her accomplishments of finding and setting up this apartment mostly on her own. She doesn't think that she could have done this last year.
I took off this morning and had my kidneys ultrasounded. A have a follow up meeting with the urologist on Friday for the serious scoping. All this because of a little microscopic blood in the urine sample. Sue and I have the complete blood and urine workup every three months. Its how we are going to keep from going over the edge with the diabetes. Which by the way could be culprit for the serious sample.
Kids are learning construction jobs and what they do. Today I added draftsperson to the group. Some still think that carpenters install carpet... good grief.
In the sports scene, Merced High is still doing well in football. Golden Valley lost to the team that Merced High beat.. Sonora.
Have a great day Wednesday. Wednesday is always writing day for my school kiderooos.
: ) Pat
Our foundation for the new addition was poured today. The pumper truck arrived with a hopper. The cement truck followed with a load. The pumper sent the cement for the foundation along the side using large tubes. It pulsated as it made its way to the backyard. When I got home at 4:30 The wooden forms had been removed and the cement was curing. All around the edges were reebar spikes that will tie the framing to the foundation.
We have been dragging across stuff for the new apartment. We made another trip to Costco to pick up some canned soup, soda, and some kitchen tools.. red of course.
Sue was at the apartment at 12:30 when our new sofa and upholstered chair arrived and was delivered and set up. We now have appropriate seating. The upholstery is thin waled cordorory. Sue is proud of her accomplishments of finding and setting up this apartment mostly on her own. She doesn't think that she could have done this last year.
I took off this morning and had my kidneys ultrasounded. A have a follow up meeting with the urologist on Friday for the serious scoping. All this because of a little microscopic blood in the urine sample. Sue and I have the complete blood and urine workup every three months. Its how we are going to keep from going over the edge with the diabetes. Which by the way could be culprit for the serious sample.
Kids are learning construction jobs and what they do. Today I added draftsperson to the group. Some still think that carpenters install carpet... good grief.
In the sports scene, Merced High is still doing well in football. Golden Valley lost to the team that Merced High beat.. Sonora.
Have a great day Wednesday. Wednesday is always writing day for my school kiderooos.
: ) Pat
Monday, September 24, 2007
Integrating a New Family Member
Lindsay and Sean stopped by Sunday on their way back from Yosemite. They stayed in the tent cabins and bore the brunt of the change in weather. We are now much cooler at night and cooler in the day as well. We are at 80 feet above sea level and the Yosemite Valley Floor is closer to 3500 feet about sea level. There was 18 inches of snow at the higher elevations and plenty of rain and hail on the valley floor. The place is incredible however and worth the visit even in inclement weather.
We bought a couple of pies up at the Mennonite restaurant in Atwater for Sean's birthday. We had to try each out. One was a razzleberry and the other was a rhubarb. My favorite is the rhubarb.
We had lunch at his choice of restaurants. He picked pollo loco. It is a mexican grilled chicken place with flan for dessert. Flan is a cream custard floating on a caramel sauce base,
Sean's birthday is the 25th of September. This becomes a new date that we integrate into the family consciousness. Happy Birthday Sean.. 25years old on the 25th!
While he was here he helped be get a twin med over to the Love Shack as Kelly and Mikie would call it.
Thanks Linzi and Sean for stopping by.
I did not walk today. Got up too late. I will try to do one in the pm.
Love
Pat
We bought a couple of pies up at the Mennonite restaurant in Atwater for Sean's birthday. We had to try each out. One was a razzleberry and the other was a rhubarb. My favorite is the rhubarb.
We had lunch at his choice of restaurants. He picked pollo loco. It is a mexican grilled chicken place with flan for dessert. Flan is a cream custard floating on a caramel sauce base,
Sean's birthday is the 25th of September. This becomes a new date that we integrate into the family consciousness. Happy Birthday Sean.. 25years old on the 25th!
While he was here he helped be get a twin med over to the Love Shack as Kelly and Mikie would call it.
Thanks Linzi and Sean for stopping by.
I did not walk today. Got up too late. I will try to do one in the pm.
Love
Pat
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A Musical Sense of Mind
Up for share this weekend was my Ebay finds.
I have always wondered why I have love Broadway musicals so much. My latest acquisitions:
The Music Man (the movie and the Broadway recordings)I am trying to figure out which Robert Preston is better and whether Shirley Jones is better than Barbara Cook.
Hair: The original This musical started out with a lot of energy and then the cast split up and became susceptible to its own message.. too much pot.
The Fantastics : Billed as the longest running musical in the world. (Partly do to the low cost production)
My Fair Lady (The original London Cast with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews)
Carousal (The 1934 edition on Broadway)
What a collection all at my front door in less than a week. Most were about 6 bucks each. None were on ITunes.
All have just amazing orchestration and exemplary musicianship. Let me know if you would like to borrow any of these.. as they will be available at Thanksgiving or sooner if we meet.
Move in week this weekend. We found a really cool little apt.. just two blocks away. One bedroom with a patio and a microwave,gas stove, refrig. two pools, trash compactor shared by everyone, and central air and heat. $640 per month pro rated for the first month, second month (the first real month, half off). No application fees or credit check fees. Month to month.. no lease, no steps. That shows the state of rentals in this town. You do not want to be a landlord now.
Hope you had a great weekend.
Love
Pat
I have always wondered why I have love Broadway musicals so much. My latest acquisitions:
The Music Man (the movie and the Broadway recordings)I am trying to figure out which Robert Preston is better and whether Shirley Jones is better than Barbara Cook.
Hair: The original This musical started out with a lot of energy and then the cast split up and became susceptible to its own message.. too much pot.
The Fantastics : Billed as the longest running musical in the world. (Partly do to the low cost production)
My Fair Lady (The original London Cast with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews)
Carousal (The 1934 edition on Broadway)
What a collection all at my front door in less than a week. Most were about 6 bucks each. None were on ITunes.
All have just amazing orchestration and exemplary musicianship. Let me know if you would like to borrow any of these.. as they will be available at Thanksgiving or sooner if we meet.
Move in week this weekend. We found a really cool little apt.. just two blocks away. One bedroom with a patio and a microwave,gas stove, refrig. two pools, trash compactor shared by everyone, and central air and heat. $640 per month pro rated for the first month, second month (the first real month, half off). No application fees or credit check fees. Month to month.. no lease, no steps. That shows the state of rentals in this town. You do not want to be a landlord now.
Hope you had a great weekend.
Love
Pat
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Week Over Ready to Move this Weekend
We have been in School for more than a month already. Its hard to believe.
I had to be out of my class a couple of times this week. One whole day for negotiations, one half day for a doctors appt. and and another half day for the jury selection. Its great to get back and break the tension that exists when they have someone else working the class.
The urologist yesterday has referred me to get a ultra sound on my kidneys. He gave me 80 20 odds that nothing is seriously wrong. He said that its the 20 percent that makes this important.
I am hoping that it is not like the weather. 20 percent rain is most likely rain in the valley this time of the year.
Speaking of rain, this week has brought down right cool conditions to the Merced area. We have had a good chance for rain. So far none has fallen in the daylight hours or much at night.
I am glad to see that Acacia is up and back at blogging. She was on her way to UCSD yesterday. Sounds like a great send off party!
It was nice to touch base with Cammie and Dom last weekend. It sounds like Dom and I have similar reading interests... short stories. It was great to hear about the projects in Merced the Cammie has worked on in her new job. I am really happy to hear that they have moved to a really cool place in West Sacto! Way to go.
I called mom and dad on the cell yesterday. After an hour delay in San Jose to fix an auxiliary something or other, their trip worked out okay.
It sounds like Kelly's new boss likes her style.. coffee cup and all. We both had a wonderful cap in Concord at the Pete's last week.
Along with moving some of our stuff to our day house, I hope to get some painting done. I am working on some fly fishing ones. I have two postcards made. One of the fisherman looks more like he is roping steers. Ha!
They have been pounding our house all day with one tool after another. Friday it was the dirt compactor that pounds the sand together for the new foundation. Tony and I looked at the project. To me it looks masive.. Adding 15 feet to the back of our house all the way along is something. It leaves about 18 feet of backyard. Tony thinks that it might be too little for a patio. He will check, but he thinks that the set back from the back fence of the yard has to be 10 feet. That would leave only 8 feet for a patio. The books (sunset) say that you need 10 feet for a table and chairs. I suppose with this new part of the house we will have less need for outdoor space.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Love
Pat
I had to be out of my class a couple of times this week. One whole day for negotiations, one half day for a doctors appt. and and another half day for the jury selection. Its great to get back and break the tension that exists when they have someone else working the class.
The urologist yesterday has referred me to get a ultra sound on my kidneys. He gave me 80 20 odds that nothing is seriously wrong. He said that its the 20 percent that makes this important.
I am hoping that it is not like the weather. 20 percent rain is most likely rain in the valley this time of the year.
Speaking of rain, this week has brought down right cool conditions to the Merced area. We have had a good chance for rain. So far none has fallen in the daylight hours or much at night.
I am glad to see that Acacia is up and back at blogging. She was on her way to UCSD yesterday. Sounds like a great send off party!
It was nice to touch base with Cammie and Dom last weekend. It sounds like Dom and I have similar reading interests... short stories. It was great to hear about the projects in Merced the Cammie has worked on in her new job. I am really happy to hear that they have moved to a really cool place in West Sacto! Way to go.
I called mom and dad on the cell yesterday. After an hour delay in San Jose to fix an auxiliary something or other, their trip worked out okay.
It sounds like Kelly's new boss likes her style.. coffee cup and all. We both had a wonderful cap in Concord at the Pete's last week.
Along with moving some of our stuff to our day house, I hope to get some painting done. I am working on some fly fishing ones. I have two postcards made. One of the fisherman looks more like he is roping steers. Ha!
They have been pounding our house all day with one tool after another. Friday it was the dirt compactor that pounds the sand together for the new foundation. Tony and I looked at the project. To me it looks masive.. Adding 15 feet to the back of our house all the way along is something. It leaves about 18 feet of backyard. Tony thinks that it might be too little for a patio. He will check, but he thinks that the set back from the back fence of the yard has to be 10 feet. That would leave only 8 feet for a patio. The books (sunset) say that you need 10 feet for a table and chairs. I suppose with this new part of the house we will have less need for outdoor space.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
Love
Pat
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The aftermath of your absence
One of the drawbacks to taking my caseload into the classroom setting is that they count on you. My classes are having a difficult time with my absence. The afternoon classes especially.
My hot little pill had a field day with my period by period sub on Tues. He was in time out the entire time. The one who is trying to seperate himself from the bad boy was so out of control he had to go to on campus suspension.
Today,this guy suddenly was no longer friends with the "bad" boy because one of their peers paid him a dollar to hit the bad boy. And he carried out the job. This was viewed as total betrayal.. which of course it was.
The topic of conversation was origin of the materials from which our clothes are made. The class was shocked that most of their clothes were made from flowers (cotton). Some of them were amazed that some of their shirts were made from oil. Polyester. One kid that that his fake fleece coat was made from sheep fur. They wanted to know how they got the sheet fleece. They were amazed that it came from the haircut the sheep get in the Spring. How does it grow back?
It went from there to leather. Do we use hair from a cow for anything. I couldn't think of any use for it. Then there was rubber. From the soles of your shoes. Where does that come from. A rubber tree, sap from the tropics. Like palm trees (no) Some palm trees have coconuts, others have dates. The ones around here are not used for either. Some students had banana plants in their yard, that die down each year.
All of this was going on with the underpinnings of a 3rd grade "toy" culture. "Look what I have world."
My job us fun.. but you have to be on top of everything that is going on in the class.
Love
Pat
My hot little pill had a field day with my period by period sub on Tues. He was in time out the entire time. The one who is trying to seperate himself from the bad boy was so out of control he had to go to on campus suspension.
Today,this guy suddenly was no longer friends with the "bad" boy because one of their peers paid him a dollar to hit the bad boy. And he carried out the job. This was viewed as total betrayal.. which of course it was.
The topic of conversation was origin of the materials from which our clothes are made. The class was shocked that most of their clothes were made from flowers (cotton). Some of them were amazed that some of their shirts were made from oil. Polyester. One kid that that his fake fleece coat was made from sheep fur. They wanted to know how they got the sheet fleece. They were amazed that it came from the haircut the sheep get in the Spring. How does it grow back?
It went from there to leather. Do we use hair from a cow for anything. I couldn't think of any use for it. Then there was rubber. From the soles of your shoes. Where does that come from. A rubber tree, sap from the tropics. Like palm trees (no) Some palm trees have coconuts, others have dates. The ones around here are not used for either. Some students had banana plants in their yard, that die down each year.
All of this was going on with the underpinnings of a 3rd grade "toy" culture. "Look what I have world."
My job us fun.. but you have to be on top of everything that is going on in the class.
Love
Pat
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