Nervous Chihuahua



Memo_012 Part II

In case I forgot to mention it during the last department meeting you attended, our mission is "To prepare students to success in College, Career or Life."

And to test and retest and then test again so they may squeak by with a 65 in a subject they know nothing about.

Hello From Aruba

Continental screwed up our airline reservations so we had to leave out of Newark.  I came up with the idea of staying in a motel near the airport which worked out great.  $124 bought us a night with breakfast and a week of parking.

The flight was smooth, the weather is great.  Right now I am sitting on one of our two balconies overlooking the ocean and the pool using the Internet and sipping my beer.

Enjoy your 60 degree weather.  I know I will enjoy the weather here.

Memo_012 Part I

My former colleagues know how much I loved the department memos and they arrive in multitude.  Thanks guys for sending them so I can share them here.  The latest, memo 012 is so good it will be displayed in three different postings.  This time, the word please was only used five times.  Don't think it was ignored just because you don't see it in this paragraph.

In order for us to improve as a department, everyone must contribute.  That means the teachers with the higher passing percentage continue to make sure the passing percentage is above the department passing percentage and the teachers with lower passing improve their passing percentage. [What it really means is that Mr. AP will continue stacking classes, putting the good kids with his friends and giving the more difficult ones to the senior teachers and the teachers he would like to leave.]   It is vital that we communicate with, not sending a letter or leaving a message, parents of those students who come everyday and try, yet, they still have not passed. [This sentence isn't in English but what I think he means is teachers should call and call again until a parent is reached.  After all, every child, even the ones with 70 IQ's can pass if the teachers make enough phone calls.  Mr. AP would be chancellor right now if some teacher had called his mom and dad.] It is also important to communicate with the parents of chronic absentees.  [Kids would never be absent if the teacher called.}  The Quality Reviewers are only interested in knowing that we try our best to reach everyone, not just those who want to or capable of learning.  [I don't think that is the only thing they are interested in. I wonder who gave him the inside information.]  The American educational system is about trying to help everyone to learn, not just those who want to or capable of learning. [Let's not forget getting everyone to pass the test, even if they know nothing.]

The next segment of this memo will be posted from sunny Aruba.  Mr. AP probably did me the biggest favor of my life since his actions helped me make the decision I should have made a long time ago.  But, I haven't forgotten him and I will do my best to make sure no readers forget him and what he is doing to education today.

How To Improve Minimum Wage

From my friend at etc, etc, etc

Rising To The Occasion

A good friend spent six months caring for her dying husband.  She lifted him and supported him although he outweighed her by 40 pounds.  She cleaned his shit and his vomit and never complained.  I told her how much I admired her and expressed what I thought was my inability to ever do what she did.  She answered that she just did what she had to do.  I still thought it was great and something I could never handle.

This week I found out she was exactly right and our bodies do what needs to be done.  I learned to lift and after initial gagging, I learned to wipe butt and clean the uncleanable.  It still is something I would rather not do, but I rose to the occasion.  I've always respected the aides and health care workers that do this for a living, but after doing it myself my admiration has grown immensely.  These people are over worked and way under paid.  I remember hearing recently about a bill to raise their wages and the argument that people will not be able to afford them.  I don't know how we cannot pay these people, or anyone else for that matter, a living wage.  These are the people that care for our loved ones in the most intimate manner possible.  I will be employing one of these individuals soon.  Not paying properly is criminal.

Beggers Shouldn't Be Choosers

The people I am stealing Internet from need a stronger router.  I keep losing the connection.

Thank goodness for people who don't protect their connections.

Is There A Prize For Who Says Please The Most?

Memo 011 just came out, barking orders for the uniform final and for end of the year activities.  Every paragraph starts with the word please but the tone is Hitlerike all the way.

Term after term we have all pointed out the folly of uniform midterm and final exams when the same exam, or two slightly different versions of it are being given all day long.  By 4th period, the kids have the exam in advance and I've seen countless students put down answers without even reading the questions.  Sure there are cell phone restrictions and calculators are supposedly cleared but since the beginning of time kids have found a way to beat the system and the system at Packemin is very easy to beat.  And, to top it off, the overworked teachers often use exams from previous years, and questions from an exam generating program, questions they have done many times in class.

Mr. AP likes things his way. Even though his way is not an academically sound way, he never changes.  And, why shoud he, he gets away with this time after time after time.

Here is memo 011.  Why should the math department of Packemin be the only ones to feel the love.

January 3, 2012 Welcome back and happy New Year!

 If you are a grade leader, please make sure you communicate with every teacher teaching the course before you make up the final exam.  It is impossible to change the final.  Please submit all copies to me on or before January 11, 2012. 

Please make sure you use proper headings.  Part II should be 40 points and Part I should be 60 points.  Please make sure there are at least two versions of each final. Please make sure there are instructions going on at all times.  No parties should be held during a math class. I suggest you give a multiple-choice exam on the last day of this term.  You can substitute one low grade with that exam grade if it is higher.  Unless you are teaching a class that terminates in the Regents exam, trying to teach the last day is going to be very difficult. 

If you are teaching ME41, ME21, ME43, MG21/R/H or MR21/r/h, you must give a grade at the end of the term.  If you are teaching an elective, you have the option of NC or CR.  Please discuss with your individual students how you intend to grade them. Too many of the students in electives have come to me with great concerns.  Please address their concerns with them instead of sending them to see me or take no actions. 

Please be advised that Regents tutoring hours have been extended for Algebra and Geometry.  Please let your students know. 

Please make sure you communicate with the parents of the students who are failing your class.  We still have one more exam and the mid-term exam to hopefully bail them out.  Let the parent know how their child can correct the situation and that we will never give up on their child (some of them might have). 

Thank you very much and have a great week.

This Parent Knows



I got the following e-mail friend, a parent who also happens to be a retired teacher..  Thought I'd share what parents in the know say about education.

I have to tell you Tom got an 80 on his most recent Algebra II/Trig test.  Apparently the teacher had to give the kids a 10-point curve because the results were obviously way below expectations.  So he would have gotten a 70.  All these teachers are giving the kids so many chances….gee is that real life????  He is retaking a Greek test that he got a 65 on.  The teacher e mailed us during the vacation and said that the results weren’t very good so he’s retesting the kids.  I’m not thrilled with it even though this pumps up his average.  I recall failing when I failed and that was the end of it, I had to go for extra help and study.

It's no wonder kids know nothing.  Bloomberg has done a real bang up job on education.  I bet these teachers are only doing what they have to doto keep their jobs.  How sad.

Strength In Numbers



The math department had a room full of old computers that hadn't worked for years.  The computers were covered with graffiti and made the room look awful.  Principal Fire told Mrs. Oola to get the room cleaned up.  Mrs. Oola, in turn told us we had to clean the computers.  I objected.  It is not a teacher's job to clean and the chemicals we would have had to use were toxic.  Mr. Oola (Mrs. Oola's husbaand) sat in the back of the room and gave us all his evil eye.  We stood together and refused.



Mrs. Oola solved the problem the only way she could.  She and Mr. Oola came to school on a Saturday, donned long rubber gloves and spent the day cleaning.  And this my friends, is what happens when people stick together.

Big Review



Chihuahua is getting nervous.   The big pound review is coming up and she knows they might not survive it.  There are some dogs present that just cannot be trained.  She's been yapping orders, giving everyone a headache and accomplishing nothing.  She probably shouldn't worry.  She always finds someone else to take the heat for her. 

We Don't Do Them Favors When We Exempt Them From Remediation



Alice is one of those kids who managed to place out of remedial math.  While Alice can handle signed numbers and some equations, she can't do much more.  I suggested she go to the department and request a move to the lower level class where she would get a chance to improve her skills. She refused and kept coming to class, doing her best to succeed.  Unfortunately, her best only got her a 5 on the final.

If Alice had been in my class in high school and I was going for merit pay, she would have brought me a step closer to it.  She passed her regents and this improved my stats.  Unfortunately, this did nothing to help her.
I have been trying to convince Alice to take that remedial class before she retakes the class he just failed.  She can always find a teacher to let her audit the class to save the cost.  I don't know if she will.  She's afraid the no credit class will hold up her progress.  I  think I convinced her that failing term after term would be a lot more detrimental to her pursuit of a college degree because I just got an e-mail from her asking to borrow the text I promised to lend for the class she so desperately needs.

Stop Cuomo

I just heard about Cuomo's new education plans and was going to write, but Perdido Street did it so much better than I ever could.

Go read what he says and make the call.  Let Cuomo know we won't take this lying down.

Good Teaching Is Not Bought With Merit Pay



I hope those special education students in Washington D.C. know how lucky they are to have  Tiffany Johnson, as their teacher.   Ms. Johnson puts so much effort into figuring out what her students need and that has caused them to improve immensely.  These kids are fortunate to be living in Washington D.C. where 476 our of 3,600 teachers gave up job security for money and now have teachers who will stay with the profession and make sure they succeed.  I pity the ones that have the other 3,124.  Can these teachers possibly be doing as good a job if holding on to their paycheck is a priority?

I'm being sarcastic here.  Teachers like me,  NYCEducator, Chi Town Girl, Ricochet, South Bronx, Norm, Chaz and countless others have stayed in the profession for the love of the job.  Sure, money is important but I know the countless hours we have all devoted to helping our students have nothing to do with merit pay because we don't get or want any.  (We want decent pay for everyone.)  There is no way to justify who deserves it and who doesn't.  There are countless teachers in the profession for upwards of 30 years, teachers who didn't leave because the pay wasn't good enough but, in some cases, stayed in spite of the pay not being good enough. 

I'm not disputing Ms. Johnson's effectiveness.  She probably is an excellent teacher.  But, if her excellence is only brought about by the almighty dollar I pity the children when these dollars run out or when the system realizes that bonuses don't buy good teachers.

Charity Begins At Home



My husband, a product of corporate America, often fails to see the horrors of Bloomberg in spite of being married to me, an individual who speaks out often and loudly about this monster.  Last night, as we watched Bloomberg lowering the ball in Times Square, my husband pointed out all his philanthropic activities.  My friends and I cut him short and reminded him that charity begins at home and he should start taking care of the working people of NYC.  In his seemingly infinite tenure as mayor, he has done nothing to help us and plenty to hurt.  My husband shut up.

Milk and Cookies Please

Don't be fooled by the innocent little face.  This one, if human, would be the kind of girl that hung around bars and had naive young men buying her drinks, jewelry and anything else her little heart desired.  She'd take what she wanted and then throw these poor suckers to the curve.  She has me wrapped around her little paw and honestly, I don't even like her.

I started letting her lick the left over milk from a bowl of cereal.  This led into her expecting some milk every morning, which I do give her.  (I read that it is okay to give cats a little milk as long as it agrees with them and it certainly agrees with her.)  And now the milk isn't enough.  I have to put treats on the plate.   She eats them first and then washes them down with the milk.  Whoever said cats aren't too bright never met this one.  Without saying a word, she has learned to communicate exactly what she wants and she gets it too.

Blame The Oncologist



The patient had a stage 4 cancer that spread throughout his entire body.  The oncologist did his best, but his best was not good enough and the patient died.  The oncologist got a U rating as was forced out of his job.

This did not happen.  Although the loss was hard, there was nothing the oncologist could do to save this patient.  Similarly, there are students that cannot be saved.  Closing schools and firing teachers will not help them. 

Happy New Year

Welcome 2012

Convincing Him He Is Not Going Blind



My dad had cataract surgery last year.  The doctor prescribed reading glasses and distance glasses.  He tells me he reads fine with the reading glasses but can't see the television when he looks up.  I tell him to change glasses, which he does if I am in the room. He's doing paper work with the reading glasses and looks at the television. Then he complains he can't see it.  I again tell him to change the glasses.  He does and sees fine.

He keeps telling me he is going blind.  He tells me the glasses don't help.  Most of the time they stay in their cases where they don't help at all.

HELP!!!!!! (I am afraid to put him in bifocals.)

Criminal



Sam Eshaghoff, the man who took SATs for Great Neck Students, will be featured on 60 Minutes and that, in my opinion, is almost as criminal as his deed.  I can't believe this guy will be given national exposure and a chance to justify this behavior.

Eshaghoff has the audacity to claim he gave poor students their lives back.  He claims that students with poor grades in high school will now be able to go on to college.  What he fails to mention is that students without background in high school do not succeed in college either.  The despicable act he has committed has not only hurt innocent students who have lost their place because of this, but  has hurt the ones he is claiming to have helped by putting them in a situation they can't possibly succeed in.

Eshaghoff lawyer claims he is a good hearted guy who just wanted to help others.  The lawyer claims this guy is now becoming the poster child for the cheating that has gone on, undetected for years.  What a sorry defense.  Let's hope the American public doesn't fall for it.

Don't Believe All The Discounts You See



Daughter's computer died and she called us up all upset, looking for her brother, the computer engineer, to order her a new one.  We said, don't worry.  He'll order and we'll pay.  (For my kids, I always pay, even though they both earn very good livings.)  Son checked out Dell's website and found a laptop for her.

Being frugal, I remembered Dell offers a 10% discount to teachers.  When I couldn't access the code online, I called and got a very nice young man to help.  I placed the order, my only problem being the computer would not be delivered until Jan 10.

An hour after I placed the order husband got an e-mail from Micro Center offering the same computer for the same amount of money I was paying to Dell.  I called and made sure it was in stock.  I then called Dell and asked them to do something about the price.  After all, buying it directly from them should be cheaper than buying it through a middle man.  They said tough.  If you don't like the price, cancel.  I cancelled.

Daughter is now sitting with her brand new computer, happy to have immediate gratification.

(Today Dell is offering the computer at Micro Center's price.  We could have saved $44 if we bought it today.  But, then she wouldn't have it so I'm not complaining.)

Pompus Ass



Picture a guy with a starched shirt and a tie, walking around with his stomach sticking out over his belt, acting like he owns the world.  If you can, you are picturing Mr. Bob, the guy that was interim math AP the term I left the special education department to join the math department, the department I am licensed to teach in and taught in for eight years before coming to Packemin.

Calling Mr. Bob was a pompous ass, would be redundant because pompous ass was what came to mind upon meeting him for the first time.  Mr. Bob got the job when the guy who had it before him moved on to greener pastures in a fancy Long Island school  He probably was the only one in the department with  an administrators license at the time (years ago you actually needed a brain and years of teaching experience to become an assistant principal) so he got the job by default.  The then principal launched a real search to find a permanent replacement.  It was obvious he did not want Mr. Bob to keep the job.

Mr. Bob got to make up programs for that year.  During his first semester he took the very best class for himself and gave good classes to all his friends.  Being new in the department (and unwanted--I'll go into that in another post), I got all the crap.  I didn't say a word, I didn't think I had a right to, although I was pissed.  I threw myself into my classes and did a pretty good job.  When the second semester came around, Mr. Bob programmed the same way, except for one thing.  He gave himself a crappy class.  His rationale was simple.  If he kept the job, he would simply give himself a program change and if someone else was brought it, he wanted them to either suffer or admit they didn't like rough classes and change it.  Mr. Bob lost his job to Mrs. Oola.

Mrs. Oola knew she needed to make a good impression on the department so she kept the class, a class she could not handle (more on this later too.)  But, as I've said before, she was smart and made Mr. Bob pay a price by observing his class and by heaping on some criticism he could not take.  Soon after, Mr. Bob got a job as an assistant principal in another school.  He lasted at that position one year and then went back to the classroom.

Happy Chanukah

With all going on with my dad, I forgot to wish everyone a happy Chanukah.

The eighth candle was lit tonight.

Chihuahau Job Interview



Chihuahua Says...



Said the chihuahau to the people who got her where she is.

High Heels



One day Mrs. Oola decided to pay a surprise visit to Mr. Fish's 5th period class.  I was in the office at the time, with two mutual friends when she made this announcement.  We knew that Mr. Fish was not ready for an observation so two of us tried to stall her while the third went to warn Mr. Fish.  In spite of her ditsy personality, she figured out what we were trying to do and got to him.  Luckily, we got to him first.

Mr. Fish was an interesting character as well and when she tried to enter the room, he blocked her.  She finally agreed to come back another day. 

Meanwhile, the three of us made our way down to the cafeteria. As we sat around eating and laughing, Mrs. Oola walked in. This was especially strange because Mrs. Oola never left the second floor.  Her shoes had the skinniest heels and the little strap that held them on was always flapping loose so walking was difficult.  As soon as she noticed us, she sat down and immediately started lecturing Izzy, her department assistant.  She told us our actions were hurtful and our loyalty should belong to her.  She said her piece and left.  We laughed so hard tears came out our eyes.

Mrs. Oola never ventured downstairs again.

Bubble Dancer



Mrs. Oola, the supervisor before Mr. AP was an interesting character too.  Her lipstick was always smeared and her slip was always hanging.  She always looked like she just had a quickie in the book room.  While observing a low level class, a boy yelled out, "Mr. Y, who is that hooker in the back?" because Ms. Oola looked better suited for street walking than school administration.

In spite of her looks, Mrs. Oola was a good teacher.  She was a brilliant mathematician who knew how to teach others to teach, even if she did not know how to teach herself.  I will never forget the day one of my calculus students said "Ms. POd, don't expect me to know anything.  I had Ms. Oola all last year.  She is an embarrassment to all Martians (his nationality)."

Mrs. Oola was in charge of our department when computers were just coming into their own.  She couldn't get the hang of saving what she needed on a disk to be able to work at home so every Friday, her husband would come to school to bring the big desk top computer home for weekend use.

And oh, Mr. Oola.  No one was ever sure what he did for a living because he was always in school.  He used to sit in on department meetings and shoot evil looks at anyone who fell asleep or didn't pay attention.  Every day, at 1:45 sharp, he showed up with cup of coffee for his beloved wife.  One day, at 1:25, the school had a fire and had to be evacuated.  There were thousands of people huddled around the building.  It would have been hard to find anyone.  As Mr. L wondered what Mr. Oola would do with his Starbucks purchase, we turned and saw him pushing his way through the crowd, finding his wife to deliver the afternoon fix.

There is a saying, "Cream rises to the top, but shit also floats" might be a good way to describe past administrators at Packemin.

(She was also referred to as a bubble dancer.)

My Neighbor's Balls

Sorry if you looked under false pretenses.  I am bored and went out to take pictures of the balls on my neighbor's tree.  More here.

Christmas Eve

Not my family, in fact, I don't even know these people, but I loved watching them and everyone else posing for pictures in front of this wonderful house in Whitestone on Christmas eve.  More pictures here.



Whitestone Christmas House

This house is really special. We saw it on tv and had to pay a visit. More pictures later.

Happy Christmas

Not usually home this time of year so I took advantage and took my camera for a stroll through the neighborhood, checking out what is really behind all those pretty decorations.  More pictures here.

Happy Christmas to all who celebrate.

No Wonder They Are So Bad



From my page a day calendar:

After finding no qualified candidates for the position of principal, the school department is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of David Steele to the post.

Barrington, Rhode Island, school superintendent Philip Streifer

This guy probably didn't mean the words to come out this way but it certainly is the way the people like Meryl Tisch on the Board of Regents and NYC administrators are chosen.  Let us not forget the former superintendent Cathy Black and  current one Dennis Walcott.

Teachers: You Better Not Accept Those Gifts

Teachers are warned not to accept gifts that have any value.  Pearson does it with NYS officials.

Gotcha Day



Since tomorrow is the last day before vacation and the kids might be slightly wacko and unwilling to work, make sure you work them anyway, or give a test.  There is bound to be an administrator lurking around with a computer, just itching to do an observation.  The day before a holiday is their favorite time.  And, the later in the day your class meets, the better your chances are of getting this unexpected visit.

Admins don't think there is any problem with doing this.  One said he liked to observe this time to see what stuff teachers are really made of.  I said, if he doesn't know he is not much of an administrator.

Have a great vacation and good luck tomorrow.  I know from experience it will be rough.

Trained Chinchilla

I misread the title and thought this video was a trained chihuahua.  But, I should have known better.  You can't train chihuahuas.

Rate My Teacher Revisited



It still amazes me that this post, written on March 28, 2010 is still getting hits.  I wanted to share #119

Ok. After I posted my last comment, I started to get curious about WHO runs RMT? Interesting that it is anonymous, yes? Here is the link to the info I found on its IP address - http://www.ip-adress.com/reverse_ip/174.120.49.148 - but no info on who actually owns the site. (Yes, I used to be a public librarian and now I'm VERY curious). Why don't they name themselves? And how do we find out who runs it? (You know they're in it for the advertising money). Anyone else want to investigate?

and #120

Personally, I have a hard time taking RMT seriously. I actually think it fits in perfectly with the Neo-Con agenda of undermining civil servants and wouldn't be surprised if it were sponsored by folks who support the privatization of education (and everything else for that matter) and reducing teachers to clerical staff rather than trained professionals. For a good laugh, read those anonymous comments from teenagers whose frontal lobes are not fully developed (according to the brain research I've read) and who reside in a state of narcissism and are therefore somewhat incapable of contextualizing their educational experiences or taking FULL responsibility for their own contribution to their learning (and no, I was no different at their age, but I am from a different generation where my parents reminded me of my responsibility rather than believing and enabling all of my self centred adolescent narrative). The comments say as much about the writers themselves as their teachers.
On another note, I've emailed the RMT people 4times to get my name removed (I no longer teach at the school I'm listed at and have in fact changed my teaching area) and have had no response. Does anyone actually work there? Has anyone been able to delist themselves? (The school I was at now lists Principal Skinner and Chuck Norris among others as illustrious instructors - it's a very well taken care of website!! ;)

I know what #120 means.  Several months ago I found myself lumped together with a secretary and a language teacher.   It is obvious to me, from reading the comments many belong to the others.  I've written to RMT to make the change, but they did nothing.  No one should take this site seriously but sensitive people can't help but be hurt by some of the comments.  There has got to be a better way.

Duh



The boy who didn't take three exams because he didn't feel ready for them, who got grades of 77 and 74 on the two exams he took and got a 59 on the final informed me that he registered for pre-calculus during the winter session.  He needs it to be able to graduate on time.

I think this kid needs more than that.  I wonder if he will be surprised when he sees his F.

I Had To Be Disloyal



My second best friend because I don't have my best friend around.  (Sorry, Mrs. Tsouris but right now you are third on the list.)

Avoidance



I felt like a thief, walking quickly past the people at the door and making my way to the room in the corner. I knew it was near an exit and down a hallway not taken by many.  I wanted to fill out the recommendation and get out before anyone saw me.

I got lucky.  The class was being taught by someone new, someone I don't know and who doesn't know me.  Except for a few kids, I got in and out, unnoticed.

Overworked and Underpaid



Yesterday, on his way to the post office, my dad fell.  Thankfully, he is living in Co-op City, one of the best places in the city, and people were around immediately to help him.  A security guard called me twice, once to tell me what happened and that he called an ambulance and a second time to give me the name of the hospital.  The construction workers around stopped what they were doing to care for him.  The Bronx, and particularly places like Co-op City, aren't touted as good places to live, but as long as my dad can live alone, I wouldn't want him anywhere else.

The ambulance took him to Einstein Hospital, the hospital I credit with finding his cancer and saving his life.  And, while I will say thank you to the doctors for fixing him up, I will say BAH HUMBUG when it came to patient care.  We waited hours to see a doctor and even longer (almost two hours) for the nurse to bring the pain killer he ordered.  There was a machine behind my dad that beeped non stop and no one bothered to turn it off for more than a few minutes at a time.  Before we left a patient advocate let us know all we had to do was hit a yellow button and it was a shame we weren't told this.  My dad missed his turn at x-ray because no one came to pick him up and even when we were told we could leave, it took another hour and a half to get tubes removed and papers signed.

I had a long conversation with the patient advocate as we waited to depart and let her know all my concerns.  She listened, upset at what I told her and said to say something earlier next time.  The truth of the matter is I would have except I watched the poor staff run around, like chickens without heads, doing their best to take care of everyone.  No one was sitting around shooting the breeze or having a leisurely cup of coffee.  These nurses, techs and aids were providing the best care they could.  There just was not enough personnel to handle the patient load.  The PA that took care of my dad was a fine young man who was running in a hundred directions at once.  By the end of the night, I wanted to tell him to lay down in the bed my dad was vacating. (He looked like he needed it.)

ER's take care of sick people.  They save lives.  The people that work their deserve decent paychecks and the utmost respect from everyone.  Hospital administrators need to see how overworked and overwhelmed these people get and they need to do something to alleviate these working conditions because, unless these conditions are improved, lives will be lost.  But hey, ERs like this take care of us 99%ers and the people in charge don't much care.

Again

I am only a writer in my own mind, but still, I got a letter posted in the paper again today.  Link is here for those who have access to the other blog.

Freedom



It finally hit me.  I don't have to worry Sunday about what I will do on Monday.  There are no lessons to write, no papers to mark, FREEDOM!!!!!!

To celebrate, I decided to visit the Jewish Museum today.  The Radical Camera:  New York's Photo League, 1936-1951 is my kind of exhibit.  These wonderful photographers were really photo journalist from the era mentioned until the Communist witch hunts of the 1950's put many on black lists and ultimately led to the demise of this institution.  Anyone interested in history will love this exhibit.  Anyone following OWS will frown at the same issues photographed in the 30'.  No photo are allowed in the exhibit so you'll just have to go see it yourself.  (I did see lots of similar subjects to the kind I usually take.  Who knows, maybe one day I can have an exhibit somewhere as well.--my bathroom walls!)   In addition to this exhibit, there is one on Ezra Jack Keats.  I learned that he was the first to illustrate a book with an African American child, a child like any other who just happened to be Black.  He didn't see why race should enter into a book about a child and he never mentioned race.  His art work is exceptional and this exhibit alone would have made the trip worth while.    There is also a great menorah exhibit, menorahs picked out by Maurice Sendak.

In the past, a Sunday afternoon excursion would have ended early, but not today and not ever again.  I then headed to the Guggenheim to see the Maurizio Cattelan exhibit.  The line to get in wrapped around the block, but thanks to my husband's previous employer's sponsorship, I got in immediately and at no cost.  Time Out NY didn't particularly like this exhibit, but I did.  These strange sculptures, from Kennedy in a coffin, to the Pope being struck by a meteorite, hang from the ceiling and as you walk around the rotunda and get a close up look, you will not be sorry you came here.  Cameras were allowed and I was glad I had mine.  Pictures here. 

The day was cold but sunny.  Still, in no great hurry, I walked through Central Park and ended up at 57th and 6th.  I saw parts of the park I never saw before. 

Yeah!!!!  No more weekends spent getting ready for the week to come!

Shoe Making Is A worthy Occupation



It is impossible for colleges to teach in one semester what should have been taught in  12  previous years of  school.  Anyone who things otherwise, is kidding themselves.

Oh, it might seem like the student is grasping the information, and he might be able to regurgitate some of it on an exam, but usually there is no retention and little understanding.



Remediation corrects something bad or defective.  It can't take the place of a missing life time of learning.

More kids might be graduating high school than ever before but their lack of knowledge is greater than anything anyone has ever seen.  A college professor I recently spoke to had no idea that an 80 on a regents exam meant the child barely got 64% of the exam correct.

I don't have answers, but I sometimes knowing something is wrong is the first step in finding a solution.  Sending students to college who cannot do arithmetic, simple algebra, read or write is wrong.  They won't get it in one term and they won't get it by repeating this one term over and over again.  We are wasting their time, their money (and ours if they are in school on tax payer supported financial aid) and we are destroying their self esteem. 

I recently finished reading Songs For The Butcher's Daughter by Peter Manseau and one paragraph stood out:"

Kishinev needs cobblers as well as scholars," the teacher would say as he sent the expelled boys to his cousin the shoemaker. "soon we will all leave here, and without proper soles beneath us where Will  the Torah be?"

Not everyone is meant for college.  Those who have the desire and the latent ability will find a way.

A Bronx Student Thanks Mayor Bloomberg For The Education He Has Received

A Bronx Student Thanks Mayor Bloomberg For The Education He Has Received

Technology



(It doesn't do much for education either.)

Thanks to my friend at etc, etc, etc.

Washington Square Park

Too beautiful for words.

Never Ending Phone Call

A problem using my Continental vouchers online led to a two and a half hour phone call to straighten out the problem.  With so many airlines merging and going under, consumers have fewer and fewer choices.  The airlines can heap on abuse that cannot be avoided.

My head hurts, but I finally got my tickets.  The woman I dealt with was wonderful.  The problem was with their Internet support.  I would complain to the airline but I would hate to do anything that will reflect poorly on her.

Sign Of Appreciation

I decided I didn't want to work so hard and told one of the colleges I won't be back in the spring.  I was only there one semester and still, I got this e-mail:

Dear POd,

Thank you for the  XX file, your service to our department this semester, and also for the gifts for Bette and her daughter.

If I don't see you... happy Hanukkah and happy 2012!  It was a pleasure having you as a colleague.  Please keep in touch and let us know if you wish to teach again at YYY College in the future.

Take Care - Dept Supervisor

I left Packemin after 27 years and got this:













Don't see anything?  Neither do I.

No More Alarm Clocks



It is 6:00 AM.  I roll over, look at he clock and close my eyes again.  Now it is 7:00 and the activity repeats.  In fact it repeats over and over until the mood hits and I decide to start my day. 

I think I might actually enjoy not working.