it's been a while, so...

I almost forgot that I post here every so often. The idea struck me today that professional educators - teachers whom have been teaching for thier entire lives - may actually be people who are addicted to jumping through hoops.

I don't know that the current state of educational hoop-titude has been at this level ever in the history of public education. Is this a result of the NCLB and the current swing of the pendulum in the field of education? Aside from greater graduation rates, can some measurable amount of benefit - real, tangible benefit - arise from it all? Are teachers teaching thinking and creating?

The system of public education seems a bit fatigued: the students, the teachers, the admin., the parents, and all involved in the machinery that goes into this system of education and culturization. Maybe it's just October, and I have sunk into the October slump, as have my colleagues, and the parents, and the students... or maybe I just need a good nap.

pressures are lifting

The VW Bus is in the shop, engine excised and soon to be crated and shipped back to California. The irony is killing me. However, I'll be receiving a brand new long block engine, scrapping the EFI system, going to dual carbs, and ditching the CA Smog stuff. The fuel efficiency will increase, as will the horsepower. My new mechanic says I won't have to worry about the oil temps out here with the Long-block, but I'm considering purchasing and installing an oil temp sensor just as a precaution. I am committed to the 'forever car' notion.

Hubby has his new for him forever truck: a '72 International Harvester Scout II. He sure does love it.

A recent visait with old friends helped a bunch, We're also settling in with Doctor appointments, trips to 'nearby' arts communities, and readying for the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope to see some of my family, and go "back home" - I never thought I would say "go back home". Now I'm using the same transplant jargon that I've heard others use my entire life - living in the fertile ground where most transplants go to.

I did it myself

I finally cancelled the tech order, and connected 4 of my 9 printers, so that my students could use them. They're not networked, they're only available at a few computers, I have to be super-watchful of supplies so we don't run through our annual budget in a week, but they're up and running.

I know I irritated tech suport. I don't really mind, though - since they didn't do the job anyway. It was a compromise I had to make in order to continue with my lessons and teaching. Now, if we only had the photo paper and inks I ordered three weeks ago. We need them in 4 days.

I'm discovering the chasm between what was said of this school/district/area and the reality of them all. However, the inefficiency, the waste, the money problems, the disconnect between teaching/learning and the businees of school - these are present at all schools, I think. I am observing the impact everything has on a school so very small - and so much is put on to teachers' shoulders because there aren't other people to lean on for the little things.

My Freshmen are surprising me, positively. :-) They're coming in to their own and becoming involved with the school and their student council duties.

Homecoming was a little strange. The returning alumni from 1987 behaved just like most of the students I see - cliquish, not accepting of anything new or different, and just happy enough to plod along and exist. Normal, and boring.

I have begun a multi-cultural lesson to try and shake their little snow-globes up a bit. I'm receiving a lot of interest so far. We'll see how the bosses like the lesson plans. Maybe I'll be celebrating my career for Dia de los Muertos.