May 28, 2008 - Busy Busy

Much has happened since my last post.

Friday, May 23 was the long awaited Senior Assembly. My services 1st period were not needed until 8am so I started that class and went on my way to get ready for the assembly. Once the assembly got going, I didn't have to much except adorn a chair on the dais. The seniors were honored, their scholarships announced to a record amount (I am not sure exactly how much, but it was well into the millions of dollars!). After the assembly was the Senior Picnic. A nice event. The seniors are invited to a catered picnic on the football field where they get to goof around, throw a football, frisbee, hangout, whatever. And once they are done there, they get to go home. So the entire event was finished by noon. I think technically the advisors were done for the day as well, but I had a bad feeling that if I left Dr. Gainey would need me for something, and find that I had left for the day. The other two advisors left shortly after 12, I stayed until 2:00. I did some work done, but I disappointed myself, I was looking forward to leaving. I may have left if I didn't escort two of my students I caught skipping back to class. Once I was back in the class, I relieved my coverage and finished the period.

That night was the NCHSAA Women's 4A Soccer Championship. Leesville v. Ardrey Kell. The game was over in the first 11 minutes with two goals by Leesville (each by one of my students - as if being my student had anything to do with it). The final score was 3-0. Evan was at the game with me, we had a good time. During the second half we sat with the other faculty and Evan got to meet some of my colleagues, and many of them were meeting him for the first time as well. The Leesville Loonies were as crazy as always, but remained as classy and dignified as always. They are a credit to our school and our character. The head coach, who is also a member of the social studies department, has now won championships with both the men's (2)and women's (1) team at Leesville. He is a great guy and a class act! He deserves every bit of success because he earns it.

Saturday and Sunday I spent time in the yard, and hanging out with the guys. Darren was in town to visit. Evan really enjoys him and didn't want to see him go home - he left after our Memorial Day cookout Monday.

So far this week has been equally busy. The students are now clearly divided into two camps: those who don't care and don't want to try and those who are making sure to do all they can for the final push with just days remaining until final exams. The problem is that those who have given up are becoming more and more of a distraction to those around them. For example, I moved a few seats because of one talkative student in particular. All the students around him are trying hard yet he continues to distract them. At the end of the period yesterday, I warned him that when he arrived today that I am moving some seats around because he talks too much. He responded by sucking his teeth and exclaiming, "man, I don't care!" I responded with, "OK, good." When he finally arrived today (late, as usual) I pointed out his seat up in the very front of the room, he proclaimed that the seat was "too far." I was confused, "Far? It is right in the front, it seems rather close." He apparently didn't like that seat and left. I wrote a discipline referral, I think he may miss a couple more classes, but this time, not by choice.

Tuesday a student scheduled for ISS (In School Suspension) for skipping my class one day last week came to class. I informed him that he was assigned ISS and wrote him a note to get there. He never arrived. I don't think he will be attending much class either.

We also had pictures of Evan made Tuesday. With the package we bought they give the CD with all of the proofs from the sitting. I will post them soon enough.

May 22, 2008 - Goooooaaaaaallllllll!!!!!!!

Today was a pretty good day. For all my worrying about the plans for my 2nd period class, they seem to have gone well. Of course, one student seems to have ruined it for the rest (the same students who is not even zoned for this school and whom I have complained about on several occasions so far - March 17, 2008 and April 11, 2008). The teacher who was covering my class needed to submit a discipline referral form on her. Oh well, you misbehave and act up, you get in trouble. End of story.

The day was dominated by practicing and rehearsing for the Senior Assembly. I think it will go over well. The senior speeches are good and inspirational, the senior slide show will be a good one - despite it having a few teachers in it, and I, an advisor for all 4 years, and a colleague, an advisor for 2.5 years do not appear once. After school they practiced in the gym with the microphone and speakers in order to get used to the acoustics. What is more, I get to be working on the assembly and picnic all day! I don't have to be in class at all. Well, I did tell the teacher who is covering my class 1st period not to get here until 8:00 because I will not be needed until then.

This morning one of my freshman students came to class and there was quite a bit of hubbub surrounding her. I didn't want to be nosy so I didn't pry. But it soon became apparent once the announcement happened. The smallest girl in the class scored the winning goal in double overtime last night to propel Leesville into the State Women's Soccer championship tomorrow night! Very exciting. She is a freshman and stands about 4'11".

Bronson Boots Pride (Newsobserver.com)
Leesville Showing its Soccer Pride (NewsObserver.com)

May 21, 2008 - Stress

This is supposed to be a good week as a Senior Class advisor: Senior Assembly rehersal Thursday (miss 2nd period), Senior Assembly and Senior Picnic Friday (miss ALL day), Memorial Day weekend. Why is there more stress for me this week than almost any other? My 2nd period, that is why. After a couple of instances, especially last Friday's Awards Day Assembly, they have proven to me that they have the potential to be a behavior problem. What is more, I have to create lesson plans for this class, for two days, in such a way that they are busy for the duration.

On top of that, I still have to finalize the Senior gift of a dozen full size (>20') flagpoles to line the fence of the football stadium and have also discovered that the task has just become more difficult. Because the price is more than $2500 I have to have at least three estimates for it to be considered a legitimate bid for the job. I also have to find out about the flags themselves: what size? what design? what colors? Once I have all the orders ready, Dr. Gainey said he would take over from there since there is all kinds of paper work involved in such a large purchase.

In addition, Evan's birthday party is in a week. We still have to make and mail the invitations, I have to get the yard in order, including clearing debris from the trees, removing leaves, adding mulch, mowing the yard, moving a playset over from the neighbor's yard. I also think I have found termites in the yard so I need to get an exterminator out to take a look. I must also resign myself to the fact that the deck is not going to be complete - still no lighting, no electrical, no rails on the stairs (to go along with no permit, and no inspection), but I still need to get it washed and treated. The toilet in the hallway bathroom has been leaking for two years now. Although it is now leaking into the toilet causing it to fill periodically, I mean it is leaking from the tank bolts and onto the floor. It isn't a fast leak, but it is enough to cause rust on the back of the bowl and it is beginning to annoy me. A month or so ago I began the process of painting the kitchen ceiling. I got as far as preparing the ceiling inside the skylight and replacing the molding there, but that is it. The thresholds in the office still need to be completed and I would also like to paint and hang all the doors in the office as well, which includes buying a new door for a portal that did not have one before.

All of this with the end of the school year playing in the background - now that is the most stressful music of them all!

May 19, 2008 - How Far?

In the movie the Untouchables, Malone asks Ness, "How far are you willing to go to win?" I guess the same applies to the last days of school for the semester, and especially the school year. Today I had two students brazenly skip my class, one in second period and another in third. Both students I had seen earlier in the day. One claimed that he arrived to school late, the other said he left early. Mind you, neither of these students have the grades to pass their class and both have always had the potential to be sneaky. As mentioned earlier, the weapons in my arsenal are numerous. A simple greeting is an important weapon. If a teacher sees their student at some point in the day, a simple "good morning" is enough to get them to come to class later because now they know that the teacher has seen them. On the other hand, deliberately withholding a greeting can be just as powerful a weapon. Today, but not saying "good morning" to either student when I saw them in the hall, they thought that I had not seen them. As a result their temptation to skip class was all the greater, and they followed through. Another important tool is location. In the real estate game they say location is everything, the same can be said for teachers. This being my 12 year at my current school, I know all the good locations where to catch students. Not that I know where the students go when they are skipping, but more like where to catch them later on in the day: the bus parking lot. All students who ride the buses exit the building through two doors and filter down to the parking lot via my trailer area. All I simply have to do is step outside to see many of my students, including those who skip my class. This afternoon I caught two, and I let them know as much. They can expect a referral to their Assistant Principal tomorrow.

If there is one thing I cannot tolerate above all else, it is lying. I consider myself a fair and reasonable teacher. I remember a time when I skipped Mr. Posess health class to deal with a girlfriend problem. When I saw him later in the day he confronted me about not being in class. His response was simply if I had told him ahead of time he would not have minded. So, having learned from that experience, I consider myself pretty reasonable. On the other hand, when a student has already proven themselves to be shady, sneaky, maybe even a cheat, then I lose all patience for them. For me, being sneaky, skipping class is akin to lying. Somewhere along the way, the student will fabricate a tale to say where they were. I have zero tolerance for that and will go to great lengths to track that student down and make sure that they are punished for their infraction.

So just like Elliot Ness, I will use any and every legal means within the law to make sure these students do not get away with their sneaky, lying behaviors.

May 18, 2008 - The Fight Begins

In truth, teachers are looking forward to the end of the school year just as much as the students. The main difference is that the teachers are still determined to get the job done while many students have, as we say, "checked out." By "checking out" we mean that mentally, the students are somewhere else. And for those students, the fight begins. It is a difficult fight to keep them focused, or at the very least, keep from being a distraction to the other students who are still trying. The class that gives m the greatest angst normally, is making life even more difficult. The bad news for them is as an experienced, "veteran" teacher, I now have many tricks up my sleeve. Not tricks as in I am going to trick them, but more accurately, weapons in my arsenal, or tools in my shed. They may require a little more work on my part, but I can handle it if it will make my work in he classroom less frustrating. My plan this week is to give them a quiz at the end of the period based on what we did during the period. Is this "tricky?" Now, but perhaps motivation to pay attention and do well on such a quiz in order to boost their grade. We'll see how that goes.

I survived the year anniversary of my "incident" in the class and the resulting reprimand in the Principal's office. What is even more encouraging is that I do not foresee another need for such an incident. I will sit down and do nothing before I allow my passion get the best of me and say something "inappropriate" (and I still do not agree that what I said was inappropriate when students tell me, every time I mention what I said, that other teachers say far worse and nothing ever happens to them!). More good news is that this week will be short one for me. That is, my second period (my biggest headache) will see me two less days: Thursday is the rehearsal for the Senior Assembly, and Friday is the Senior Assembly. Friday is an even bigger bonus since I will not be attending any of my classes in order to be involved in the Senior Assembly that takes place during second period and the Senior Picnic that takes place during third period. I am very excited about that. And once the picnic is over, all that I have to worry about as an advisor for the Senior Class is the Senior Gift (of flagpoles and flags for the stadium) and graduation. I will certainly be glad when this week is over - that is once Thursday is over!

May 13, 2008 - 15 Days to Go

Pretty much an average day. But for this time of year, average is different than any other earlier time. The weather is really turning beautiful, the students are finding it easier to be distracted, so the challenge is on me to keep them focused. I can do it, at the same time, the students have to be willing to cooperate.

I keep a folder for each year that I teach. It includes professional documents, licensure materials, renewal credits, etc. It was suggested by our NCAE representative at our school that we keep all f this sort of documentation at home. She reminded us that if a teacher runs afoul with the school district, they may be legally ordered to not return to school until the matter is settled. If your professional documentation is at school, the teacher will not have access. So I was looking through this year's folder to discover that I have not completed my IGP - Individual Growth Plan. This is a yearly document (hoop through which to jump) the sets out my professional goals. Each year there is usually a school-wide goal. I discovered that I have not yet met that goal and I am pretty confident that when I have my final review with the Assistant principal that he will want to see proof of meeting this important school-wide goal. As a result, I had to carry through with a tentative lesson plan I have been working on which will require time in the media center and probably more intensive grading on my part. Not what I was looking forward to as the year comes to an end.

May 12, 2008 - Downhill Run

As they say, it is all downhill from here. 16 school days until exams (14 for seniors). The last Interim Reports of the school year went out Friday and (most) were returned today. Parents have begun to be concerned about their child's progress. The "Close-of-School" Bulletin has been issued. This is the most pivotal week of the end of the year. This week marks the push the students will make down the stretch. Students on the borderline will either make it or fail based on this week. If they put off the effort they will fail themselves, but if they make that push, they will make the grade. Next week will be too late to turn it on.

Plans for Evan's annual big birthday blowout are (almost) underway. We have ideas for the invitation. We know we still have reserve a "bounce-house". I need to call an electrician to come out and wire the deck so we can finally have lighting, but I am sure I will need to get the permit for the deck before any electrical can be done since electrical work will need to be inspected. I better look into that too. I hope the general rule applies here, "it is better to ask forgiveness than permission," but I doubt it.

Last week a cyclone hit Myanmar resulting in thousands of deaths, and the count continues to rise. It has taken a week before the military government in Myanmar allowed any aid into the country. My guess for the delay is that the government is using this cyclone to retroactively cover up thousands of political executions that it has conducted since its coming to power. They are going to use the cyclone to account for the thousands of political deaths.

May 6, 2008 - Primary Day

I know I wanted to start posting more, but I get so busy with actually living my life that I don't have too much time to write about it, although April was a better month for posting than it had been for a while. Well, May is here and the weather is awesome. My parents were here this past weekend for Brendan's birthday party. It is hard to believe that he is five! What is also harder to believe is the Lightning McQueen balloon from his birthday party last year is still floating in Peter & Katie's dining room. I have never known a balloon to have a 1st birthday!

School is starting to wind down which means the pressure starts to heat up. Many students know that they have to really turn it on to do better but continue to struggle with the temptation to enjoy the nice weather too much. That is, the weather is infectious, the students can think of nothing more than leisure, summer break, hanging out, and definitely not school work. Any struggle I fought earlier this semester was just the warm up to the antics I am going to have to control for the next several weeks. On the other hand, I am determined to do a better job of handling it this year than last. Last year (May 14th to be precise) I allowed my passion to get the best of me and I said something to the class I should not, and I was called out for it (see post May 16, 2007). I know that I am just as passionate, but the bad taste of that event lingers on my tongue, and probably always will. As with most lessons I have learned the hard way at work, I will let students fail before I risk my reputation and credibility to try and motivate them. If there is one lesson I learned it is to not put my career on the line for the sake of my job. That is, I will not say or do anything, regardless of the degree of passion, that will cause me to be called into the Principal's office again. Sounds weird but I learned that the only person truly looking out for me, is me. And if that means allowing students to fall through the cracks, then so be it. I don't want to do that, but I cannot allow myself to get angry or even upset, I must persevere and let the chips fall where they may. Not the attitude you want from a teacher, but what can I say, I have 17 more years at this job, I want to keep it as an option.

Today was the primary election in North Carolina. It has been a long time since the NC primary actually meant something to presidential hopefuls. Since our primary is so late, by this time both parties have usually eliminated all competitors save the one nominee. But this year, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are running close enough where every delegate counts, and it is likely that the Democrat candidate will be decided by the so-called "Super Delegates." (see NPR.org for the low-down on delegate counts, Super Delegate counts, and results state-by-state for both Democrats and Republicans). Evan came with me to the poll today. It is his second election, we voted in 2006. Although there were no Kids Voting ballots for the primary, I allowed Evan to bubble in my sheet for me, the way I told him to. He even put the ballot in the ballot box, he was very excited and proud to wear his "I Voted" sticker for the rest of the day.

Today, Republican hopeful, John McCain came down on Senator Obama for voting against the appointment of Chief Justice John Roberts. To me it sounds like McCain is courting the Court, just in case he needs them to decide the election like Bush in 2000.