"On the Line"- Day 27

Been on the line about how aggressive to be with a job opportunity.  I think the interview went well, but I know I won't get it, and realize I am ok with it, because I have an ethical problem with the way parts of the program operate (in the most simple form, I want to teach students, not appease parents).  I am on the line as to just email the principal and say thanks but withdraw my name, or wait and see then tell her, or just shut up.  I kind of called them out on it in the interview and they looked a bit surprised and one got defensive.  I stopped before I said, "Let me be clear...you need a good teacher, I already have a good teaching job...so good luck...".  & if the long shot happens and it gets offered I will be vocal to the principal about this (I don't think she disagreed with me) before I would ever say yes.  Probably didn't help that the day before my ILT just rocked it and I was still on a high...just keeping options open!

"Something Changed"- Day 21

What a timely topic as teachers and children all over the east coast area  head to school on "Easter Monday" for probably the first time ever since I was even a student myself...something changed because of too many snow days... and I count down 35 days left and just breathe.  Then I think of the Boston Marathon today and what the families of the victims from last year must feel today, something unimaginable changed, and I realize I am lucky we are all here to go to school today, and I hope it is a peaceful day for all.  

Day 7- "Life's Work..."

I was one of the few who yesterday advocated for going to school in cold temps as long as we had heat, because our kids were better off there since they would get two meals, and be safe and warm.  Well...we went.  And they got two meals, one served rapidly.  Why?  Because we were one of four schools in the county with no heat.  I can live with that error, even if they knew before our start time.  What is not ok is that our kids were there until 12:15 and we weren't told until 11:45 that is when it would happen.  IT. WAS. COLD.  Our students and teachers persevered and smiled and kept the best attitudes they could.  I watched a teacher walking a class down the hall ask if we had a coat that would fit one of her students, and that student had a coat before she got to her destination.  I question why it took that many hours- that wasn't fair to students or teachers, and falls on central office.  The kids were safe, and we did our best...not quite as planned but people in the building were part of the solution, not part of the problem. Behind the scenes people scurried to move materials and alter lessons so that students could keep going; everyone engaged in "other duties as assigned.  People kept a sense of humor.   As a teacher, this is our life's work...we do it all for our kids, on good days and hard days, planned and unplanned, whatever it takes.  

I have my other life's work though...my family.  Today, cold temps below zero or not, was a chemo day for my stepson.  Had there been no school that is where I would have gone.  His life literally depended on him going out in this weather, and we are grateful he has a hospital that is so phenomenal for his treatment.  

Then, there is my son- he came down in purple today, rare as a Redskins fan, a lone Ravens jersey I got on clearance a while back, and explained to me that his friend had asked them to wear purple today because his cousin had died, and it was in her honor.  I shortly found out that she was an Urbana student with a brother at UHS.  You can read more about her here:  http://www.keeneybasford.com/sitemaker/sites/KEENEY1/obit.cgi?page=services&user_id=1209643.


I realize more than ever how lucky we were today that our biggest problem was no heat and limited electricity- every one of our students made it home safely, and Liz's family would give anything for her to come home tonight.  My stepson got treatment he needed, and Liz's family would give anything to have had that opportunity to find something to save her life.  My life's work is far from over, and changing every day.  I am just so very proud to be a part of the team I am part of at work, and a part of this family we have grown.  We can't be 100% all of the time, but we can give 100% to what we are working with.  The compassion I saw today all around is humbling to say the least.

“You can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count.” - Winnie the Pooh

Frost- Day 6

Timely topic in the mid-Atlantic: FROST.  Tomorrow they are calling for wind chill 15-25 degrees below zero; in my 45 years here that has never happened that I remember.  All of a sudden regular old 34 degree frosty mornings don't look so bad anymore!  To go to school or not?  Some systems have cancelled, some are saying they are open regardless, others are holding TBD in the morning.  Schools in the area have already closed for 2" of snow this year, melted by 10:30 a.m. and everyone out holiday shopping by 11. Twice that a 2-hour delay would have sufficed. Now people are up in arms that we are going in negative weather.  It is January 6 and we will have used all of our "weather emergency" days by tomorrow...and you know what I want to say to these people?  Be grateful you have a good educational system with teachers who will be there ready to greet your children.  Be grateful if you are on social media because it probably means you can read, write, and that you have electricity and money for a device...which probably means you also have a home.  Most likely you are writing this as you prepare or eat dinner of your choice, and if you do get a freebie day off tomorrow you will be snuggled warm in your pjs watching tv, reading, or doing whatever it is you like to do. Many will probably even be out and about.  You won't be lined up for food somewhere, or hoping there is a room at the shelter and being told no.  Yes, it will suck to go out in that weather, but I bet everyone complaining has their choice of warm clothing and the option to drive kids to school so they don't have to walk or wait at the bus stop; many probably have the option to just take the day off and keep the kids home.  So, at the risk of sounding preachy, because I know I am being so, take a moment to think about what you have, because I work in a school that is 72% FARMS and I can't say I believe those kids aren't better off in school where there is heat, breakfast, lunch, and teachers who care (& please don't make negative comments about their situation, they didn't put themselves there). Their parents don't have to worry about feeding them with food they don't have or figuring out who will stay with them, and I can tell you often that answer is no one, it is "lock the door until I get home."  I know they don't all have coats, gloves and hats, and if there is one reason I don't want there to be school that is why, because they will have to wait for the bus.   Be grateful if you have a car to scrape frost off of, and a working defroster to help you; you don't have to wait at a bus stop to get to a minimal wage job because your family depends on you. I promise you that a day will come that you will wish your biggest problem was horrific wind chill.  I love a day off no less than everyone else, but sometimes you just need to dress warm, suck it up, and smile sunshine to all those around you.  Wishing you peace, love and somewhere warm to spend the day tomorrow!

Photo from bing images.