I've been deferring this post long enough. So long that you may want to revisit my original post on Jake LaMatta that goes back to April.
Once we were informed that the decision to allow Jake to return to our school was final our immediate thought was student safety. From my view at the back of the room I began to scan my sector. By the way that is a little bit of military lingo. BaseG and I agreed that the area with the most potential to have an injury occur was by the computers. As a reminder if our scholars perform well they earn computer time to play games. These devices are like giant magnets that all day long tug at them so to finally get there is nirvana to them. The problem is we will now have seven scholars and three computers so tempers rise quickly as everyone rushes to get a computer. Our first target is to move a desk and chair that sits by the computers as it has already been pushed around by angry scholars. The last thing we need is for someone to ram the desk into a computer stand and worse yet a computer stand with a scholar sitting at hit. This is a big metal desk and in order to move it I had to remove it's contents and then slide it all the way across the room. We then scanned the computer area for any objects that could be used as projectiles and removed them. Our next target was a table on the opposite side of the room. Like the desk it has been moved and slammed into the wall previously so we completely removed it from the room. Our final objective was the placement of Jake's desk and chair. We decide to put him in the front left side of the room. This puts him between us so if he goes into eruption we can close in on him from both sides and hopefully keep him and everyone else safe. I suspect someone may think we are overreacting so let me tell you this. At his previous school Jake got so angry that he forced open a classroom door so hard he bent the door frame.
We are now prepared for Jack's return. By the way because of past behavioral issues Jake only goes to school in the morning. Also he is only in school for two hours as he resides outside our school boundaries and special bus arrangements were made to get him to our school.
Day One - Monday
I was out of the classroom on Jake's first day. Because of the type of scholars we have we are supposed to have two adult school staff members in the classroom all day. With me gone Jake spent his day in the front office near The Big B.
Day Two - Tuesday
Today we began Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) testing for our scholars. This is a reading test that is administered both at the beginning of the school year and the end of the school year. Ideally a scholar should score higher on the year end test than the beginning of the year test. BaseG takes the scholars one at a time to the school computer lab to administer the test and I stay in the classroom with the other scholars. The first scholar headed to the computer lab at approximately 9:30am which in hind site was an error as Jake arrived at 10:00am with only me in the classroom. What made this particularly stressful was the fact that the scholars were about to earn good behavior choice time on the computers. When I told them they earned choice time they headed for the computers with Jake one of the first to arrive. Now I have to make a decision about Jake remaining at the computer as he did not do any work to earn computer priviledges. My memory bank opened reminding me that one of the most volatile eruptions Jake had when he was here at our school last year was over lost computer priviledges. His eruption was so intense it was the only time I was concerned about my safety and recalled my training on where to position myself when dealing with aggressive scholars. Knowing this I chose to let Jake stay at the computer for the safety of everyone in the room. Jake had a good day so his first in the school room day was a success.
Day Three - Wednesday
SRI continues and today Jake takes the test. As with the other scholars BaseG takes Jake to the computer lab and I stay in the room. When BaseG and I are separated we use texting on our cell phones to communicate. I know that is not the ideal situation but for us it works well and is quick. I always keep my cell in my pocket and on vibrate. That works well while I'm seated. Unfortunately when BaseG sent his text message from the computer lab I was standing and didn't feel the vibration. Unexpectedly Jake enters the room and I knew he was near an eruption. His eyes were squinted nearly shut, his hands were closed into a fist and he looked very tense. I immediately got all our scholars attention and told them to leave the room quickly and go to our safe spot. As the scholars were leaving BaseG entered the room and said didn't you get my text message. I take the cell phone out of my pocket and the message read lock the door and don't let him in the room. To late.
Wednesday was Jake's last day in our classroom. He is going to a status called homebound which requires a teacher to go to his house after school hours and work with him. From there he will go to a school for scholars with aggressive behavior issues. To this day I wonder how such a young person could have so many different emotional issues and take such high doses of medication to control his anger. Yes I said so many. His issues are listed in his Individual Education Plan (IEP) and if you saw them your reaction would be are you serious which is what I said. On Thursday morning BaseG and I talked about Jake and we both agreed we could have helped him. At the same time we both knew that the most important consideration in the decision making process was the safety of our scholars. Going forth we know the right decision was made and Jake would be heading to his fifth school in two years. Jake is in a tough situation and it makes me sad so I'm going to stop now and say a prayer for Jake. I'm asking you to do the same and hopefully you will.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
I've Decided and I'm Going To Go
First things first. This in not a school story so one of you can relax.
One this Memorial Day weekend there is a real nice article about an organization called Indy Honor Flight in The Indianapolis Star. This organization is located in Mooresville, Indiana and seeks donations so that they can cover all travel expenses so that older veterans who don't have the means can travel to Washington, D.C. to see there respective war memorial. The picture that accompanies this article is of a World War II veteran who is sitting at his memorial. Engraved in what looks like granite it reads Anzio, Rome and Po Valley which is where he fought for three years. It's an impressive picture but at the same time sad. There are three members of the greatest generation in this picture and you can tell they have aged. All are in strollers and are easily in there nineties.
As I was reading the article and looking at the picture my Dad came to mind. He died at a young age just forty five so I have few memories of him as I was only ten. What I do know is that he is a member of the greatest generation as he fought in World War II with the First Infantry Division. I know that because I've seen pictures of him in Europe in a uniform that had an arm patch on it. The patch looked like a shield and had a large one in the center of it. I also know this about my Dad he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. If he was alive today he'd be ninety eight. If he was alive I don't know if he would have been interested in making the trip to his memorial but after looking at the picture in the paper I decide I'm going to go to his memorial. Given the prominence of the Battle of the Bulge I'm certain that I will find the name engraved in granite just like Angio, Rome and Po Valley. When I find it I'm going to say to my Dad thank you for serving our country. I never got to say that to him when he was alive.
After paying my respects to the greatest generation I think I'll put my hat on and take a little stroll across the mall. My destination will be that black wall with the gray names engraved in it that is the shape of an obtuse angle. When I get there I'll take my hat off and thank God again that I can home alive and then say a prayer for the fifty four thousand plus that didn't. I suspect it will be an emotional time for me.
One this Memorial Day weekend there is a real nice article about an organization called Indy Honor Flight in The Indianapolis Star. This organization is located in Mooresville, Indiana and seeks donations so that they can cover all travel expenses so that older veterans who don't have the means can travel to Washington, D.C. to see there respective war memorial. The picture that accompanies this article is of a World War II veteran who is sitting at his memorial. Engraved in what looks like granite it reads Anzio, Rome and Po Valley which is where he fought for three years. It's an impressive picture but at the same time sad. There are three members of the greatest generation in this picture and you can tell they have aged. All are in strollers and are easily in there nineties.
As I was reading the article and looking at the picture my Dad came to mind. He died at a young age just forty five so I have few memories of him as I was only ten. What I do know is that he is a member of the greatest generation as he fought in World War II with the First Infantry Division. I know that because I've seen pictures of him in Europe in a uniform that had an arm patch on it. The patch looked like a shield and had a large one in the center of it. I also know this about my Dad he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. If he was alive today he'd be ninety eight. If he was alive I don't know if he would have been interested in making the trip to his memorial but after looking at the picture in the paper I decide I'm going to go to his memorial. Given the prominence of the Battle of the Bulge I'm certain that I will find the name engraved in granite just like Angio, Rome and Po Valley. When I find it I'm going to say to my Dad thank you for serving our country. I never got to say that to him when he was alive.
After paying my respects to the greatest generation I think I'll put my hat on and take a little stroll across the mall. My destination will be that black wall with the gray names engraved in it that is the shape of an obtuse angle. When I get there I'll take my hat off and thank God again that I can home alive and then say a prayer for the fifty four thousand plus that didn't. I suspect it will be an emotional time for me.
Friday, May 23, 2014
I Miss My Friend
First it was the hump day from Hell. Now we are looking at the whole week from Hell. Man there must be something in the water or there is a full moon or prescribed medication is failing because these scholars are really in the bizarro world. How bizarre you ask. Two more scholars were suspended today. One of them was so loud the classroom above us heard the noise. When it gets this animated that is when I wish Gee was still with us as he would be a great help.
As a reminder Gee took a staff and coaching position at his high school alma mater and I'm really excited for him but geez I wish he was still around for a number of reasons. First if a scholar was having a rough day we could send him up to see Gee which served as a nice timeout for the scholar and kept the scholar from going into a total eruption. Second I miss passing him in the hallways. We both have difficult jobs that can just beat you down but passing each other in the hallway usually caused us to smile and/or outright laugh. Third and most important I miss our chats in the car. Every now and then I'd give Gee either a ride to school in the morning or a ride from school to football practice in the afternoon. While in the car we'd just talk. Nothing real serious just talking and laughing. I miss that. No I miss that a lot.
Maybe he'll check the blog and text me and say hey man can I catch a ride.
As a reminder Gee took a staff and coaching position at his high school alma mater and I'm really excited for him but geez I wish he was still around for a number of reasons. First if a scholar was having a rough day we could send him up to see Gee which served as a nice timeout for the scholar and kept the scholar from going into a total eruption. Second I miss passing him in the hallways. We both have difficult jobs that can just beat you down but passing each other in the hallway usually caused us to smile and/or outright laugh. Third and most important I miss our chats in the car. Every now and then I'd give Gee either a ride to school in the morning or a ride from school to football practice in the afternoon. While in the car we'd just talk. Nothing real serious just talking and laughing. I miss that. No I miss that a lot.
Maybe he'll check the blog and text me and say hey man can I catch a ride.
The Hump Day From Hell
A little background before we get started.
Monday May 19th - The Collector suspended for kicking a teacher.
Monday May 19th - Straw suspended for multiple violations mostly due to a parental unit failure. See commentary from May 16th in the KABOOM post.
Tuesday May 20th - The Collector still suspended. See Above.
Tuesday May 20th - Straw had a near perfect day as parental unit finally fulfilled their duties.
Wednesday May 21st
The Collector who is now off suspension fails to show up. That is an unexcused absence. Yo! Fails to show up. I believe he has again been suspended from the bus for disruptive behavior and apparently his parental unit decided not to drive him to school. That is an unexcused absence. BaseG and I are nearly doing cartwheels as we are down two scholars and we appear to be headed for a normal day. Ya right.
We get word that Floss had a bus incident and he is standing next to the bus kicking his backpack around. Eventually he arrives in the classroom and gives us his introductory speech. Shut up and leave me alone. A couple minutes later Straw makes his arrival. He is a bit animated. Not good. BaseG and I make eye contact and without saying a word we are thinking to ourselves no medication. CorP and EM show up and the day is about to begin. We recite the Pledge of Allegiance, recite the school motto and listen to morning announcements. Then it starts. Straw speaking. Mr. Schultz can you go get me some french toast. Sorry but if I go get breakfast I have to pay for it. Besides you have cereal, a graham cracker, orange juice and milk. Straw speaking loudly. I want french toast as a carton of orange juice comes flying across the front of my desk. Another scholar picks up the carton of juice and is taking it to the front of the room. Straw speaking. Give me my orange juice you..... BaseG is the first to respond. There will be no racist comments made in this classroom. Fortunately the incident died down but not for long. A short while later Floss and Straw are on the same side of the room. I didn't see what happened or hear what was said but I loudly hear Floss say don't hit me again. I'm up and moving but I'm not quick enough. Floss shoved Straw hard enough that he hit the floor. I have Floss and I'm guiding him to the opposite side of the room and BaseG is attending to Straw who is crying on the floor. It's pretty tense but we catch a break as it is lunch time.
Lunch is over but there was a lunch incident. The matter was discussed with the scholars in the classroom and then I take everyone outside for recess. We survive recess without incident and head back to the classroom to prepare for PhD? Sparty's Wednesday group social skills session.
Group starts off well as everyone is seated at the front table. Unfortunately Straw is seated next to Floss. That is not a good situation but we catch another break as Straw leaves the front table and sits down next to me in the back of the room. PhD? Sparty asks Straw to rejoin the group but he responds I'm not sitting next to the person in the light blue shirt. That person is Floss. There is no response from Floss but I can feel the early ground tremors of a volcano eruption. Within minutes the first eruption occurs. Floss yells loudly NO. PhD? Sparty tries to move forward with group. No! No! No!. Group in the classroom is adjourned and will reconvene in PhD? Sparty's office.
Floss is now in full eruption. There are seventeen chairs in the classroom. He has knocked over everyone of them. Some he picked up and slammed into other chairs or desks. There are seven scholar desks and he tipped the contents of them onto the floor and then knocked them over. At one point he grabbed a desk by the legs and started swinging it into other desks and chairs. BaseG and I are observing. So far Floss is not in danger of hurting himself or us so we do nothing. Approximately fifteen minutes pass and he is starting to wind down. Finally he sits in an alcove in the front of the room and all is quiet. We wait a few minutes and then BaseG addresses Floss. Are you settled down? Yes. Good now please put my room back together. He gets up and slowly places every piece of furniture back in it's original position.
This was a tough day. Eruptions started before the morning school bell rang and lasted until there was only fifteen minutes left in the school day. This who episode should not have happened. Why? First a parental unit once again failed to administer medicine to his scholar. Second at mid morning the parental unit was called and asked to come and get his scholar and take him home. The parental unit agreed to come and get him but never showed up. Third if the parental unit would have showed up and took his scholar home the entire episode with Floss would not have happened.
Several posts ago I mentioned the informal contract between the teacher and the parental unit to work together as a team so our scholars get the best education possible. Sadly once again a parental unit failed to perform their duties and face no consequences for their actions. The teacher on the other hand will face the consequences if any scholar does poorly on any of the state mandated tests. Please keep this in mind the next time you enter into a conversation with a family member, friend or coworker who is criticizing the quality of the teachers in the metropolitan area of Indianapolis. As you are learning most people who are critical of teachers have never sat in the back of the room like I do. So the next time someone goes into a tirade directed at teachers please give them my blog URL so I can set them straight.
Monday May 19th - The Collector suspended for kicking a teacher.
Monday May 19th - Straw suspended for multiple violations mostly due to a parental unit failure. See commentary from May 16th in the KABOOM post.
Tuesday May 20th - The Collector still suspended. See Above.
Tuesday May 20th - Straw had a near perfect day as parental unit finally fulfilled their duties.
Wednesday May 21st
The Collector who is now off suspension fails to show up. That is an unexcused absence. Yo! Fails to show up. I believe he has again been suspended from the bus for disruptive behavior and apparently his parental unit decided not to drive him to school. That is an unexcused absence. BaseG and I are nearly doing cartwheels as we are down two scholars and we appear to be headed for a normal day. Ya right.
We get word that Floss had a bus incident and he is standing next to the bus kicking his backpack around. Eventually he arrives in the classroom and gives us his introductory speech. Shut up and leave me alone. A couple minutes later Straw makes his arrival. He is a bit animated. Not good. BaseG and I make eye contact and without saying a word we are thinking to ourselves no medication. CorP and EM show up and the day is about to begin. We recite the Pledge of Allegiance, recite the school motto and listen to morning announcements. Then it starts. Straw speaking. Mr. Schultz can you go get me some french toast. Sorry but if I go get breakfast I have to pay for it. Besides you have cereal, a graham cracker, orange juice and milk. Straw speaking loudly. I want french toast as a carton of orange juice comes flying across the front of my desk. Another scholar picks up the carton of juice and is taking it to the front of the room. Straw speaking. Give me my orange juice you..... BaseG is the first to respond. There will be no racist comments made in this classroom. Fortunately the incident died down but not for long. A short while later Floss and Straw are on the same side of the room. I didn't see what happened or hear what was said but I loudly hear Floss say don't hit me again. I'm up and moving but I'm not quick enough. Floss shoved Straw hard enough that he hit the floor. I have Floss and I'm guiding him to the opposite side of the room and BaseG is attending to Straw who is crying on the floor. It's pretty tense but we catch a break as it is lunch time.
Lunch is over but there was a lunch incident. The matter was discussed with the scholars in the classroom and then I take everyone outside for recess. We survive recess without incident and head back to the classroom to prepare for PhD? Sparty's Wednesday group social skills session.
Group starts off well as everyone is seated at the front table. Unfortunately Straw is seated next to Floss. That is not a good situation but we catch another break as Straw leaves the front table and sits down next to me in the back of the room. PhD? Sparty asks Straw to rejoin the group but he responds I'm not sitting next to the person in the light blue shirt. That person is Floss. There is no response from Floss but I can feel the early ground tremors of a volcano eruption. Within minutes the first eruption occurs. Floss yells loudly NO. PhD? Sparty tries to move forward with group. No! No! No!. Group in the classroom is adjourned and will reconvene in PhD? Sparty's office.
Floss is now in full eruption. There are seventeen chairs in the classroom. He has knocked over everyone of them. Some he picked up and slammed into other chairs or desks. There are seven scholar desks and he tipped the contents of them onto the floor and then knocked them over. At one point he grabbed a desk by the legs and started swinging it into other desks and chairs. BaseG and I are observing. So far Floss is not in danger of hurting himself or us so we do nothing. Approximately fifteen minutes pass and he is starting to wind down. Finally he sits in an alcove in the front of the room and all is quiet. We wait a few minutes and then BaseG addresses Floss. Are you settled down? Yes. Good now please put my room back together. He gets up and slowly places every piece of furniture back in it's original position.
This was a tough day. Eruptions started before the morning school bell rang and lasted until there was only fifteen minutes left in the school day. This who episode should not have happened. Why? First a parental unit once again failed to administer medicine to his scholar. Second at mid morning the parental unit was called and asked to come and get his scholar and take him home. The parental unit agreed to come and get him but never showed up. Third if the parental unit would have showed up and took his scholar home the entire episode with Floss would not have happened.
Several posts ago I mentioned the informal contract between the teacher and the parental unit to work together as a team so our scholars get the best education possible. Sadly once again a parental unit failed to perform their duties and face no consequences for their actions. The teacher on the other hand will face the consequences if any scholar does poorly on any of the state mandated tests. Please keep this in mind the next time you enter into a conversation with a family member, friend or coworker who is criticizing the quality of the teachers in the metropolitan area of Indianapolis. As you are learning most people who are critical of teachers have never sat in the back of the room like I do. So the next time someone goes into a tirade directed at teachers please give them my blog URL so I can set them straight.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
The KABOOM Has Been Removed From the Room
Friday, May 16th was not one of our stellar days. Bickering over computer usage was escalating. As a reminder we have three computers and six scholars. Sharing computers is not happening as it should. I'm not sharing with him. Why should I share with him he never shares with me. I'll share with him but were only going to do what I want to do. I'll share with you but you are only allowed to watch what I want to watch. I believe that is enough for you to understand what is going on. If not addressed properly there will be an explosion. KABOOM!
Adding to the intensity of the day is The Collector. In addition to his irritation with having to get off the computer there was a cafeteria incident. At lunch time I take the scholars to the cafeteria. Once we arrive at the cafeteria door I transition the scholars to a cafeteria monitor that is one of the teachers. During the transfer all was quiet. I also pick up the scholars after lunch and return to the classroom. Picking them up after lunch is an entertaining process as it is a tattletale extravaganza. He said this. No I didn't you did this. Not me I didn't do anything. My normal reply to all this nonsense is what's your point. That statement must really confused them because I rarely get a response. Now that it is quiet I take head count. We are short one. Where is The Collector I ask? He left the cafeteria early. That is not a good thing. As we enter the classroom BaseG is near the door. He is directing the scholars around The Collector who is sitting at his desk. Apparently something went wrong in the cafeteria as The Collector threw an object at a teacher and then kicked her in the leg. Obviously that is not a good thing as The Collector just lost his computer privileges for the remainder of the day and further corrective measures are probably forthcoming. I decide to think of the positives from this unfortunate event. We now only have five scholars to bicker about using the three computers.
In the midst of all the computer bickering and the cafeteria incident we are now into day three of a parental unit failing to refill a scholars prescription. If your memory serves you well you will recall what PhD? Sparty said about a lack of medication. The longer a scholar goes without medication the more agitated and disruptive he becomes. Well Straw has been off medication for day three and he is now off the hook. His first target was BaseG and then me. Obscene language, threatens to hit us, flips us off at various times of the day. This is cause for concern and discussions about appropriate behave take place. Unfortunately the language and threats continued but are now directed at the other scholars. Now safety of the scholars comes to the forefront and Straw is placed in the timeout room and the parental unit is called to come and get him. Sorry but it is not over. While in the time out room shoes are removed and are being thrown at the ceiling lights. The shoes were removed from the room. Then the belt comes off and it is used as a whip with the bucket hitting the window. The belt was removed from the room. Finally the parental unit arrives and Straw is departing. Prior to exiting the parental unit assures us that she will talk to him about his behavior when they get home. So you know when Straw takes his medication he can go an entire day and you'd hardly know he was in the room. Knowing this I'd like to say to his parental unit that there wouldn't be any behavioral issues if you just gave him his medication but I can't as I could lose my job.
As I said at the very beginning of my blog our scholars have emotional disabilities with controlling their anger being there biggest challenge. We know this and deal with it as best we can. What is really bothersome right now is the continuing escalation of the bickering over computer usage. At some point in the near future there will be a blowup. For the safety of our scholars we have decide to remove the KABOOM from the room by removing the computers.
From the scholars perspective computer usage is the pot at the end of the rainbow so I suspect that Monday morning is going to be real interesting once they realize the computers are gone.
Adding to the intensity of the day is The Collector. In addition to his irritation with having to get off the computer there was a cafeteria incident. At lunch time I take the scholars to the cafeteria. Once we arrive at the cafeteria door I transition the scholars to a cafeteria monitor that is one of the teachers. During the transfer all was quiet. I also pick up the scholars after lunch and return to the classroom. Picking them up after lunch is an entertaining process as it is a tattletale extravaganza. He said this. No I didn't you did this. Not me I didn't do anything. My normal reply to all this nonsense is what's your point. That statement must really confused them because I rarely get a response. Now that it is quiet I take head count. We are short one. Where is The Collector I ask? He left the cafeteria early. That is not a good thing. As we enter the classroom BaseG is near the door. He is directing the scholars around The Collector who is sitting at his desk. Apparently something went wrong in the cafeteria as The Collector threw an object at a teacher and then kicked her in the leg. Obviously that is not a good thing as The Collector just lost his computer privileges for the remainder of the day and further corrective measures are probably forthcoming. I decide to think of the positives from this unfortunate event. We now only have five scholars to bicker about using the three computers.
In the midst of all the computer bickering and the cafeteria incident we are now into day three of a parental unit failing to refill a scholars prescription. If your memory serves you well you will recall what PhD? Sparty said about a lack of medication. The longer a scholar goes without medication the more agitated and disruptive he becomes. Well Straw has been off medication for day three and he is now off the hook. His first target was BaseG and then me. Obscene language, threatens to hit us, flips us off at various times of the day. This is cause for concern and discussions about appropriate behave take place. Unfortunately the language and threats continued but are now directed at the other scholars. Now safety of the scholars comes to the forefront and Straw is placed in the timeout room and the parental unit is called to come and get him. Sorry but it is not over. While in the time out room shoes are removed and are being thrown at the ceiling lights. The shoes were removed from the room. Then the belt comes off and it is used as a whip with the bucket hitting the window. The belt was removed from the room. Finally the parental unit arrives and Straw is departing. Prior to exiting the parental unit assures us that she will talk to him about his behavior when they get home. So you know when Straw takes his medication he can go an entire day and you'd hardly know he was in the room. Knowing this I'd like to say to his parental unit that there wouldn't be any behavioral issues if you just gave him his medication but I can't as I could lose my job.
As I said at the very beginning of my blog our scholars have emotional disabilities with controlling their anger being there biggest challenge. We know this and deal with it as best we can. What is really bothersome right now is the continuing escalation of the bickering over computer usage. At some point in the near future there will be a blowup. For the safety of our scholars we have decide to remove the KABOOM from the room by removing the computers.
From the scholars perspective computer usage is the pot at the end of the rainbow so I suspect that Monday morning is going to be real interesting once they realize the computers are gone.
Friday, May 16, 2014
It's Just A Graham Cracker
Yo! How did you manage to get suspended from the bus for two days, throw a graham cracker at the cafeteria lady, trash the classroom and have your parental unit come to school to take you home all by 10:15am? We've had some bad days in our classroom but this takes the cake. In case you are not aware you just read an idiom. And they say you can't teach and old dog new tricks.
Our cafeteria choices for breakfast remind me of one of my favorite adult beverage destinations in New York City. Located on East 7th Street in what I believe is the Bowery neighborhood is a place called McSorley's Old Ale House. McSorley's is the oldest Irish bar in NYC. On my first visit my daughter explained the beer choices. There are two she said either light or dark. Don't ask for a beer by brand name. Don't ask for a list of either craft beers or microbrews. You have two choices, light or dark. Ok, I got it. Barkeep I'll have a light. A short time passes and the barkeep returns with two mugs of light beer. Two? Hmmm! I take my daughter's advice and keep my mouth shut pay the man and head to our table. Sorry Dad I forgot to tell you that if you order a beer you get two because the mugs are small.
Like McSorley's our cafeteria has only two breakfast choices hot or cold. There is also a food rule that has consequences if you break it. At no time can you mix the two. If you chose one hot item in combination with a cold item you break the rule. You only have one option either hot or cold. There are a lot of things I like about our school but this cafeteria rule is not one of them.
Eighty nine percent of our scholars are eligible for free or reduced price meals. That is a pretty high percentage so scholars coming to school hungry because the didn't have breakfast at home is fairly common. We have two scholars EM and Jake LaMatta that even after eating breakfast at school are still hungry. If any of our five other scholars have uneaten food one of these two scholars will immediately ask for it. Jake LaMatta got a package of grapes from a scholar the other day. He rapidly ate the grapes and then proceeded to lick the inside of the package to get all the juice. When you see stuff like this you wonder why a scholar who selected a hot item plus a gram cracker would be told you can't have that graham cracker with the hot item so put it back. The scholar is hungry and the cafeteria personnel decide to enforce the stupid rule about hot and cold items is just dumb.
So you can get an idea on how dumb this rule is I'm going to walk you through the cafeteria breakfast tray line. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it there is no tray. In fact the scholars don't even eat breakfast in the cafeteria. They have to carry their selected food items in their hands to their classroom. Here is a sample breakfast menu. The hot item is a cinnamon Texas toast and the cold item is cereal and graham cracker. As you enter the tray line you see the drinks. There is milk in one section and juice in another. You can have one of each. No, you can't have two of one item and none of the other. That is against the rule. You also have to take one of each. If you don't take any that is against the rule. Next is the hot item which is held in a wax paper like container sealed in clear plastic. It is now decision time. Do you want the hot item or do you want the cold item. Remember it is against the rule to mix hot and cold. It is also against the rules to select none of the above. You have to choose one. Today you select the hot item and move on to the final stop where you pick up your spork, straw and napkin which is also wrapped in plastic. As you exit the tray line there is a table on your left hand side. Any food item that you were required to take but you don't want you can place on this table. So if you took the hot item and would like to have a graham cracker and one is on this table you can take it. Now you are happy as you have a hot item plus the graham cracker you were not allowed to touch twenty feet back in the tray line. It gets even better. If you are really hungry you can take anything you want from this discard table. Want a second juice or milk no problem. Want a second hot item no problem. Want a box of cereal with a graham cracker no problem. You can eat as much as you want from this table but you just can't eat what you want when passing through the tray line.
I had dinner recently with two good friends. They were passing through Indianapolis on their way to
see Dorothy and Toto in Kansas. One of my friends was a school principal and the other one was one of those hoity toity school superintendents. You know the type. Personal driver to transport him from school to school and an office that is the size of a tennis court. In hindsight I wished I'd asked them about their school tray line procedures. Oh well maybe the next time I see them we can discuss the matter.
By the way I informed them about my blog. I also hinted that the should be careful about what they say to an old man who has a view from the back of the room because it my end up in my blog.
Our cafeteria choices for breakfast remind me of one of my favorite adult beverage destinations in New York City. Located on East 7th Street in what I believe is the Bowery neighborhood is a place called McSorley's Old Ale House. McSorley's is the oldest Irish bar in NYC. On my first visit my daughter explained the beer choices. There are two she said either light or dark. Don't ask for a beer by brand name. Don't ask for a list of either craft beers or microbrews. You have two choices, light or dark. Ok, I got it. Barkeep I'll have a light. A short time passes and the barkeep returns with two mugs of light beer. Two? Hmmm! I take my daughter's advice and keep my mouth shut pay the man and head to our table. Sorry Dad I forgot to tell you that if you order a beer you get two because the mugs are small.
Like McSorley's our cafeteria has only two breakfast choices hot or cold. There is also a food rule that has consequences if you break it. At no time can you mix the two. If you chose one hot item in combination with a cold item you break the rule. You only have one option either hot or cold. There are a lot of things I like about our school but this cafeteria rule is not one of them.
Eighty nine percent of our scholars are eligible for free or reduced price meals. That is a pretty high percentage so scholars coming to school hungry because the didn't have breakfast at home is fairly common. We have two scholars EM and Jake LaMatta that even after eating breakfast at school are still hungry. If any of our five other scholars have uneaten food one of these two scholars will immediately ask for it. Jake LaMatta got a package of grapes from a scholar the other day. He rapidly ate the grapes and then proceeded to lick the inside of the package to get all the juice. When you see stuff like this you wonder why a scholar who selected a hot item plus a gram cracker would be told you can't have that graham cracker with the hot item so put it back. The scholar is hungry and the cafeteria personnel decide to enforce the stupid rule about hot and cold items is just dumb.
So you can get an idea on how dumb this rule is I'm going to walk you through the cafeteria breakfast tray line. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it there is no tray. In fact the scholars don't even eat breakfast in the cafeteria. They have to carry their selected food items in their hands to their classroom. Here is a sample breakfast menu. The hot item is a cinnamon Texas toast and the cold item is cereal and graham cracker. As you enter the tray line you see the drinks. There is milk in one section and juice in another. You can have one of each. No, you can't have two of one item and none of the other. That is against the rule. You also have to take one of each. If you don't take any that is against the rule. Next is the hot item which is held in a wax paper like container sealed in clear plastic. It is now decision time. Do you want the hot item or do you want the cold item. Remember it is against the rule to mix hot and cold. It is also against the rules to select none of the above. You have to choose one. Today you select the hot item and move on to the final stop where you pick up your spork, straw and napkin which is also wrapped in plastic. As you exit the tray line there is a table on your left hand side. Any food item that you were required to take but you don't want you can place on this table. So if you took the hot item and would like to have a graham cracker and one is on this table you can take it. Now you are happy as you have a hot item plus the graham cracker you were not allowed to touch twenty feet back in the tray line. It gets even better. If you are really hungry you can take anything you want from this discard table. Want a second juice or milk no problem. Want a second hot item no problem. Want a box of cereal with a graham cracker no problem. You can eat as much as you want from this table but you just can't eat what you want when passing through the tray line.
I had dinner recently with two good friends. They were passing through Indianapolis on their way to
see Dorothy and Toto in Kansas. One of my friends was a school principal and the other one was one of those hoity toity school superintendents. You know the type. Personal driver to transport him from school to school and an office that is the size of a tennis court. In hindsight I wished I'd asked them about their school tray line procedures. Oh well maybe the next time I see them we can discuss the matter.
By the way I informed them about my blog. I also hinted that the should be careful about what they say to an old man who has a view from the back of the room because it my end up in my blog.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Dear Mr. Schultz What and The Hell Were You Thinking
From the very beginning of my blog I wanted to share with anyone willing to take the time to read what I wrote true events that I've observed from my view at the back of the room. Some of the events have been funny to write about some have been frustrating and some have been pretty sad. The event I'm about to tell you about happened due to just plain stupidity. On Monday at approximately 11:15am I hit the window in our time out room so hard with my hand that I cracked the glass. Fortunately this is a wire meshed glass so pieces of glass didn't go flying every. As soon as I saw the glass crack I thought to myself why and the hell did you do something so stupid. BaseG was out of the room doing ISTEP testing and one of our scholars got upset about doing academic work and lost his temper. The scholar entered the room himself but because he was so angry I decided to block the door so he couldn't just walk out as he is prone to kicking chairs, knocking over desks and has sent chairs and other objects flying across the room. Once he realized I was blocking the door he started kicking the door very aggressively and then switched his attention to the window and just started pounding on it. I stepped from the door and looked through the window at him and he said a couple of choice words to me and my response was to hit the window myself.
I'm an adult and I lost my composure. I let a fourth grade scholar get to me. That is not supposed to happen. A couple minutes later BaseG walked into the room and I showed him the glass and told him I was the one that broke it. I felt terrible and remember telling him it was time for me to go. My memory is drawing a blank on what happened next but BaseG had to continue testing and I stayed the room with the other scholars. I was sitting at my desk when PhD? Sparty entered the room and I informed her of my stupidity. I'm not sure what we talked about but she got up and got a box of tissue and sat it in front of me. A little while later BaseG returned and he told me the Big B was aware. I then left to speak to her. When I entered her office I had my room key and ID badge in my hand and placed them on her desk. She said to me you are not doing this now are you. And then she said something to me she has never said in my two years at the school as she address me by my first named. Allan you are too good with those kids and you are valuable to this school. You made a mistake. You don't think I make mistakes. You don't think I don't regret saying something to a member of my staff when things don't go well. You made a mistake and that's it.
I picked up my key and ID badge and returned to the classroom. It was time to take the scholars to PE. BaseG told me to stay in the room as he'd take them. I said to him that I needed to leave and picked up my lunch and was heading out the door. PhD? Sparty was still in the room and I asked her if I could speak to her. She agreed and we were heading for the door. Again I can't recall what was said except for this part as I told her that the Big B said I'm good with these scholars. Her response was you are. I then looked at her and said I'll see you tomorrow. While in the car I got a text message but I ignored it until I got home. It was from BaseG informing we that we both work in a stressful situation. He also commented on how good I was with the scholars and even more important was how much he appreciated me being in the classroom with him.
That evening at home was tough. I explained to my wife what happened and then for the remainder of the evening I remained silent. What were you thinking that caused you to do something so stupid?
When I walked into the classroom the next morning BaseG said to me I didn't think I'd see you again. A little while later PhD? Sparty entered the room. I again said to her something about my stupid actions. She then said something to me that I will remember for a long time. In fact I wrote it down on a 3x5 card and I have it in my hand right now. "It's not stupid. It's a human error." I don't know how long it took her to come up with that statement but it was my life line. It kept me afloat.
I'm an adult and I lost my composure. I let a fourth grade scholar get to me. That is not supposed to happen. A couple minutes later BaseG walked into the room and I showed him the glass and told him I was the one that broke it. I felt terrible and remember telling him it was time for me to go. My memory is drawing a blank on what happened next but BaseG had to continue testing and I stayed the room with the other scholars. I was sitting at my desk when PhD? Sparty entered the room and I informed her of my stupidity. I'm not sure what we talked about but she got up and got a box of tissue and sat it in front of me. A little while later BaseG returned and he told me the Big B was aware. I then left to speak to her. When I entered her office I had my room key and ID badge in my hand and placed them on her desk. She said to me you are not doing this now are you. And then she said something to me she has never said in my two years at the school as she address me by my first named. Allan you are too good with those kids and you are valuable to this school. You made a mistake. You don't think I make mistakes. You don't think I don't regret saying something to a member of my staff when things don't go well. You made a mistake and that's it.
I picked up my key and ID badge and returned to the classroom. It was time to take the scholars to PE. BaseG told me to stay in the room as he'd take them. I said to him that I needed to leave and picked up my lunch and was heading out the door. PhD? Sparty was still in the room and I asked her if I could speak to her. She agreed and we were heading for the door. Again I can't recall what was said except for this part as I told her that the Big B said I'm good with these scholars. Her response was you are. I then looked at her and said I'll see you tomorrow. While in the car I got a text message but I ignored it until I got home. It was from BaseG informing we that we both work in a stressful situation. He also commented on how good I was with the scholars and even more important was how much he appreciated me being in the classroom with him.
That evening at home was tough. I explained to my wife what happened and then for the remainder of the evening I remained silent. What were you thinking that caused you to do something so stupid?
When I walked into the classroom the next morning BaseG said to me I didn't think I'd see you again. A little while later PhD? Sparty entered the room. I again said to her something about my stupid actions. She then said something to me that I will remember for a long time. In fact I wrote it down on a 3x5 card and I have it in my hand right now. "It's not stupid. It's a human error." I don't know how long it took her to come up with that statement but it was my life line. It kept me afloat.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
I attended my second JROTC event at Emmerich Manual High School a couple weeks ago. The first year I went we met in an auditorium and I sat on a real nice cushiony chair. This year we met in the gymnasium and I got to enjoy the feel of the wooden bleachers. I like the gym much better because as I looked around I knew I was sitting in a what was a pretty prominent place in it's heyday. For those non Hoosiers Dick and Tom Van Arsdale played basketball at Manual and are Hoosier legends. They played at Indiana University and then in the NBA for the Pheonix Suns. Today the gym is in use but not for basketball. Today the gym was being used for a JROTC event.
Last school year Jim's Wife who is our school parent liaison approached me and asked me if I knew any veterans. She told me her son was very active in the JROTC and his battalion was holding an event to honor veterans. The battalion commander requested that each cadet bring a guest that was a veteran to the event. Jim's Wife said that her family didn't know any veterans so she thought she'd ask me if I knew any. I told her I know a veteran and she promptly asked if I thought this person would attend the event as her son's guest. I said to her I'd be glad to go. She looked at me and said you're a veteran. I said yes, Vietnam. She thank me several times and then left to contact her son. As she was leaving she said her son was going to be so excited.
It was a couple of days after agreeing to attend the event that it hit me. I have absolutely nothing to wear that would show that I am a Vietnam veteran. My military dress greens are around somewhere but I weighed about a hundred and sixty pounds when I left Vietnam so they would be just a tad too small. My field jacket was confiscated by my brother. The one item I truly wished I still had was my bush hat but it disappeared and my combat boots just wore out. So now what. I finally got an idea. I'll go to the Army/Navy surplus store and pick up a baseball cap the says Vietnam Veteran on it.
Now it gets interesting as I don't think I can wear the hat. It's been forty plus years since I left Vietnam and to the best of my recollection I've never put anything on my body that would show that I'm a Vietnam Veteran. When I arrive at the store I found what I needed and put it on. It fits and I immediately take it off and make the purchase. The clerk at the store asks if I'd like a bag and I said yes. The hat stayed in that bag until the day of the JROTC event. On the day of the event as I was pulling into the parking lot at Manual High School I saw Jim's Wife and family so I parked near them and reached into the bag and put the hat on.
The guest speaker at the event was a Vietnam veteran. He spoke about his service to our country and what it meant to him. He also spoke about how he was treated when he was in an airport in the United States as he was heading home. I'm going to keep this brief. He said these two words "baby killers" and then mentioned the lack of a parade. Those two words defined the 54,000+ men and women who died in that war plus hundreds of thousands of others who served our country in that war. It's been over forty years since I left Chu Lai and just hearing those two words causes my anger emotion to rise.
There were two alumni speakers this year. Both were JROTC members at Manual High School. The first speaker was a young lady that served as the Battalion Commander. For those not familiar with the military this young lady was the highest ranking officer in the JROTC. In the program guide it mentioned that she also served in the Indiana National Guard as a combat medic. When I read that I thought why would you chose that military occupation. For those of you without combat experience I'll explain the responsibility of a combat medic. You are basically an infantry man with more stuff to carry around. After the event I spoke with this young lady and asked her about her choice of military occupation. She told me she wanted to be a nurse and thought the National Guard would be a good place to start her training. She also mentioned that she just graduated from nursing school.
The second speaker is the one that really caught my attention. This gentleman was a member of the graduation class of 1964. In the program guide it stated he was a four year member of the JROTC. I can't confirm this but if you do the math it appears that Emmerich Manual High School has had an active JROTC program for fifty three years. I've been a resident of Indianapolis right at thirty three years and at no time can a recall the local media recognizing this wonderful accomplishment. What I do recall is news articles about Emmerich Manual High School failures. Sadly what sells newspapers and increase the papers profitably is stories of failure. Maybe one day that will change.
I'm going to close my JROTC story with a quote from George Washington that was on the back of the program guide. "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.". Please keep that in mind when talking to or about veterans. Especially the ones who either risked their lives or lost their lives in Vietnam.
Almost forgot. I still have that hat and I wear it proudly.
Last school year Jim's Wife who is our school parent liaison approached me and asked me if I knew any veterans. She told me her son was very active in the JROTC and his battalion was holding an event to honor veterans. The battalion commander requested that each cadet bring a guest that was a veteran to the event. Jim's Wife said that her family didn't know any veterans so she thought she'd ask me if I knew any. I told her I know a veteran and she promptly asked if I thought this person would attend the event as her son's guest. I said to her I'd be glad to go. She looked at me and said you're a veteran. I said yes, Vietnam. She thank me several times and then left to contact her son. As she was leaving she said her son was going to be so excited.
It was a couple of days after agreeing to attend the event that it hit me. I have absolutely nothing to wear that would show that I am a Vietnam veteran. My military dress greens are around somewhere but I weighed about a hundred and sixty pounds when I left Vietnam so they would be just a tad too small. My field jacket was confiscated by my brother. The one item I truly wished I still had was my bush hat but it disappeared and my combat boots just wore out. So now what. I finally got an idea. I'll go to the Army/Navy surplus store and pick up a baseball cap the says Vietnam Veteran on it.
Now it gets interesting as I don't think I can wear the hat. It's been forty plus years since I left Vietnam and to the best of my recollection I've never put anything on my body that would show that I'm a Vietnam Veteran. When I arrive at the store I found what I needed and put it on. It fits and I immediately take it off and make the purchase. The clerk at the store asks if I'd like a bag and I said yes. The hat stayed in that bag until the day of the JROTC event. On the day of the event as I was pulling into the parking lot at Manual High School I saw Jim's Wife and family so I parked near them and reached into the bag and put the hat on.
The guest speaker at the event was a Vietnam veteran. He spoke about his service to our country and what it meant to him. He also spoke about how he was treated when he was in an airport in the United States as he was heading home. I'm going to keep this brief. He said these two words "baby killers" and then mentioned the lack of a parade. Those two words defined the 54,000+ men and women who died in that war plus hundreds of thousands of others who served our country in that war. It's been over forty years since I left Chu Lai and just hearing those two words causes my anger emotion to rise.
There were two alumni speakers this year. Both were JROTC members at Manual High School. The first speaker was a young lady that served as the Battalion Commander. For those not familiar with the military this young lady was the highest ranking officer in the JROTC. In the program guide it mentioned that she also served in the Indiana National Guard as a combat medic. When I read that I thought why would you chose that military occupation. For those of you without combat experience I'll explain the responsibility of a combat medic. You are basically an infantry man with more stuff to carry around. After the event I spoke with this young lady and asked her about her choice of military occupation. She told me she wanted to be a nurse and thought the National Guard would be a good place to start her training. She also mentioned that she just graduated from nursing school.
The second speaker is the one that really caught my attention. This gentleman was a member of the graduation class of 1964. In the program guide it stated he was a four year member of the JROTC. I can't confirm this but if you do the math it appears that Emmerich Manual High School has had an active JROTC program for fifty three years. I've been a resident of Indianapolis right at thirty three years and at no time can a recall the local media recognizing this wonderful accomplishment. What I do recall is news articles about Emmerich Manual High School failures. Sadly what sells newspapers and increase the papers profitably is stories of failure. Maybe one day that will change.
I'm going to close my JROTC story with a quote from George Washington that was on the back of the program guide. "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.". Please keep that in mind when talking to or about veterans. Especially the ones who either risked their lives or lost their lives in Vietnam.
Almost forgot. I still have that hat and I wear it proudly.
Dear Pointy Headed Intellectual What Were You Thinking
I'd like to take a brief moment to mention that at no point in my twenty seven blog posts have I mentioned the name of my school or the name of the school system. That is intentional as this blog is not about discrediting any school or school system but is just about the every day events that I see from my view at the back of the room. So if you know me personally and want to pass along my blog URL feel free to do so but please avoid telling others where I work.
Dear pointy headed intellectual please explain to me why and the hell does ISTEP testing continue to exist? During the week of May 5th our scholars will take the last of the ISTEP tests. When the testing is complete I will have two years of ISTEP testing under my belt. Yes I know that is not very much but it is enough for me to say what I'm about to say. I eat lunch at 1:00pm and share a staff lounge with two teachers. Over the past two years over one hundred scholars have passed through their classrooms. Today I asked them how many parental units expressed any interest in ISTEP testing at the beginning of the testing process. Their response zero. I then asked them how many parental units expressed any interest in ISTEP testing at the end of the process. Their response zero. My final question was how many parental units contacted you to discuss their scholars ISTEP test results. None. Prior to the start of ISTEP a lot of time and money was spent sending communications home to the parental units. Please be sure your scholar gets plenty of sleep. Please be sure your scholar has a good breakfast before coming to school. Please encourage you scholar to do her/his best when taking the test. All of that time, effort and money and not one of the parental units showed any interest in ISTEP. So I ask you again why and the hell are are we doing ISTEP testing?
Remediation is the fancy word used to describe the process to help the scholars that fail ISTEP. The bottom line is that the scholar failed the test and needs help getting caught up. The first round of ISTEP testing took place just before spring break so there is time for remediation. The challenge is finding the time to do it. Should the teacher inform the parental unit that they have to either bring their scholar early to school or pick them up later after school so they can get remediation is the question. When you take into consideration that the parental unit showed no interest in the testing process in the first place will they choose either of these options? No! So that means remediation needs to take place during the regular school day. In order to do this the teacher has to introduce new material to those scholars that passed ISTEP and review old material for those scholars that failed ISTEP. So how is the teacher going to do two things at once? They can't which means the teacher is in a lose/lose situation. If the teach spends too much time introducing new material to the twenty or more scholars that passed ISTEP the one or two that didn't fall farther behind. If the teacher spends too much time with remediation for one or two scholars then the twenty or more scholars that are supposed to be learning new material are not. So in this lose/lose situation you know what will likely happen? More scholars will fail ISTEP. And when more scholars fail ISTEP some fathead from the local media will write another story about teachers and why are there so few rated ineffective when so many scholars are failing ISTEP. So I'll ask the question again. Dear pointy headed intellectual why and the hell does ISTEP testing continue to exist?
As I mentioned at the start we are in the final phase of ISTEP testing and BaseG and I know right now some if not all of our scholars will need remediation. The sad part, no not the sad part but the totally stupid part is that the ISTEP results will not be available until after the school year ends. So when will remediation start? Well off course at the start of the next school year when the scholars are in the next grade with a new teacher. If you believe that then I'm going to offer you a chance to buy the Brooklyn Bridge for a really swell price.
As a reminder I have no hidden agenda. I'm not a teacher. I'm not a part of school administration. I'm not a member of a union. And I sure as hell am not a politician. All I am is a guy with a view from the back of a classroom who is wondering why we are wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions of dollars on a test that accomplishes nothing.
Dear pointy headed intellectual please explain to me why and the hell does ISTEP testing continue to exist? During the week of May 5th our scholars will take the last of the ISTEP tests. When the testing is complete I will have two years of ISTEP testing under my belt. Yes I know that is not very much but it is enough for me to say what I'm about to say. I eat lunch at 1:00pm and share a staff lounge with two teachers. Over the past two years over one hundred scholars have passed through their classrooms. Today I asked them how many parental units expressed any interest in ISTEP testing at the beginning of the testing process. Their response zero. I then asked them how many parental units expressed any interest in ISTEP testing at the end of the process. Their response zero. My final question was how many parental units contacted you to discuss their scholars ISTEP test results. None. Prior to the start of ISTEP a lot of time and money was spent sending communications home to the parental units. Please be sure your scholar gets plenty of sleep. Please be sure your scholar has a good breakfast before coming to school. Please encourage you scholar to do her/his best when taking the test. All of that time, effort and money and not one of the parental units showed any interest in ISTEP. So I ask you again why and the hell are are we doing ISTEP testing?
Remediation is the fancy word used to describe the process to help the scholars that fail ISTEP. The bottom line is that the scholar failed the test and needs help getting caught up. The first round of ISTEP testing took place just before spring break so there is time for remediation. The challenge is finding the time to do it. Should the teacher inform the parental unit that they have to either bring their scholar early to school or pick them up later after school so they can get remediation is the question. When you take into consideration that the parental unit showed no interest in the testing process in the first place will they choose either of these options? No! So that means remediation needs to take place during the regular school day. In order to do this the teacher has to introduce new material to those scholars that passed ISTEP and review old material for those scholars that failed ISTEP. So how is the teacher going to do two things at once? They can't which means the teacher is in a lose/lose situation. If the teach spends too much time introducing new material to the twenty or more scholars that passed ISTEP the one or two that didn't fall farther behind. If the teacher spends too much time with remediation for one or two scholars then the twenty or more scholars that are supposed to be learning new material are not. So in this lose/lose situation you know what will likely happen? More scholars will fail ISTEP. And when more scholars fail ISTEP some fathead from the local media will write another story about teachers and why are there so few rated ineffective when so many scholars are failing ISTEP. So I'll ask the question again. Dear pointy headed intellectual why and the hell does ISTEP testing continue to exist?
As I mentioned at the start we are in the final phase of ISTEP testing and BaseG and I know right now some if not all of our scholars will need remediation. The sad part, no not the sad part but the totally stupid part is that the ISTEP results will not be available until after the school year ends. So when will remediation start? Well off course at the start of the next school year when the scholars are in the next grade with a new teacher. If you believe that then I'm going to offer you a chance to buy the Brooklyn Bridge for a really swell price.
As a reminder I have no hidden agenda. I'm not a teacher. I'm not a part of school administration. I'm not a member of a union. And I sure as hell am not a politician. All I am is a guy with a view from the back of a classroom who is wondering why we are wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions of dollars on a test that accomplishes nothing.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
When Is the Last Time You Had A Really Good Slug of Red Pop?
This is going to be pretty obscure unless you are either from Detroit or the state of Michigan.
PhD? Sparty stopped by the classroom today and said to me my Dad sent you a video. I looked at her and said ok. She said it's on my phone and she retrieved it and handed me the phone. Because we were in the classroom the volume was down low but rather than listening to the recording I got side tracked looking at a boat that was in the video. As I looked at the boat I kept thinking I know that boat. Then I starting listening to the video which was recorded on the boat and very quickly I realized I was listening to the Faygo Red Pop song! I have not heard that song since high school. Feel free to sing along.
Comic books and rubber bands
Climb into the treetop
Falling down and holding hands
Tricycles and Redpop.
Pony rides on Sunday nights
Roller skates and snowball fights
Climbin' through the window
Remember when you were a kid?
Well, part of you still is
And that's why we make Faygo.
Faygo remembers
Flying kites and funny shoes
Easter eggs with speckles
ABCs and counting by twos
Washing off the freckles
Kissing a hurt to make it stop
Startin' school in September
So many things you almost forgot
Tryin' to remember
Remember when you were a kid?
Well part of you still is
And that's why we make Faygo.
Faygo remembers.
I'm going to violate my anonymity rule for the third time which kind of defeats the purpose of having the rule in the first place. Thanks Casey you made my day.
To my Michigan friends where was the boat going?
To everyone type in your search engine Faygo Red Pop song and you will see the video on YouTube.
PhD? Sparty stopped by the classroom today and said to me my Dad sent you a video. I looked at her and said ok. She said it's on my phone and she retrieved it and handed me the phone. Because we were in the classroom the volume was down low but rather than listening to the recording I got side tracked looking at a boat that was in the video. As I looked at the boat I kept thinking I know that boat. Then I starting listening to the video which was recorded on the boat and very quickly I realized I was listening to the Faygo Red Pop song! I have not heard that song since high school. Feel free to sing along.
Comic books and rubber bands
Climb into the treetop
Falling down and holding hands
Tricycles and Redpop.
Pony rides on Sunday nights
Roller skates and snowball fights
Climbin' through the window
Remember when you were a kid?
Well, part of you still is
And that's why we make Faygo.
Faygo remembers
Flying kites and funny shoes
Easter eggs with speckles
ABCs and counting by twos
Washing off the freckles
Kissing a hurt to make it stop
Startin' school in September
So many things you almost forgot
Tryin' to remember
Remember when you were a kid?
Well part of you still is
And that's why we make Faygo.
Faygo remembers.
I'm going to violate my anonymity rule for the third time which kind of defeats the purpose of having the rule in the first place. Thanks Casey you made my day.
To my Michigan friends where was the boat going?
To everyone type in your search engine Faygo Red Pop song and you will see the video on YouTube.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
She'll Be Gone In Twenty Seven School Days
I've been struggling lately. Knowing that Jake LaMatta is returning is one of the reasons but not the only one. Maybe after one hundred and fifty threes days in a classroom with scholars with emotional disabilities you just get beat down and worn out. Fortunately I have a savior that can make me smile and just laugh out loud. Unfortunately she'll be gone in twenty seven school days.
I have to plan for this departure because I'm not sure what I'm going to say or write when she leaves. Because of this uncertainty I've decided to start taking notes. I have a big stack of three by five cards in the back of the room and I'm starting my note taking on Monday May 5th. So this is my forewarning to the next person that is leaving. Quoting Elmer Fudd a second time, be very, very careful what you say when you enter my territory at the back of the room as it may show up in my blog. And if you don't think I'll put it in my blog just text IvyL and ask her.
I love Elmer Fudd and after quoting him twice I have to wonder how many blog writers have quoted him. Very few I imagine.
I have to plan for this departure because I'm not sure what I'm going to say or write when she leaves. Because of this uncertainty I've decided to start taking notes. I have a big stack of three by five cards in the back of the room and I'm starting my note taking on Monday May 5th. So this is my forewarning to the next person that is leaving. Quoting Elmer Fudd a second time, be very, very careful what you say when you enter my territory at the back of the room as it may show up in my blog. And if you don't think I'll put it in my blog just text IvyL and ask her.
I love Elmer Fudd and after quoting him twice I have to wonder how many blog writers have quoted him. Very few I imagine.
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