Walk the walk, talk the talk

I was sent this article analyzing some of the statements of each candidate.

I haven't spent enough time evaluating each candidate. Of course my single issue is education. I don't agree with vouchers. This attempt to apply a one size fits all to the problems in education does not work. If they were to support creating more alternative programs (like my school) so the parents had more choice, and provide the resources to support those schools - professional development, a meaningful observation/evaluation cycle, built-in time for meaningful collaboration and planning, after/before school programs, etc. - I might feel differently. As it were, I don't feel vouchers tackles the real issue. I think that parents should have a choice, but I am not sure vouchers would be the answer. As my school is a dual language school, I am very wary of speak of English only and what that could mean for thousands of successful schools nationwide that have chosen dual language. I am skeptical, however, that it would even affect me/our school at all. Unless the fed forced the state to deny funding to all "alternative" programs, as long as we are showing progress it doesn't seem to be a big deal.

The crazy thing about education is that we all seem to have different ideas of what is needed to solve the problem. And that's just it, the same thing doesn't work for everyone. We spend a lot of time saying "I'm right" "No, I'm right." We don't track and evaluate meaningful data before going on to the "next big thing." I remember at my previous school every year it was a new focus and often we threw out the old. It was so hard to come up with something that everyone could agree on and stick to for any amount of time. I really don't have the solution.

Health care is not usually a major voting issue. 1) I have it. 2) I don't have a family. 3) I am pretty healthy. I imagine all of that would change when I start having to pay hundreds or thousands out of pocket each month. So, it should be important. I just haven't evaluated which plan works best for me.

I detest that we vote based on the "emotional" issues, such as gun control and abortion. So those are assuredly not my issues.

As far as taxes go, you would think that this former economics major would figure this out, but alas, I'm not around it anymore and so I lack the depth to form meaningful opinions of what this going up and that going down, and this going every which way mean. Plus, I'm tired today.

The whole war thing, ah, yes. That's one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't issues. There is certainly a better use of our tax dollars. We certainly have no business dragging it on year after year. So, I agree with the plan to set a time limit. It seems that that plan also needs to accompany some pretty aggressive strategies for how to deal with future foreign relations and a major issue of "there's not enough to go around." The whole resource issue. However, I am also of the opinion that water - something few people seem to be talking about - is going to be a major issue long before we run out of oil or overheat the planet. Not that the latter don't deserve our attention.

Then there is the whole jobs thing. This is another single issue I would probably vote on. I would tend to agree with Thomas Friedman. It will be more difficult to survive in an increasingly more globalized world. We are not competitive on a global level in areas that lead straight back to education. There is no plan in place and there probably should be. Enticing corporations to come back (oh, evil) is probably a good thing. But we need to improve the training of that work force, as well. Otherwise, what prevents those corporations to hire globally? I also buy into that do for your community thing. As the African proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child." If our village enterprise picks up and leave, that's a problem. It is definitely in the interest of the company to invest in the future workforce, but why should they if taxes make it easier to run their business elsewhere. But all that assumes that they would "give back."

Okay my head is spinning, I have lost all logic and I bet I'll read this post again tomorrow and delete it. Until then, enjoy the dizzying logic of one very uninformed voter.

Ramble on...

Not really anything to say, felt like posting some random picture. This was in China.

Set some limits today. Things are looking a little more up. Poor JE is terribly sick with food poisoning. I feel terrible. I'm really bad with sick people. I should probably never have kids.

Acceptance

I got nailed with a horrible sore throat Friday. I spent yesterday resting and today I feel considerably better. I know what this means. I tend to get sick when my stress levels are rising. My body has always been very good about indicating when I need to slow down. Or at least accept things as they are and move on. It radiates pain in my shoulder and neck. I get sick with allergies or colds. Right now, my eye is twitching. Minor annoying stuff, stuff that again and again or all at once is a drag.

I had a realization. I have a lot of work to do this year. That much I have accepted. What I hadn't accepted was that it is not my responsibility to support a teacher who does not have the skills required to do this job. I had reservations when HM interviewed. I felt that his appearance and demeanor was sloppy and lazy. I did not get the impression of a knowledgeable, put together individual. I was told it was an "informal interview" so his appearance didn't matter so much. Bull. So you wear jeans and a button down to an informal interview, fine, but don't slouch, don't be lazy in your answer - sound like you know what you are doing. I was hoping my first impression was dead wrong.

A week and a half into school HM has demonstrated that they know very little about doing their job. Basic stuff is lacking. The classroom is a dump. The students papers and trash is left on the floor at the end of the day. Materials are not well organized and the class looks cluttered and askew. That same sloppy appearance I saw in that "informal interview" has translated into a messy classroom and a helter-skelter approach to teaching. Give the person a chance. Of course, I consistently adjust my expectations, and adjust the way I deal with and assist this person. But now I have to accept. I have to accept that this person lacks skills that I am not able to provide. I have enough to do on my own.

As Bryan Kest says "Accept the final posture." Yeah, this acceptance thing is hard.

Ups and Downs

The good news: My students improved 20 points in Language Arts on the state test.

The bad news: They went down considerably in math. Yikes.

Well, considering that the math program was pretty terrible, the material was incomplete in Spanish, and it wasn't my focus (nor my strength,) I guess the results were pretty predictable. If they had gone down in Language Arts I would have been really bummed because we worked so hard.

I only had one student in "far below basic" (don't you just love that designation,) and he was my particularly challenging student. The students I had in my intervention group all improved. One little girl stayed about the same, but her parents were going through a particularly nasty divorce at the time and she was so obviously emotionally wrecked when we took the tests.

Overall, our school score decreased, so that was really a huge bummer. As a dual language school it makes it hard to fight off the naysayers when we lose ground. It was almost entirely in math, which is both disheartening and encouraging. Disheartening because that's where we've always been high, but encouraging because its also where we've lacked focus. We focus on language, dual language. The fact that the now fifth graders gained so much in language arts is significant. I should hope those results continue so that we can show that our model works.

It will most definitely mean that we will focus on math, and that is actually a very encouraging thing. I am weak in teaching mathematics. It often takes the back burner. Its not okay. Each year I tell myself I will put more energy into my teaching of mathematics, but each year I am so overwhelmed and told to focus on language. So, in fact, this is a blessing in disguise.

Up, up, up we go!

Misc. Ramblings

My response to a beginning of the year letter from a student:
...It’s too bad you don’t like your new cousins. I had some cousins that I didn’t like when I was little, so I would play with the ones I did like. One of my cousins was really mean. He was also very big and used to threaten me. His grandfather used to grab his ear when my cousin was in trouble. My cousin would only listen to his grandfather. He never listened to anyone else, not even his mom. He’s an adult now and is in jail. It is very sad. His grandfather would be heartbroken if he were still alive. I guess he never learned how to be nice..."

Yeah, I couldn't help myself.

Part of an annoying forward I got:
...(1) God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts...

How a certain member of my family deals with the latter:
...Glad to hear your doing well. Could you be so kind as to take me off your list? I have issues with some of your comments. To imply that praying will get you what you want/need and that's all there is to it is offensive. There are some really destitute people out there who I'm sure believe in god and pray and hope just as much as you, and their prayers don't get answered. Assuming god did answer your prayers to supply you with more money to continue your permanent vacation, I have to conclude that he's an ass. He could be spending his time in much more productive ways, like protecting poor Muslim villagers in Dar fur from the Christian militias that have been burning their villages and raping their women. Next time you talk to him, tell him to get his priorities straight...

What I hope to accomplish this year:
Balance.

How I will accomplish it:
Fail and fail beautifully. Because success is not an option.