Teacher Touche:

 

  Hello all you teacher bashers, no names mentioned, of course..... Matty in the Morning, whoops...okay one mentioned! 

I am a career changer who became a teacher about 25 years ago. Prior to that I was a bank manager. I am 64 years young and still am at it.  I love it because I actually can make a difference.  I do not love it because it is an easy and cushy job that you get a lot of vacation with. IN FACT TEACHERS GET PAID FOR A TEN MONTH CONTRACT and not a penny more, unless ,of course they work tutoring over the summer to make up for their way less than average private sector professional paycheck they get for their 10 months of work.     It takes close to 25 years and lots of classes to climb a teacher pay scale to get near (not at) what professionals earn in the private sector.

 Job Training:  On top of that, teachers cannot remain in a job that requires a masters degree within 5 years of stating said job that basically has a starting pay in the 40,000s.  Cha-ching, here come the student loans if you don't already have them for the undergraduate degree! The masters degree is not paid for by the schools. If you are lucky you might get some minor course reimbursement per year if your school has a small "pot" set aside. but everyone if trying to obtain so financial help on a first come first serve basis. That is why it is out of pocket for those getting masters level degrees. On top of that, teachers are required to continue professional development workshops and take classes to get relicensed every 5 years. The Department of Education frequently changes requirements for licensing such as when everyone, no matter, where they teach has to take a fairly expensive ESL (actually they keep changing the acronym and I cannot keep up so that is not the correct one)  course. This way  everyone who relicenses knows  how to work with English language learners even though in many districts, like the one I work in, we see next to no non English speaking students on a yearly basis.  No, worries there is a whole school full of trained teachers whose licenses have expired over the last 5 years in case you moving to our area and do not speak English. What other professional level jobs. that have this sadly lacking level of pay require this kind of training?

Teacher hours:   Let's see I have to be to work by 7:40 and although I can leave at 2:40, after the kids leave at 2:13.   I am never done with the things I have to do to keep up with for my paper work and so forth that cannot be done when the students are in.  Basically I leave by 4:30 except during Covid, they do not let us stay because the maintenance staff has to go through every room and sanitize.  Not to worry, we can do our work at home after hours. And, yes, of course, I have an hour planning block during the day, but I am always interrupted by a student who needs something, has a problem,  or has had a melt down.  I would never even complain about any of this because I still love it.  What I do not like is being bashed.  

Covid 19- No problem, we all had to learn to do our jobs over in a new way last year so that we could service kids remotely or hybrid.  It was a learning curve for people like me who are immigrants into the land of technology, but I am proud of all I have learned to do, and happy with what my group of students has learned, as well. I am one of the lucky few who work with in person students, albeit they are the most needy group in the school.  I get to see them in person, every day although everyone needs to stay 6 feet apart and not touch anything anyone else touches.  Have you ever tried to do that and still help a student who cannot figure out how to sign on the new technology they have to use to not be near you?  I have ten kids in 7th and 8th grade who each are in because they have some kind of struggle.  We are maintaining 6 feet for the most part,  but it is very hard with 4 adults and 10 kids working in one room.  We got that mastered at this point for the most part, though. 

  Meanwhile a large group of parents continue to complain that their kids should be in school,  Teachers, unlike police, and other caregivers who serve the public are not in the first rounds of vaccination.  Even inmates in institutions for committing crimes are before teachers.  We are in close quarters too, the difference being we do not sleep there.  Now, in Massachusetts, teachers might be next round, although they also say there are not enough vaccines to go around. The governor has said the kids are to go back to school in April, without guaranteeing vaccines for teachers.   We simply do not matter  like police, fire, or other essential workers that seem to matter much more.  WE WORK HARD IN SPITE OF BEING BASHED AND WE CARE ABOUT THE KIDS WHO COME TO SCHOOL.  SOMETIMES WE ARE THE KIDS BEST SUPPORT SYSTEM. WE DO NOT GET THE RESPECT THAT WE DESERVE!!!!!  

Bark, Bark...My Angry Remarks

 

I am basically a rule follower. I never even cheat in the 12 items or less line at the grocery store. If you didn't notice by now, also, I am an animal lover. I am down to 3 cats and 2 dogs right now having just said goodbye to my 12 year old rabbit that served as a classroom pet and friend to many of my students over the years.  

When I got my current two rescue dogs a bit over a year and a half ago, it was after my 17 year old Pomeranian, Gizmo, had passed away the winter prior to when I adopted Auggie, a Yorkie and Chihuahua mix, and Shelley, a mix of what we were told was Chihuahua and beagle, but she kept growing and looks more like a yellow lab and beagle mix....she has no Chihuahua traits other than her lap dog attitude. Gizmo had a beagle German short hair pointer who was his sister/housemate for six years before she passed at 15 and before her was Cobie a purebred German shepherd rescued from a puppy mill who was very sickly but had a short happy life before heading to dogie heaven at only 5. Before that it was Barney, named before there was ever a purple dinosaur, a black lab mix that weighed 120 pounds and lived to be 10. I couldn't possibly list the long line of feline family members, but Hobo does deserve honorable mention for going potty on the toilet...swear to God! I have loved them all and most other animals that I come across that are not even mine.  I even have health insurance on my current t dogs a by product of Gizmos impressive life span and trail of medical or rather credit card bills.  After all this babbling, you are probably wondering where I am going with this and where my angry remarks from the title come in.

Well, Here goes: Once my kids were out of high school, I replaced sports watching with dog walking. I walk my dogs on leashes. (I may let them loose in the yard when supervised, although some, like Auggie will probably never earn the trust because he chases everything including dead leaves floating on the breeze.  Anyway, back to the point- I carry my Poop baggies, and I walk my pups on a leash multiple times a day.  The first time IT happened, I was walking Gizmo up my street which is at least a mile- I was at the far end. My arm was in a sling because I had broken  my shoulder while skiing.  Out of one of the yards came running a loose Boston Terrier and before I knew it he had my tiny, screeching Pomeranian by the neck.  I was trying to free my poor dog from the jaws of the attacker with one hand when luckily, my septuagenarian neighbor from back down the street had been out walking and ran to my and Gizmo's rescue. Gizmo only received a scratch and for me it was no more walking on that end of the street. 

We have beautiful rail trails in Salisbury, Newburyport, and Amesbury that I do not live far from, so I began walking on the old train track trail called the Ghost Trail near my house with Gizmo after the first incident.  I was just entering the main trail from the little path leading to it from a side street near my house on a sunny, early November day. As I often, do, I encountered other walkers with dogs.  This time it happened to be a women and her young daughter with two dogs. one a greyhound and the other looked to be a small poodle mix.  All were leashed. Before I pass by people with other dogs, I always ask if they are friendly so I know it is safe to cross paths  The reply in this case was yes, but it should have been a resounding NO as two minutes later I was shell shocked as I tried, with my bare hands, to pry her large dog's jaws off of my squealing and bleeding pet. At this point the child was screaming and her mother began to assist me.  Finally the jaws loosened, and I grabbed Gizmo and ran for home, blood dripping and his poop running down my leg.   I was crying and running when neighbors passed us and gave me a ride the rest of the way home.  At this point I was inconsolable, and my husband wrapped Gizmo in a blanket and we drove him lickity split to the vet.  He had to have surgery, a drain embedded, and 12 stitches in his side.  He was 10 years old at the time, not a spring chicken.  For my part I was traumatized to the point that after Gizm0's lengthy recovery and quarantine from me reporting the incident to the local authorities- no I did not stop to get her name, and she did not seek me out to offer assistance after Gizmo was pried out of the greyhounds jaws., I could not prove her dog had a rabies shot and even though mine had one, he still had to quarantine- After that I could not walk anywhere without picking Gizmo up when ever another dog approached, leashed or unleashed  Fast forward 7 years and I adopted Auggie and Shelley to be my new walking companions.  I had calmed a bit but was always cautious on the trail.  The 3rd week I had the pups, in early May we set out on the trail and were almost in the exact spot of Gizmo's attack when a bulldog came running, unleashed, and attacked. The man walking with the dog came running before any major damage was done. Shelley, who is the larger of my two pups, got a scratch where he tried to sink his teeth in and a case of fear of other dogs that has persisted to this day which makes her bark and growl at any dog bigger than she is.  In tears, I asked, "why no leash?"  No reply.  I carried my smaller pup and headed for home with Shelley on her leash. Next thing I know, the dog  was chasing us again and it knocks me down, my glasses breaking in the process. At this point I am screaming for help, and the dog owner was trying to re-tackle his dog.  He achieved his goal, but blood was running down his forehead.  A man who lived along the trail came running out and helped me to his home after he called the police. When the police arrived the bleeding forehead, vicious, dog's owner and dog was gone, and I got my very first ride in the back of a police car (did you know there is no seats, and it is like a cage and smells bad?) because they deemed me too upset to walk home on my own.  Surprisingly,  when the police tracked him down, he did have a leash, and it still was not on the dog.  He got a citation because it was the dog's second offense.  

At first I did not go on the trail at all, then I bought dog repellent, and found a walking companion who also walks her dog and is much braver than I am.

So here we are at February 19, 2021 and Sandy, my brave dog walking companion,  and her dog Bella, a beautiful Sheltie,as wel as Auggie, Shelley and I start off on our daily walk.  We get to the SAME  spot, now known as my attack spot, and coming toward us is a giant and loose Irish Setter.  I immediately start requesting that the owner leash the dog, women this time. She just ignored me and said he was friendly.  I asked her to leash the dog again, but she just kept walking. I told her that Shelley, who at this point was freaking out as the dog continued to come closer and closer (all this as I tried to back up, telling the woma my dog was not friendly, and again she did nothing.  Finally, Sandy, my dog walking friend, reached out and grabbed the approaching dog as I struggle).d to calm Shelley down and hold on to Auggie at the same time. I very nicely (well not that nicely) informed her there was a leash law, and it wasn't for her friendly uncontrolled dog, but for the rest of us. Again, no response.  Yup those are my angry remark!

I love all dogs, but I do not like being attacked or watching my beloved pets be attacked, or for that matter any animal getting hurt.  I do not understand why people cannot follow the rules.  You never know how any two dogs will react to each other so why take chances? The trails are so beautiful, and for everyone to share, but if only some of us follow rules, not all of us can enjoy them.  Well that is my rant.  I feel better now so I will not start in on the number of poop bags people drop on the ground.  Have a nice week!

Opinions vs. Facts: Food for Thought????

 

HMNNNN-: how do we know what is a fact anymore?   The definition of a fact is something that actually happened and can be proven true or false. We have all kinds of crazy material that is food for thought floating around on the internet on Facebook, in tweets, and so on.   We used to have just a newspaper or daily news on the television and back when some us thought America was great (America is still great, in MY OPINION- it never wasn't and absolutely no one can convince me otherwise! On a side note, my life remains the same no matter who is living in the White House, but I do prefer a man of some character to be housed there-whooops back to the topic, how news used to be), they labeled news as facts or editorial (opinions).  Today two incidents occurred that brought this to mind and spurred me to write MY OPINION on this. 

 First off, I chatted on the phone with my close friend, who I have known for about 35 years. We raised kids together, vacationed together and have always been like family, until recently. Over the past year or so, since her political views changed and mine have remained the same, we have had some differences of facts, much like the six and nine above.  Notice, I did not say opinions.   Both of us watched the news yesterday.  I saw on one of the local news channels that teachers are in the next phase of vaccine distribution.  Since I am a teacher and want to get a shot badly, I am very happy to hear this and shared this.  My friend, also a school employee, was quick to inform me that she saw on the news 4 different times yesterday that teachers did not need vaccines.  She never said where she saw this, but I have a sneaking suspicion since she is a Fox News junkie. AND, Tell that to the math teacher that I work with who had Covid for 3 plus weeks and was very, very ill, but I digress.  How can both of us be correct?  Which one of us has the facts?  I think it is me.  She is convinced it is her, and hence we get silence on the line while one of us decides how to manage the disagreement.  This happens increasingly more often when we talk these days. The phone call ends quickly after this exchange.  We could probably find two different doctors or scientists that will back each of us depending on where we get our information from.

Next, I go to Google News.  I like to read a little bit from all different sources so I will look at feeds from all both conservative and liberal organizations on Google instead of going to specific news sites. I only read the conservative to see if they can sway me, but so far, its a big NO!  The first article I come across is from Newsweek and the title is entitled," Kayleigh McEnany Faces Online Backlash for Mocking Biden's 'Love Kids Better than People' remark." Apparently, President Biden made a comment on television saying he liked kids more than others, and when I began to read this article I couldn't believe someone could find innuendo or something to attack in that statement.  He clearly has a loving and active relationship with his grandchildren, and I being a teacher can claim the same. I read on to find out what the hub bub was about only to find that she put an emoji showing a perplexed expression.  I still did not understand what could be made of that until I read on through the responses and found one that was of the OPINION that she was referring to a conspiracy theory. Apparently, somewhere out there the Qanon people believe Joe Biden and the liberals were involved in child sex trafficking.  My OPINION is that that is not true, but I would be scared to ask the friend I just hung up from what her thoughts were. A few weeks ago she told me that Trump won the election, and I would soon find out it was true,  and that was after Biden had been certified.  I digress again.  McEnany quickly shot that down and claimed she was attacking his pro choice record and people should not attach intent to her words.  Fair enough! We will never know her actual intent other than to rally her cronies and stir her critics up.

I guess my point is if you watch Fox and other conservative presenters you get one truth and if you watch less conservative and more liberal sources, you get a different truth. This must be what is meant by alternative facts.  It is hard to figure it all out now-a-days!  

Questions:  Why can't we get to the exact facts and truth all of the time?  Isn't the real truth importation?  Can people with opposite views be friends with two alternative truths always coming up in conversations?

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News, News, Views

 

Wow, another week of Covid news, impeachment news and the sadly same routines for those of us who follow guidelines for social distancing. Anybody anxious and depressed yet?

 Routines:  Being a special education teacher, I have had in person students for the duration of this year, and that brings some observations of an impact to some of the more vulnerable kiddos as well as some other more able students who are on a hybrid rotation.  All students are denied the most basic of social contact school has to offer...a loud, crazy atmosphere that is undeniably annoying to  those of us lucky adults who score lunch duty.  For some students, like most of mine, who don't always fit in, this six foot distanced, assigned seating is a gift that makes lunch time more tolerable.  For the mainstream, though, it is sadly a morbidly quiet and un-refreshing break during  a long and tedious school day.  Speaking of which,  we will not mention the loss of the much loved snow day in favor of another long day in front of a computer screen.

 After school,  a masked walk with my dogs, cook dinner for my second shift working husband, then to the couch I go for more alone time....and 4 crocheted baby blankets and a newly discovered love -hate relationship with the Hallmark Channel later, and that folks is my daily  routine, and I do mean daily... Weekends are less involved, and I find myself wanting to work just to glimpse some colleagues who I no longer see, well maybe from a distance, in the teacher copy room. And here we are on vacation....there is always house cleaning, I suppose!

News:  Okay I do lean liberal, but I am not sure if he who shall remain unnamed can be deemed totally and solely guilty of inciting violence,  but I am sure his whole persona and character were questionable even before his presidency...how many times have you gone bankrupt...made horrible, cruel and defamatory remarks about people who do not agree with you...okay how about how many pusseys or the male counterparts have you bragged about grabbing since you were 14, if ever? Did you get away with it? Were you proud of yourself if you did get away with it? And come on,  there is no excuse or confusion, he made fun of a disabled person...( most of us teach our children not to)....and these are just the ones that strike a nerve in me..... a glimpse into an uncaring, incredibly cruel,  and bullying persona ....but back to the present: he said he would call cheating if he lost! HE DID, AND HE TOOK IT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL of false information. He may not have known he would incite a riot,  but he did not do the right thing immediately when he did actually incite one. I voted for the other guy along  with the  80  million or so other people who did, YES THERE WERE 80 PLUS MILLION OF US WHO DID NOT WANT HIM AS OUR PRESIDENT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS! and I honestly believe none of US would have rioted nor would our current president have promoted the election cheating  bologna that was spewed and ended up inciting what happened....it is a privilege but also a huge responsibility to lead and be an example for others, and our former president never met that challenge.... those are my views on that news!

Covid news: More strands, more sickness ,more death, more vaccines coming, but not available for all, yet. It has been scary going into work with kids whose families I cannot control regarding following safety protocols...and cannot always avoid sharing space with, but like most things with teachers, we don't rate high on the vaccine schedule even though we are pressured to work in person. I have been fortunate so far and  hope to stay Covid free until its safe again....Hope you all can do that, too!

I ask myself.. Who would want to read this gloomy rant?  I am posting it anyway, along with my wish, prayer and hope for better days ahead for all of us including he who shall not be named...may he  learn from this week to become a gracious, humble, kind and honest human! One can wish.

P.S.....why bother with a trial to impeach if you already know what the outcome will be...isn't that a waste of time and money?...shame on both sides!

First Thoughts

 

Plainly speaking, what is going on and why can't we all get along?... I am included in the arguing and ranting about "the other side." Do I want to be at odds with friends and family. Absolutely not!  Do they want to be at odds with me ....I sure hope not.  What better way to forum my thoughts then in this format (which challenges my immigration status into the land of Technology), but also allows me to ramble without arguing with those whose company I would prefer to enjoy.  So what will I talk about?...Things that bother me, things that I see as wonderful news, world news, sometimes, existential questions, my very biased opinions. First thing: America has never been not Great for me....that will be my next journal/ blog entry. This post is just my practice attempt.