Education Wednesday

I had a long talk with my old Las Vegas friend yesterday.  She had a horrible year in North Charleston, South Carolina working in a middle school of poor-performing, underachieving students who did not have to be held accountable for their work.  Instead, the teacher was constantly criticized and given no source for improvement.  As a result, the teacher received a poor evaluation.  Since it was her first year in the district, and she received a poor evaluation, her license in the state can be revoked.

As a teacher whose last three jobs were in different schools each job lasting only a year, I have a lot to say about how a teacher is evaluated.  I believe there is a better way too.

First, school culture is probably the most important aspect of the job.  What a school says about itself, and what it presents to the public are not the same thing.  When I began at Shadow Ridge High School last August, the principal announced that I was working in the "best high school in Clark County, bar none."  In his mind that was possibly true.  I took him at his word, however, and failed miserably.  To me, working in the "best school" indicates a level of academic performance and interest on par with a top private school.  With that information I gave assignments and set expectations much higher than my students could handle.  Worse, I actually assigned, and expected to receive, homework.  Again, in the "best" school it should have gone without saying that students could handle that work load.  The trouble is, I was given misinformation.  The misinformation cost me a good evaluation.    Culture:  what  is happening in the school that is not on paper.  I was told that I should give and expect homework, I discovered that I was alone in giving homework.

My recommendation:  let first year teachers (and by first year I mean first year in the school with that principal) work with a less rigid performance rubric.  If I were to return to my old job, there is no way I'd make the same mistakes.  I learned through doing what was expected of me because no one actually told me early enough to do the job well.  Unspoken rule one:  don't fail students even if they do nothing.

Second, make recommendations fair.  If you work for someone who doesn't like you, you may get a poor evaluation even if you're doing the same job as the person in the next room (who received a good evaluation).  When I was told to sit in on the better teachers' classes in my department last year, I expected to see teaching styles much different from my own.  That was not the case:  I saw one excellent teacher (who only received a satisfactory evaluation), two teachers like myself, and one teacher whose class was quite unruly.  I was the only one who received a poor evaluation.

My recommendation:  when administrators find a new teacher lacking, they should be responsible for putting the tools for success in the hands of the teacher.  For example, if the lesson plans are not up to snuff, provide good examples of what is expected.  This may also require some coaching.  Teachers know how to write lesson plans, but what administrators are looking for is not always clear.  Make it clear.  If a teacher has behavior issues, help that teacher.  In Clark County, in order for a student to get sent to the dean's office, I needed to provide documentation of progressive discipline.  When the same student was unruly while my principal was in the room, he hauled her to the dean and she got suspended.  Imagine the power that could have given me if I were allowed to handle the same student in the same way.  Fairness.

Good teachers should not be run out of a school because they failed to understand the unspoken culture of a school.  

Messy places can make you feel unsettled.  Oprah Winfrey talked about how the junk in her car was a sign that all was not right.   That was usually the case with my desk at school.  I'd have papers everywhere and no system of organization could save me.  However, every so often (usually a quiet day), my desk would be clear and when the bell rang and the class left the room I'd feel settled.

This is also true about unfinished projects.  Knitters call them WIP (work in progress).  I personally thought I had quite a few.  However, when I checked on my projects, I found I was more "together" than I previously thought.  The bottom line:  I have a vest and a sweater to finish.  While that sounds like a lot, it's not.  The sweater basically just needs the sleeves knit.  The vest simply needs to be sewn together.  This is not even a full week of knitting.  So, I don't feel so bad about planning my next new project.

Rod spent the weekend building a large shed.  It's not finished -- he still needs to add the doors, finish adding the roof shingles and painting the building.  But when you realize where he started, he has accomplished a great deal.

I'll just have to keep that in mind as I begin my next project.  Every little thing we do adds to the finished piece.  That is true of college classes (every one gets you closer to graduation) and cleaning a room (one piece of clothing off the floor at a time).  Or, you may get words of wisdom from a  Nike ad:  Just do it.

I guess I better go finish those sleeves so I'll have one less messy place.

Pet Peeve Monday

Today's topic:  people who open their car door into traffic.

In the past week, I have experienced several people who just open their door into traffic.  If you've ever driven on Main Street in Highland Falls, you know that there is no room.  It's a good thing I'm vigilant or someone would be missing their car door (and my car would suffer damage).

What is up with people?  This happened twice to me today and I only was in the car three times!!!!

And, if anyone knows the answer -- would I be at fault if some dumbass just opened the car door to traffic and I hit the door???

Intelligence is evaporating.

The public library rocks.  Especially here in Highland Falls.  I suppose one could say it's because of our wonderful librarian.  She offers classes and enlightens the community about all sorts of things.  This week she offered sewing classes.  I figured, what the heck, I'll give it a go.

When I think of sewing, I think of the old fashioned sewing machine like the one my mom had for years.  She would use the foot pedal to sew away. I own a sewing machine but never really made use of it.  Before Tyler was born I made pillows for Julia's room.  Since my eyes can't see a straight line I was always nervous about (and thus avoided) making curtains.

Anyway, I was reading the local newspaper last week and saw that the library was offering a sewing class. I signed up and have gone two days (the last class is tomorrow).  Anyway, imagine my surprise when I learned that we would not be using a machine but our hands.  That's right!  I am hand stitching a skirt.

Thanks to the library!!

Let's call this Pet Peeve Monday.

Today's topic:  lack of manners

I have been on the hunt for a job in teaching for a while.  The "lessons" I've received suggest that after an interview, I should write a thank you note.  I do -- when I have the time (some interviews give me an answer within 24 hours which would make a thank you note weird -- thanks for nothing??).  Unfortunately, the lack of manners seems to be on the top end.  Last summer in a last ditch effort to stay in NY and not return to Vegas I had two interviews days before I was to leave.  I went to the schools and for one of them I did a demo lesson.  Oddly enough, I never heard from either school.  To me that's just plain rude.  Now, some may argue that it's an indication that the school isn't a great place to work.  I've got news:  commuting to Las Vegas from NY sucks so I'd work in a shit school.

This lack of manners also extends to the failure to communicate.  Last Thursday I received an email from a principal in a NYC school.  Basically, it was an invitation to call the school and set up an interview for the next week.  I called twice and got no answer; I left two messages and got no response.  Finally today I emailed the principal who initially contacted me and told her that I did leave two messages.  No, I don't expect a response.  I do expect some manners.

I recognize that in this age of online application systems it is difficult to reach out to all who apply.  But if a person takes the time to interview for a job, the least the hiring party could do is let the person know if he or she got the job.  Just consider that for a moment.

Anyone who wears a thong can tell you it takes some getting used to what with the odd feeling of having a string up your ass and all.  Still, they are quite sexy -- especially when you see them on a very toned body.  And who is more toned than the athletes at the Olympics?

But should the athletes be scantily clad?

Several years ago I was watching the women's track team run in unitards that pulled up between their butt cheeks.  Frankly I found it very unappealing.  Further, I wondered how the athletes felt about their attire.  After all, they do not choose their outfits -- the team is provided outfits by whatever company sponsors them.  Anyway, even with the beautiful bodies on these runners, I thought the outfit did not serve them well.

This is an issue with Olympic aquatic sports.  The divers wear small Speedos; the swimmers wear sleek, body-hugging suits.  If you watch closely, you'll notice the divers pulling the suit out from between their cheeks.  Granted, the divers do a lot of twisting and bending which causes their suits to pull up; nevertheless, I can't imagine how uncomfortable it is to constantly readjust the attire after completing the dive. 

I have been given some slack for these opinions.  Still, any girl who has to constantly readjust her bra strap can appreciate what I'm saying -- if the constant readjustment is done after each dive, couldn't we agree that the garment just doesn't fit properly?

Anyway, if I had a great body, I'd want to wear something that highlighted the hard work.  Just saying.

I am back from vacation and need to find some purpose to my pathetic life.  If money were no object, I'd go back to school to find a new field.  Sadly, money is a big issue.  Well, at least I have my knitting and plenty of yarn to keep me busy.  I am also finding pleasure in change.

To begin, I have been wanting to change my living room for a while.  We inherited furniture that was simply too big for the room.  I thought we'd be purchasing new furniture, but once I removed the love seat and added some chairs, I was able to move things around.  In fact, adding the rocking chair to the living room gives me a nice place to knit.  It looks good too.

I am looking forward to the change we have planned for the basement.  We are knocking down walls and giving ourselves one big room as opposed to the two we have now.  The tendency (for Rod and me at least) is to decide how we want the things in the room to be laid out.  We're not going to do that this time around.  Instead we are going to open things up and see what we shall see.

This is Julia's 23rd birthday.  What a joy to have her in this world.  She is bringing me change too -- she moves out this weekend.  Sure, it's only to the city of Manhattan but it's a whole world different than the one we have here.  I hope she embraces the change I so desire for myself.