...to an acquaintance, I mentioned my sub. teaching experience today. Which reminded me of my early days doing that sort of thankless work. When daughters were fairly young, and I was desperate to have funds that I did not have to 'ask for'. I did a good bit of the fill-in work for the school district. Some of the jobs were long term, replacing teachers who were planning to be away from their employment due to medical reasons. (Why pregnancy and childbirth is a medical condition I will never understand.)
In the course of going to many different elementary schools, I met most of the art teachers. And would give my contact info., ask them to call me when they expected to be absent. Back when the school system was willing to replace people that are now considered expendable or optional: music, art, PE teachers. And would pay a substitute to fill in and do their jobs when they were not available.
I had a couple of jobs where I filled positions for art teachers, and even though it was at times frustrating and difficult, back when I thought I wanted to be an art teacher, I did enjoy those extended weeks of working. If I am remembering correctly, the long term jobs were for either nine or twelve weeks, whatever the maximum the district would allow.The art teachers at that time were (and some still are) 'itenerant', meaning they traveled, and during the course of the week would be at two or three different schools. Going to one school for maybe two days a week, then another for two more, then the third school on the fifth day. Hauling materials in the back of your vehicle, and storing your tools and equipment in a closet. Feeling like someone's red-headed step-child.
But I was young, energetic, and probably anxiously hoping to get my foot in the door for the time when I would want to be employed, work full time. As I said, back when I thought I wanted to be a teacher and work in the public school system. I see people now who are retiring after putting in their time, devoting evenings and weekends to study for additional degrees to improve their retirement pay. And will occasionally kick myself, thinking: if you had put in the years, you would be sitting in the sand chair on the beach, watching the waves, with a cooler within reach.
But the things you have to do to get to that point, relazing, with the surf lapping at your toes: not such joy. I expect more and more of the teachers who are capable, with the years of experience needed to manage discipline problems while actually imparting knowledge are just waiting until they can exit. Counting off the days or weeks until they can do the paperwork and tell the school district where to send their retirement checks.
Monday, May 8, 2017
a remarkably pleasant day...
... but if I had been there in that classroom of five and six year olds by myself, I would be singing a different song. The teacher is one I worked with/for in recent months, in room of about twenty kids. She is, I think, fairly new at the work, but seems to do a great job, has them well in hand. She appears to be organized, capable and good at management/keeping them on task and under control.
I will likely get a couple more days of sub. work before schools are out for summer break after May 26. Even though I think/hope I have fulfilled my obligation of working ten days for the semester. Looking at extra days as 'insurance', plus it will be too easy to spend the little bit of income I will get for doing the occasional fort-holder-down work in the school system.
I am working the rest of this week at my 'real' job. Though there are only two more weeks before kids are out for summer, think I might get a bit more before the end. Sadly, the school district payroll runs so far behind the actual work calendar, I know not to count my chickens just yet. It will be nearly time for the teachers to start back in August before the rattling little bit of change I will make gets deposited into my checking.
It was a beautiful sunny, cloudless day. When it was time for the little ones to go out on the playground to run off some steam, I really enjoyed being out in the fresh air and sunshine. With a little breeze blowing, it was quite pleasant, and maybe a bit unseasonably cool over the past several days - more like late March or early April than the heat of May. A great day to be alive.
I will likely get a couple more days of sub. work before schools are out for summer break after May 26. Even though I think/hope I have fulfilled my obligation of working ten days for the semester. Looking at extra days as 'insurance', plus it will be too easy to spend the little bit of income I will get for doing the occasional fort-holder-down work in the school system.
I am working the rest of this week at my 'real' job. Though there are only two more weeks before kids are out for summer, think I might get a bit more before the end. Sadly, the school district payroll runs so far behind the actual work calendar, I know not to count my chickens just yet. It will be nearly time for the teachers to start back in August before the rattling little bit of change I will make gets deposited into my checking.
It was a beautiful sunny, cloudless day. When it was time for the little ones to go out on the playground to run off some steam, I really enjoyed being out in the fresh air and sunshine. With a little breeze blowing, it was quite pleasant, and maybe a bit unseasonably cool over the past several days - more like late March or early April than the heat of May. A great day to be alive.
Sunday, May 7, 2017
they are really something...
...those smart capable Girl Scouts who were at the awards event this afternoon, being praised and feted for their accomplishment. I am so impressed by these young girls who set goals, figure out how to get to where they want to be, and work to achieve their dreams. Some were really young, of middle school age, who planned projects and did some really neat things to improve our community.
The two who were receiving their Gold Awards were amazing. I am sure I was not that motivated at such a young age. The projects they dream up, plan and implement must have a long lasting impact, either locally or globally in order to meet the parameters of the Gold requirements. One of the girls started a club at her high school that would raise awareness of issues related to females, make the students in the school more aware of their gender bias. And then started the same club at another school, to widen the influence and impact of the programs she would share with other students.
The younger girls were doing their projects as a group: things like working with senior citizens to get them exercising, moving to improve health. Collecting bottle caps to accumulate enough to send off and have them made into a bench, then donating two benches to the community. Seeing a need, then planning, reaching out to the community to find the resources and doing the work to improve scout property. Creating a butterfly garden to provide food, shelter, water while attracting pollinators.
What is so striking about all of the projects applauded today is every one of the girls who devoted her time in an effort to reach the desired outcome was not thinking about herself or the pride she could take in her accomplishment. They have seen a job that needed doing and proceeded to figure out how they could solve the problem. The girls, both junior high aged, and graduating seniors had a desire to make an impact, serve their community. They are, of course, lead and guided by the adults who serve as mentors and models - moms, aunts, family members and friends who see the potential in the sparkling eyes and bright minds of the next generation and gently nudge them into service.
The two who were receiving their Gold Awards were amazing. I am sure I was not that motivated at such a young age. The projects they dream up, plan and implement must have a long lasting impact, either locally or globally in order to meet the parameters of the Gold requirements. One of the girls started a club at her high school that would raise awareness of issues related to females, make the students in the school more aware of their gender bias. And then started the same club at another school, to widen the influence and impact of the programs she would share with other students.
The younger girls were doing their projects as a group: things like working with senior citizens to get them exercising, moving to improve health. Collecting bottle caps to accumulate enough to send off and have them made into a bench, then donating two benches to the community. Seeing a need, then planning, reaching out to the community to find the resources and doing the work to improve scout property. Creating a butterfly garden to provide food, shelter, water while attracting pollinators.
What is so striking about all of the projects applauded today is every one of the girls who devoted her time in an effort to reach the desired outcome was not thinking about herself or the pride she could take in her accomplishment. They have seen a job that needed doing and proceeded to figure out how they could solve the problem. The girls, both junior high aged, and graduating seniors had a desire to make an impact, serve their community. They are, of course, lead and guided by the adults who serve as mentors and models - moms, aunts, family members and friends who see the potential in the sparkling eyes and bright minds of the next generation and gently nudge them into service.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
hope you will laugh...
...when you get to the end. I told this story this afternoon, and found it so funny, it took me a while to get it out. It will go under the heading of 'telling tales on myself'. You may recall a recent story about something either sad or hilarious I was willing to tell on myself: how I had gotten to the point that it was not mortifyingly embarrassing to share foolish behavior. Of greater value to have a story to share, hoping to be entertained by my confessions.
I was supposed to be at work at 5 a.m., so I set my phone alarm to go off at 4 o'clock to insure ample time to be standing at the time clock at five. I had been to a movie ("Hidden Figures") with a friend, so was late getting home, therefore later than usual getting into bed. I startled awake, looked at the clock and thought: 'Oh, @#$%!' Jumped out of bed and into my work clothes. Put on shoes, brushed teeth and headed out the door. I was actually in the carport when I looked at my watch: 12:30 a.m.
Needless to say, I said another bad word. Unlocked the door and went back in the house. It had only been an hour or s since I had put on my pajamas. And woke totally confused, jumped into work wear and dashed out the door. I decided not to undress and put my pj's back on, but thought I would just go back to bed in my clothes, thereby saving time when I got up at 4 a.m.
How clever is that? Maybe.
I was supposed to be at work at 5 a.m., so I set my phone alarm to go off at 4 o'clock to insure ample time to be standing at the time clock at five. I had been to a movie ("Hidden Figures") with a friend, so was late getting home, therefore later than usual getting into bed. I startled awake, looked at the clock and thought: 'Oh, @#$%!' Jumped out of bed and into my work clothes. Put on shoes, brushed teeth and headed out the door. I was actually in the carport when I looked at my watch: 12:30 a.m.
Needless to say, I said another bad word. Unlocked the door and went back in the house. It had only been an hour or s since I had put on my pajamas. And woke totally confused, jumped into work wear and dashed out the door. I decided not to undress and put my pj's back on, but thought I would just go back to bed in my clothes, thereby saving time when I got up at 4 a.m.
How clever is that? Maybe.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
finally...
...got that last needed sub. teaching job to reach minimum for the semester. Went to a high school today for a 1/2 day assignment that would give me the magic '10'. Sadly I had already agreed to take another one tomorrow. Going to an elementary school to spend the day with a second grade class.
Right now, I am wishing I could give it back. It would be such a delight to have a day in my life when I did not have any where to go: no job, no volunteering, no running up and down the road. A day with nothing on my calendar. But I will go to the second grade tomorrow and try to convince myself it is 'insurance' to be sure I have what is required to be in good standing with the school district. Why it is important, I cannot say.
Right now, I am wishing I could give it back. It would be such a delight to have a day in my life when I did not have any where to go: no job, no volunteering, no running up and down the road. A day with nothing on my calendar. But I will go to the second grade tomorrow and try to convince myself it is 'insurance' to be sure I have what is required to be in good standing with the school district. Why it is important, I cannot say.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
when driving across south georgia...
...yesterday, passing through small towns and looking at stuff that is going on every day in those little burgs, I noticed something interesting. There are usually places that are un-manned, requiring no living person for the business to run smoothly.These odd little set-ups that you can go and put your quarters in the slot and get a bag of ice.
Use it to fill your beer cooler, or get your party started. To take into the woods when you are going hunting, or for a family gathering featuring fried chicken, deviled eggs and iced tea. Any reason you would need more ice than your fridge can produce. A pretty ingenious idea, where the owner comes by ever few days and brings more bags of ice and collects the quarters from the drop box.
They've been around awhile, and apparently serve a purpose in little rural communities: open 'round the clock, with no need for the employee to have bathroom breaks, leave for lunch, or take a nap . The newest thing, that takes the 'ice on demand' idea one step further is something not every one could appreciate. It is similar to the big box, placed on a empty corner lot in a small town, that dispenses deer feed. I assume it would operate in a similar manner to the big portable freezers (about the size of a storage pod) that will give a bag of ice after being fed the proper number of coins. And I guess you would have to provide your own bucket to catch the dried shelled corn when it comes tumbling down the little chute.
Then you take your bucket of corn out to where you have rented hunting rights, and spread it out for the deer to find, making them think the Jumbo China buffet is open. After you give them a free meal several times, they have been conditioned to come back to the same place for more feed. But, there you are, up in your tree stand, ready to sight the innocents in your cross hairs. Prepared with your nice big cooler (full of fresh ice, calmly sitting in the tree, ready to kill and dismember the harmless deer for your pleasure and enjoyment.
Use it to fill your beer cooler, or get your party started. To take into the woods when you are going hunting, or for a family gathering featuring fried chicken, deviled eggs and iced tea. Any reason you would need more ice than your fridge can produce. A pretty ingenious idea, where the owner comes by ever few days and brings more bags of ice and collects the quarters from the drop box.
They've been around awhile, and apparently serve a purpose in little rural communities: open 'round the clock, with no need for the employee to have bathroom breaks, leave for lunch, or take a nap . The newest thing, that takes the 'ice on demand' idea one step further is something not every one could appreciate. It is similar to the big box, placed on a empty corner lot in a small town, that dispenses deer feed. I assume it would operate in a similar manner to the big portable freezers (about the size of a storage pod) that will give a bag of ice after being fed the proper number of coins. And I guess you would have to provide your own bucket to catch the dried shelled corn when it comes tumbling down the little chute.
Then you take your bucket of corn out to where you have rented hunting rights, and spread it out for the deer to find, making them think the Jumbo China buffet is open. After you give them a free meal several times, they have been conditioned to come back to the same place for more feed. But, there you are, up in your tree stand, ready to sight the innocents in your cross hairs. Prepared with your nice big cooler (full of fresh ice, calmly sitting in the tree, ready to kill and dismember the harmless deer for your pleasure and enjoyment.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
after spending most...
...of the day in my car, I have concluded: Dorothy was right. Remember in the Wizard of Oz when she gets wants to get back to Kansas (it was all a dream, right?) and she is instructed to say: "There's no place like home". I left home at 7:00 a.m., and got back to town at 6:30 p.m., ready to flop into bed. But if I go to bed at 8:45, it is certain I will be awake at 4, watching the numbers change on the digital clock.
Drove to south GA for a once a year luncheon. I do not see this assortment of locals in between these annual gatherings, though they meet once a month most all year long. I have good intentions, and write it down on my calendar to remind me. But just do not seem to be able to get there more frequently. They are an agreeable, pleasant bunch, making me sorry when I do see them, that I can't get myself organized enough to be present more often.
I also wanted to go by and see an older couple who were influential in my life. People I think of often. An older couple who have a daughter my age, folks I consider models, devoted to family, church and community. They are close to the age of my parents, and still plugging along. I guess they have been married for nearly seventy years. Amazing. If they are of that era, you can assume in declining health, but still together, propping each other up.
We had a good visit. I had called yesterday to ask about stopping by after lunch, and was told that the wife is not able to talk or walk, so feel like she must have had a stroke at some point. And I know he has been treated for some form of cancer. But there they are, hanging on. Extremely proud of adult children, and grandchildren who have overcome some profoundly affecting obstacles in their lives.
Drove to south GA for a once a year luncheon. I do not see this assortment of locals in between these annual gatherings, though they meet once a month most all year long. I have good intentions, and write it down on my calendar to remind me. But just do not seem to be able to get there more frequently. They are an agreeable, pleasant bunch, making me sorry when I do see them, that I can't get myself organized enough to be present more often.
I also wanted to go by and see an older couple who were influential in my life. People I think of often. An older couple who have a daughter my age, folks I consider models, devoted to family, church and community. They are close to the age of my parents, and still plugging along. I guess they have been married for nearly seventy years. Amazing. If they are of that era, you can assume in declining health, but still together, propping each other up.
We had a good visit. I had called yesterday to ask about stopping by after lunch, and was told that the wife is not able to talk or walk, so feel like she must have had a stroke at some point. And I know he has been treated for some form of cancer. But there they are, hanging on. Extremely proud of adult children, and grandchildren who have overcome some profoundly affecting obstacles in their lives.
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