Go To BED Young Children!

Spring break starts on Friday the 13th. I am not superstitious. As a matter of fact, I have always liked Friday the 13th and feel it is more lucky for me. But that's me. And no I am not a witch. Well, maybe my students think so, but anyway. . .

We have been learning the art of written persuasion in the classroom. Well, I have been teaching, they have been learning.

Sometimes someone says something (who knew you could put so many "some" words all together?) and you just KNOW they have been watching things they shouldn't be watching.

The topic was "Your school is banning TV watching during the week. Do you agree or disagree? Persuade someone to see your side."

A couple of the girls actually opted for the banning of TV (it didn't surprise me). Word got around the room and some of the boys were shaking their heads.

One couldn't stop there. He blurted out (now remember this is fourth grade and they are at most ten) , "Oh my gosh. Girls gone wild!"

Obviously, TV should be banned in his house late at night.

New Year

"Happy New Year to, uh, who, Spike?" This was an actual line we heard on TV last night from one of the hosts. I am not sure which one; it might have been the one with Robbie Knievel jumping out in Vegas. Anyway, it doesn't matter which show. The fact that it was said just about had us peeing in our pants laughing. And then we rolled with it and hit it back and forth. "Yeah, that's perfect. Put a drunk host on on New Year's Eve." and "Uh, who am I again?" and "Am I on the air live? Is anyone gonna see this?"

We had a great New Year's Eve. Lots of fun. Banging of pots and pans. We lit sparklers in the yard (it was freezing out!!!)

I started the year out right by sleeping till 9 and laying in bed for another hour just enjoying it.

It's bright and sunny out. My house is clean. My laundry is done. :)

So what am I going to do today??

I think I am just going to kick back and watch TV and play cards online.

I still need to take down the Christmas decorations. I still have a LOT of homework to do. I think I even have some grading to do. But that's just gonna have to wait. Today I am going to enjoy being off and practice relaxing:)

Arg!

I am in the middle of watching the news, which I rarely do. Once again, they have a man teacher that won some kind of award for teaching that they are featuring. This really irks me.

21% of teachers (there are three million in all) are men. That is not even a quarter. Yet every time you turn on the TV lately, or open a magazine, they are raving about a man teacher. What about the 79% of women teachers? Not one of them is newsworthy??? I can't believe that.

Male teachers are a novelty and a necessity - and much needed in schools. This is not a male teacher bash by any means. I am more concerned with the inaccurate amount of representation they are receiving in the media. I know plenty of outstanding female teachers that go above and beyond every single day. Where is their movie? Where is their article about all their great deeds? Or are they all just too humble?

Many of our students need positive male role models. Some of our students respond better to male teachers. But the media needs to remember that there are 2.4 million female teachers and a lot of them are giving their hearts, their money, and their 100% effort to the success of their students every day.

Reality vs Progress

I was so excited when cell phones came out with cameras. I just knew that very shortly there would be real pictures of aliens that would confirm their existence.


It seems that didn't prove to be the case though. Not only do we NOT have more (and real) pictures of aliens and those encounters everyone used to have, it seems that people aren't having those alien experiences that much. Kinda makes you say hmm.

Or, could it be that with those cell phone cameras that also came with keyboards for texting, people are no longer looking up to the sky? They are too busy texting and finding the right letter to type?

We have become a nation that loves reality. Our TV shows follow ordinary people around. Sometimes I wonder why they haven't picked me yet. I find my own life pretty dog gone interesting. My refrigerator mysteriously stopped working. I play poker online and win thousands of fake dollars.

Reality. We all get enough and have enough. Let's go back to dreaming and wishing on stars.