When "Spring Break" becomes "Catch-up Week."
Before I get started, allow me to direct a heartfelt, personal, pre-rebutting rebuttal note to Swiftee: Go blow it out your ear.
There. Now that that's done...
To my more serious readers (yes, all three of you): It is Spring Break in Minneapolis' public school system. Rather than high-tail it with Michelle to the Gulf Coast of Florida to visit my mother-in-law, and the beach she just happens to live near, hop on the old scooter (which blew the crankshaft for a second time in four years), or do anything that might be loosely defined as "fun," I have decided to use this so-called "free" time to try to tackle the long list of things I have wanted to do but had to shelve to address more immediate concerns.
Take today, for instance. I went into the office to meet with a few others -- who have also transmogrified their "free" time into "working" time -- and draw up a Top Ten of projects I hope to get done by the end of the week before the show gets on the road again seven days from now.
I'll spare you the nasty details, but suffice it to say that I finished my Top Ten list in about ten minutes. Mostly, it involves software updates, database preparations and updates, reorganizing certain areas, writing a bunch of e-mails to people, getting cost estimates, and planning the next quarter of my class for a new bunch of students. Whee!
No, seriously... Whee! Almost every morning when I arrive on the campus, I hit the ground running and don't stop until the class dismissal bell. Some days, I don't even get a chance to drop my coat off in my office because something requiring my attention has come up. Because of all the budget cutbacks and reductions, most of us -- teachers, administrators, and staff -- are conducting the educational and administrative equivalent of meatball surgery. Granted, it's not pretty and it leaves a lot of rough edges, but we get the job done quickly and effectively.
You probably know how many critics of education argue that public schools should be run like a business, right? Well, if schools were run in such a manner, the employees would go on strike in a heartbeat due to the arduous working demands, the rough conditions, and the less-than-adequate compensation for their expertise. As I indicated in my previous post, if my school contracted out for the technical support I provide, it would be in a financial hole five to six times greater than what I receive...
... Of course, I did happen to crash the school's network last week. Hey, it could have happened to anybody. Besides, I fixed it in less than an hour (it should have been less, but I didn't ask the important starting question, "Okay, what did I do that caused this?") and finished re-wiring the third floor lab all at the same time.
God, I wish I had George W. Bush's job. All he does is tell people to do things or not to do things. He's not a "details" person, by his own admission. He never has to accept blame for his failures. He just passes them off to his underlings' underlings, or his underlings themselves if the failing issue is too hot. He doesn't even do e-mails, or so he says, anyway. Most importantly, he works nine to five, takes super-long vacations that are truly vacations and not some demented version of free time to address the as-yet-unaddressed tasks, browbeats and bullies others without a care in the world, and is chauffeured all over the place. All that, a six-digit annual income, and no calls for accountability from the Right Wing Nut House, too.
*sigh*
C'est le guerre, I guess. At least I get to maintain a clear conscience and sleep well at night, knowing I am doing some serious good in our little part of the world, here in Minneapolis.
Back to the ol' grindstone.
Technorati Tags: education, minneapolis, vacation
11 comment(s):
What a treat it must be for MPS students to share their time with such dedicated staff such as yourself Moses.
That's why I'm so confused.
How can it be that MPS has slipped to third largest enrollment (behind Anoka-Hennepin and Bloomington) when they have such hard working, selfless, uncomplaining individuals such as yourself "in the house"?
How is it that 71.14% of MPS 11 graders failed the MCA II math tests last year when there are such highly motivated teachers such as yourself in circulation?
And that was after EdMN had completed it's evisceration of the standards to make them "more fair"!
How Moses, can it be that 45% of MPS 12 graders fail to graduate when they have dedicated, concerned teachers like you to help them out??
Of course...the only answer is that we uncaring bastards out here must boost the metro areas's share of the $17 billion dollars (52% of the state budget) that we are "investing" in those poor, neglected schools.
Right? Right? It's all about the money, right?
As for spring break..well, you poor puppy you just put your poor, tired feet up and take a good long rest.
You and your ilk have obviously earned it.
By Swiftee, at Tuesday, April 03, 2007 3:09:00 PM
Oh, and by the way. However tempting it may be, you might want to sharpen your retorts to something a bit more, er, erudite than "Blow it out your ear..Bush lied and people died" should you encounter any unenlightened naysayers (parents of failed students for instance) that interrupt your well deserved R&R.
It's catchy, but somehow misses the mark, don't you think?
By Swiftee, at Tuesday, April 03, 2007 3:41:00 PM
I wasn't addressing any enlightened naysayers, Swiftee. I was addressing you. Big difference.
With all three of your brain cells working overtime to spout numbers, have you ever considered the impact a person's economic class might have on his or her education? I don't suppose you have, since it would challenge your notion that money doesn't make a difference in a person's education.
Anyway, as I said earlier (yet you managed to misquote), "Go blow it out your ear."
By Moses, at Tuesday, April 03, 2007 5:24:00 PM
"have you ever considered the impact a person's economic class might have on his or her education?"
No, I do not believe that poor people are stupid...especially since I grew up dirt poor and yet somehow managed to earn a degree in electrical engineering..I leave that sort of insane, mind numbing bigotry to liberals in general and liberal public school teachers in particular.
Do you mind if I lift that quote? It's a beaut.
Don't let those numbers bother you little man. You just stick to your pretty, pretty delusion..after all, they are not your kids so the hell with them, right? Right?
By Swiftee, at Tuesday, April 03, 2007 7:57:00 PM
Swiftee, dude, you are so wrong that you are beginning to strike me as a clueless wonder of the highest order.
First part: Economic class does not determine a person's intelligence, but it sure can greatly help or hinder their prospects of developing their intellect to their fullest potentials.
Second: You and I may have "grown up dirt poor," but that is a far cry from the intense poverty I see my kids struggling to cope with and overcome.
Third: I am not a liberal. I am a social democrat. Big difference, but not that you would know or care.
Fourth: They are indeed my kids, for as long as I have them in my classroom. Enough right-wing jerks such as yourself (and, not to forget, a certain, smart-mouthed Minnesota governor at present) already send my kids the message, "to hell with them." They receive a clear, unambiguous message from me that I do indeed give a damn about their lives and their futures.
I am neither their parents nor their friend. I am their teacher, pure and simple. Everywhere I have taught, I have established a solid reputation for being strict on behavior, very academically demanding, and fair and consistent in my actions to all my students. It doesn't make my job easier, not by a long shot, but that's what it takes.
Unlike you, I will make certain they have a fighting chance in this world.
By Moses, at Wednesday, April 04, 2007 4:20:00 PM
"Economic class does not determine a person's intelligence, but it sure can greatly help or hinder their prospects of developing their intellect to their fullest potentials"
B.S.
The poor have never, ever been as intellectually bankrupt as they are today.
It is not a matter of money, it is the result of the moral relativism that leftists have constructed and laid at the doorstep of people least likely to survive the consequences.
"You and I may have "grown up dirt poor," but that is a far cry from the intense poverty I see my kids struggling to cope with and overcome."
You really don't want to go there pal. You do not know anything about where I came from or the circumstances under which I was raised...but if you want to start looking, the beginning is on the south side of Chicago in a neighborhood that makes north MPLS look like a amusement park.
The difference is that in my house, no one told me that society owed me a damn thing. I was taught that the world is a cruel, unfair place and that if I expected to do better I had better figure it out in a hurry.
That's why I am a conservative today.
As to your fourth point: So stop your pathetic whining and TEACH!
I have never seen you in action, but *everything* I read here tells me that you are marking yourself as a complaining, non-producing, trouble maker. Even union hacks don't appreciate constant bitching.
No wonder you can't get a job!
And further, if you do start to put out superior effort that produces superior results and EVER expect to recieve better compensation than the lowest common denominator of your ilk, you had better get thee away from unions.
They are truly the last refuge of the worthless.
By Swiftee, at Wednesday, April 04, 2007 10:00:00 PM
One last word...seriously.
I really don't care if you pull yourself together or not, and it really doesn't matter in the big public school picture if you do or not..one more jaded seat warmer will not make a hill of beans.
That is because the public schools, or more precisely the infrastructure under which pubilc educations are produced, are doomed.
The defenders of the status quo have jackhammered deep into the stanchions and the buildings are falling.
And you, of all people should know it. There is a reason that urban school districts are being evacuated and it cannot be stopped now...the time for tinkering has come and gone.
I predict that despite the best efforts of the teachers union's trained seals at the legislature, each year more and more kids will fail to show up.
The legislature can cut the knees out from under the charter schools, but the exodus cannot be stopped.
I don't know if you have any idea how powerful (and successful) the homeschooling movement has become, but do yourself a favor and do a bit of googling...you will be amazed.
The state constitution mandates a free public education..but it does not spell out what that looks like, and trust me, it ain't gonna look anything like it does today in ten years.
So if you are serious about teaching, you had better learn to believe that EdMN has NOTHING to do with Educating Minnesota.
The bell has tolled.
By Swiftee, at Wednesday, April 04, 2007 10:14:00 PM
All other considerations aside, how does home schooling work in a two-income family?
Just askin'.
By Moses, at Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:29:00 AM
How is it that both you and I can come from the same place -- the south side of Chicago -- and under similar conditions, yet have two totally different outlooks?
Of course, I live in north Minneapolis, which does remind me a lot of my old stomping grounds.
By Moses, at Thursday, April 05, 2007 12:05:00 PM
Sigh..I'm tryin' here, I really am.
The answer is "it don't" Moses.
People who homeschool have made a conscience decision to put their kids first, and the American Dream second.
My partner homeschools his kids..or more properly his wife does the weekdays and he does weekends. His kids score in the 90th percentile on every assessment test they've taken; that is a very common among homeschooled kids.
Homeschooling is an option that is available to even the poorest families.
There is a boatload of excellent curriculum materials available for near nothing, and a large and growing network of homeschoolers pooling their talents and resources together makes it way less likely to fail.
On the other hand, if you have a two income family and like it that way, you can choose to send your kids to a private school...which is what I did.
Of course that isn't always as easily done as said. For instance, although I make a very generous income, putting three kids through a high quality school program (while still paying for a public education I wouldn't *be* paid to use) costs plenty.
So my wife and I sold our large Highland Park house and bought a 2 bedroom place on the West side.
It meant that 3 kids had to share 1 room, but since they were always so busy with their school work and activities they dodn't spend much time in there when they were not sleeping.
Now that two are in college (and both earned scholarships) and one graduating high school this year, we sold the tiny house and bought another big one in Mendota\W. St. Paul.
Stepping up to the plate whatever it takes; that's what being a parent means.
Given the reality of the situation in the public schools, unless you have a kid that is extremely intelligent and exceptionally self-motivated and self-directed (for they are the only kinds of kids that are successful) it is fast approaching something I find akin to child abuse to leave them there.
And I'm far from alone in that belief.
By Swiftee, at Thursday, April 05, 2007 12:21:00 PM
yeah, yeah.."conscious" decision.
By Swiftee, at Thursday, April 05, 2007 12:23:00 PM
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