Nothing To Do

I feel personally attacked right now.

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:11:00 -0400

I assume that all Boston runners, all runners anywhere, do as well.

This.

Shady.

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:05:44 -0500

Yesterday morning 8:00 AM - weather.com has a winter weather advisory 6 AM Wednesday-12AM Thursday for winter weather and snow accumulation.

This morning 8:00 AM - winter weather advisory in effect. Snow accumulation anticipated 2-4 inches plus rain and wind.

8:30 AM - Get in my car to go to work a preschool, which has not opted to close for the day. It has been raining heavily overnight and there are a few inches of water in low spots on the road.

9:00 AM - Arrive at work where snow has already accumulated about an inch in the parking lot and is coming down fast, blowing in sideways.

10:00 AM - Announcement comes around the building that we will be closing at 11, parents are being called to pick up their children.

11:00 AM - A handful of parents have yet to arrive, snow has accumulated 3-4 inches in the parking lot and not been cleared, making it difficult for anyone to get in or out.

11:15 AM - Driving home on roads that have not been (and probably will not be) plowed and get stuck at an intersection in a pile of slush/snow. Manage to back up and plow through the snow and arrive home safely.

Please someone explain to me why, with plenty of advance warning, my school was even open today. This storm was not a surprise. This is not 1913. We knew it was coming, we knew it would likely be bad, we knew that the city doesn’t have the resources to appropriately handle a snow situation. There are not enough plows or road salt to ensure an even moderately safe drive anywhere. It is not safe for parents to be coming to pick up their kids in blizzard conditions, even if it was safe enough to get them to school in the first place. We should have anticipated that and prevented the problem of putting families in danger by forcing them onto the dangerous roads. Teachers should not have had to risk their safety to get to school and then home again in order to get anywhere near normal hours to ensure a paycheck to cover their living expenses. This should be considered reckless endangerment.

Except that because of the policies that protect businesses and their interests or something, my boss’s boss’s boss can have a policy that UNLESS WE CLOSE FOR THE WHOLE DAY UNEXPECTEDLY, WE
ARE ONLY OWED PAY FOR THE HOURS WE WORKED THAT DAY. So, I will be compensated for my 2 hours of work today. If we had opted not to open, and keep everyone safely off the dangerous roads, I would have been compensated for 8 hours because of an unscheduled cancellation. And to make the whole thing worse, the tuition parents pay to enroll their kids is only refunded in the event of a full day cancellation. To simplify that math for you, this means that my boss’s boss’s boss will receive the SAME amount of income from tuition because we were open part of the day BUT he does not have to pay teacher’s salaries for the hours they did not work. In economic terms, this is called making a profit. In my terms, this is called shady.

How is this even legal? What kind of moral compass says that this is ok? I made it home safe, but how many teachers and parents and children didn’t?

Golden Rule Activity for Pre-K

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:52:10 -0500

I did this activity with my students and it really helped them to see what it means to treat others how you want to be treated and what it looks like when we don’t.
I had all my students sit around one table and each student received a piece of paper. They wrote their names on the back. I told them that we were all making pictures together and at the end everyone would have a picture that all their friends had worked on. I explained that they would have 30 seconds to draw and then we would pass the pictures to the next person and continue the pattern all the way around until each person’s picture came back to them. Each student chose one marker and I have them opportunities to change in between rounds if they wished to. When given permission to begin, they went about drawing whatever they liked as I counted to 30. Then tops were put on markers and papers were passed counter-clockwise. Some students announced to others not to mess up their picture. This continued with students taking various strategies from drawing the same little character on every paper to scribbling all over every paper. Once all papers returned to their owners, most expressed some degree of sadness or anger that their picture had been “messed up” by others. We put all the drawings in our cubbies and sat down at circle to debrief.
First, I asked them to share their feelings and followed up with further questions to get at why they were having those emotions (I am sad that someone scribbled on my paper because I was drawing a pretty princess for my mommy). Then we talked about what we drew on each paper. We noticed that most people had scribbled on at least one other paper and most were not happy that someone had scribbled on their own paper. This transitioned wonderfully into the golden rule. If you do not want someone to scribble on your paper, why would you scribble on someone else’s? We discussed the idea that whatever you put out in the world will come back to you. If you put out kindness, kindness will come back to you.
My students seemed to grow immensely from this hands-on activity where they could see and feel their actions having an effect on others without anyone being seriously hurt.

You learn a lot about the human condition when you work with preschoolers.

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:17:57 -0500

You learn a lot about the human condition when you work with preschoolers.

Excuse me, but are they actually wearing TWO sports bras??...

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:04:43 -0500

Excuse me, but are they actually wearing TWO sports bras?? Isn’t the POINT of a sports bra to only need ONE? Nike, come on. You are not going to get women to buy your products if the skinny mini models need to wear TWO sports bras to keep their chests under control.

72 days later: I don't want to look like a princess on my wedding day.

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:32:31 -0500

72 days later: I don't want to look like a princess on my wedding day.:

ourrightsarehuman:

I’ve heard a lot of ladies say they want to look like a princess on their wedding day. They want to look prettier than they’ve ever looked before. I’ve also heard a lot of women look back on their wedding day self as their ideal: the hair, the make-up, the outfit, the body, and so on. I see…

“On my wedding day, I will be myself, I will be in love, and I will be beautiful. When my children look at my wedding photos, they won’t see a princess or perfection. They’ll see the beauty of their moms overwhelmed by joy.”

thedailywhat: Meanwhile in Sweden of the Day: Gender-swapped...

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:35:49 -0500

thedailywhat:

Meanwhile in Sweden of the Day: Gender-swapped Children’s Toy Catalogue

The latest holiday catalogue released by Sweden’s toy retail chain Top Toy is making some buzz for breaking the gender-role stereotypes in its product pages, which features girls with Nerf guns and boys with doll houses and Hello Kitty. According to Jezebel, Top Toy’s gender-swapped catalogue may have been inspired in part by the widespread debate over the issue of gender equality that has been ongoing for the past few years in the Scandinavian nation. Hat tip goes to The Mary Sue.

I need this catalog in my classroom. My children would lose their minds in such a wonderful way. I am tired of reminding them that there are no “girl toys” or “boy toys,” there are only toys that everyone may play with if they enjoy them. Heteronormativity has become a pet peeve of mine. It’s a tough sell with 4 year-olds who are told by advertisements, media, and, often, their parents that certain things are off-limits because they are “for girls” or “for boys.”

loveyourquotes: http://loveyourquotes.tumblr.com

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:45:01 -0500

loveyourquotes:

http://loveyourquotes.tumblr.com

ojpappin: View of the library tower from the Clapp tower room....

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 17:07:27 -0500

ojpappin:

View of the library tower from the Clapp tower room. Love my campus.

This brings back so many excellent memories of intellectual discussions with women I have so much respect and admiration for… I can’t even say.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth...

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:21:47 -0500

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War One to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 to recall the end of hostilities of World War One; these hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”.

Let us not forget those who sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom and rights and of those around the world. For if it had not been for their bold actions, we would not be living in the freedom based society we live in today. But, let us also remember those innocent civilians who lost their lives during battle and even the lives lost of our so-called “enemies” that fought against our soldiers, for they too were fighting for the freedom of their own countries.

LEST WE FORGET.

President or not, you are a great person and you have my...

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:27:03 -0500

President or not, you are a great person and you have my support.

GOBAMA!

I want to be here.

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 20:35:26 -0500

I want to be here.

"‎’Slut’ is attacking women for their right to say yes. ‘Friend Zone’ is attacking women for their..."

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 20:33:03 -0500

“‎’Slut’ is attacking women for their right to say yes. ‘Friend Zone’ is attacking women for their right to say no.”

- (via finedineonmyvegangenitalia)

And “bitch” is attacking women for their right to call you on it.

(via delacroix)

"I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney..."

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:31:43 -0400

“I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, ‘My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.’ It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you ‘disagree’ with your candidate on these issues.”

- Pulitzer and Tony winning playwright Doug Wright (via abloodymess)

I know there are some things that you’re not supposed to talk about in public. Or at all. But I’m...

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:21:28 -0400

I know there are some things that you’re not supposed to talk about in public. Or at all. But I’m tired of feeling angry and helpless.

Dear world,

I am paid $11.00 an hour (before taxes) to teach four year olds the things they need to know before going to Kindergarten. I spend 40 hours a week in my classroom, 8 hours each Monday through Friday. I have an hour long break each day to eat lunch, or take a nap, or run errands, or make phone calls, or do whatever I please. My center is closed and I get the day off on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas Day. That’s 7 holidays a year, emphasis on the DAY. After working there a full year, I was finally eligible to receive pay for those days. Also after a year, I became eligible for 7 paid vacation days, which I may use at my discretion. If I have not used them before the end of the year, I lose them. Each additional year I stay in my position, I receive an additional day of paid vacation. Up to a total of 14 days. That I have to use during one year before it resets and I lose them.
During the 40 hours a week that I am on the clock, I am part teacher, part janitor, part lunch-lady, part nurse. I am “on” all the time. I teach language arts, science, math, social studies, art, music, physical education, and health in addition to teaching basic hygiene, morals, manners, respect, and safety. I write daily lesson plans and weekly progress reports. I assess 5 times annually using two different assessment systems. This happens either during one hour of nap-time (while also supervising children who are often wide awake) or during my own time outside of paid hours. I am responsible for the children’s educations, of course, but also for their health and safety and every aspect of the cleanliness of my classroom and it’s bathroom. I clean and disinfect surfaces and toys daily, I sweep and mop the floors and vacuum the rugs daily, I plunge the toilet, when necessary. All with the children in the room, because if the children are not in the room, neither am I. This seems to me like a waste of my time and theirs. They are there to learn, not watch me clean and clean and clean again. Admittedly, they participate in the cleaning, helping with a mini-dustpan to sweep the floor, and putting away the toys. It is an opportunity to teach them responsibility. I serve lunch and two snacks each day, minding allergies and aversions and teaching nutrition and table manners. On top of the 40 hours a week, there are monthly curriculum trainings that happen after hours (usually about 2 hours per meeting), 3-4 annual staff meetings, also held after hours, and bi-annual parent conferences, which happen in 2 two-hour blocks, you guess it, after hours. These are mandatory and we are paid for those additional hours. But, overtime pay is carefully avoided by carving out hours from the normal 40 to make up for the extra. So, I might receive an extra-long lunch to get an hour back from the extra hour spent at a meeting. Or I might be sent home 2 hours early one day that week. All this work is all just showing up. Doing a good job is extra. Make the lessons fun and engaging, get the students excited about school and learning and then keep them that way, evaluate whether the material is sinking in beyond short term memory, earn the trust and respect of the students and their parents, the other teachers, and the administration, set boundaries, have fair rewards and consequences, know the students, love the students, invest yourself in their success.
I show up. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. I do my best every day. Every day I try to do better than I did yesterday. I learn from failures and successes. I am not perfect. I am invested.
$11.00 an hour. Before taxes.
I am 23. I just graduated from a prestigious four year liberal college 1.5 years ago. I am engaged and co-habitating. We rent a home. We care for 4 pets.
The insurance plan my employer offers me would cost me more per paycheck than I pay on my car payment per MONTH. I would pay more than half what I pay in rent per month on insurance alone. Suffice it to say, that simply is not feasible. Luckily, I am still covered by my mother’s insurance plan, which is significantly cheaper and has far better coverage. But only for 3 more years. Even more upsetting is my sick leave. Or, more accurately, my lack of sick leave. In case it wasn’t clear when I laid out my vacation time, if I take a day off or even a partial day off, it is not compensated. So, if I get sick and need to stay home or even if I need to take a morning or afternoon to see a doctor, I will not be paid for any time missed unless I specifically ask for it to be taken out of my vacation days ahead of time. Just so we’re clear, this means that no matter how sick I am, if I can stand or walk and see and breathe simultaneously, I will be at work teaching my kids. Does this sound like a good idea to you? Does it sound like protecting the children’s well-being to you? Didn’t think so. But, please, enlighten me what you would do if you were living paycheck to paycheck and the $88 you would lose from taking that the day off would mean the difference between making a car payment or rent and not. Tell me what you would have me do if I lost my car (and thus my only way to get to work) or was evicted because I took time off work to protect the children from my illness. So, I cough into my sleeve, I wash and sanitize my hands incessantly, I keep my face away from them, I remind them to wash their hands constantly, I sanitize surfaces and toys. And I hope their parents are in a better position than I am, so that they can go to the doctor when they need to, they can stay home if they need to, and they won’t have to worry about what will come up short because of it. Does this make any sense to you? Me neither.
Now, in the lovely right to work state I live in, there are no unions or organized labor. The benefit for me is that I am not contracted to stay in my position, I could leave at any time. But I like my work. I like what I do. I do not like the lack of compensation and benefits. I don’t want to leave. I want to be able to support a family with my job. I don’t know how to get these things. In Chicago, the teachers union went on strike. Even if there was a union, I wouldn’t be involved because, on top of being in a right to work state, I am in a private, for-profit school. So, what am I to do? The administration does not seem to find any of this unreasonable. In fact, they seem to find it unreasonable of me to expect more, or different. I am not complaining. I am stating facts. I am opening doors that are supposed to remain closed. This is not ok. This is not what’s best. This is not the way to educate children.
Would you work under these conditions, given the choice? Would you want the person responsible for your children in this position? What will you do about it?

martindavenport: I don’t think Obama is perfect and I don’t blindly trust him but Romney is...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:44:43 -0400

martindavenport:

I don’t think Obama is perfect and I don’t blindly trust him

but Romney is contradictory, homophobic, sexist, against Planned Parenthood, anti-abortion, focused on the upper class, entirely confused as to what the middle class even IS, environmentally unconcerned, and an asshole

SO

yup.

ALL of the tea and ALL of the honey tried to put Ms. W back together again.

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:22:09 -0400

ALL of the tea and ALL of the honey tried to put Ms. W back together again.

"If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself."

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:57:55 -0400

“If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

- Albert Einstein (via politicalprof)
What does it mean if my career choice involves explaining anything and everything to 4 year olds? Does that make me a genius?

googoogoojoob: soareos:Beautiful Things in the World -Blanket...

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:12:40 -0400

googoogoojoob:

soareos:Beautiful Things in the World -Blanket Forts

We do blanket forts in my room as a reward for 3 or more good days in a week. None of them hold a candle to these. I think I need more/bigger blankets. And also taller furniture.

No, seriously: Register to vote

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:45:30 -0400

barackobama:

You only have a few hours left to register to vote on the actually perfect day to do it: National Voter Registration Day.

But here’s something awesome: We’ve embedded our registration form right here on our Tumblr so you can register to vote without leaving Tumblr.

Do it in less than five minutes and marvel that we live in the future.