Layoffs, Budgets, and Republicans

My father was a life-long Republican.  He claimed that he was almost 20 before he knew that "Goddamndemocrat" wasn't one word.  He worried about me.  He was afraid that generations of supporting the Republican party was dissipating in our family, and, as the patriarch, he needed to fix that.  I stayed with my parents the week after Andrew was born.  When we left for home he cradled my week-old baby and said, "Wait! I don't have much time!" And into my baby's ear he whispered, "Republican, Republican, Republican."

Then came John Engler.  Gradually, the life long Republican, the person who voted for Goldwater, the person who donated regularly to the Grand Old Party, was having misgivings.  My dad would say to me, "All my life I have been a conservative.  I don't know who these asses are."  He thought that the Republican party, and most particularly, John Engler was out to dismantle public education.  And it greatly troubled him.  His daughter and son-in-law taught in public schools.  His parents were immigrants.  His father came to the United States as a teenager speaking no English.  He attended Detroit Western High School.  He earned an civil engineering degree from the University of Michigan (class of 26e). 

My dad knew that public school provided opportunities for my grandfather. He believed that public education was the linchpin of democracy.  Public education provided equal opportunities to all kids--no matter what race or social class.  And he thought that John Engler was setting up a system for the haves and have-nots.  He thought that the Republican plan was to decimate public education so that all that would be left would be the children who lived in abject poverty in dysfunctional families.  He thought the Republicans were abandoning the children who needed the most help.  So, when the Republican party called for money, he said that he would not contribute until the agenda to destroy public schools changed.  He asked to be taken off the calling list.  When the calls didn't stop he said, "Don't call me again until that fat fuck is out of office." 

My dad died in 1998.  What would he think about his daughter and son-in-law being laid off after 36 years of teaching?  What would he think about taking money from the school budget to balance the state budget?  What would he think about his Republican Party now?

Activity 6

I have used Google Docs before when I did an online exam for developing skills.  I made a survey where kids had to self evaluate and reflect on the semester.  They needed to consider the things they did well and should continue to do, and consider things that didn't go well and what changes they needed to make to be more successful.  Some questions were short answer, but most were scaled answers.  I think the kids liked using it, but I found it hard to grade.  The answers come back in a spreadsheet and I found it cumbersome and confusing.  In a survey, it usually doesn't matter what each individual says.  But, I needed to make sure I could separate answers for each individual student.  I'm sure the problem were my inexperience with using Google Docs.  The problem was that I needed to get the exams graded and grades complete and it was the end of the year, which means IEP time.  I didn't have time for a learning curve.

I did make a 2 slide presentation for this activity.  It is very basic.  I am requiring my students to read at the beginning of developing skills.  Most kids are enjoying their books. I went to an English workshop with Carol Sliwka this week and she had videos from the authors from some of the books she presented.  So, I stole her idea and made a presentation that I could use during a book talk.

I am more familiar with Power Point and I think Power Point has more options so presentations can look snazzier.

Social Bookmarking

This was another easier task for me because I had to create a Delicious account when I completed Jim Dornberg's 23 Things About Web 2.0.  I have to say, though, that I haven't thought about it much since then.  One of my most challenging tasks this morning was to retrieve my password.  I haven't used Delicious much because when I started my Delicious account in 2009, it was blocked from the computers at school.  And since most of the web sites I was using were school related, it annoyed me and I thought, why bother? 

What I don't remember from 2009 is the social networking part.  I know I could get to Jim's Delicious account, but I don't remember adding names so I could see other people's Delicious accounts.  A few weeks ago, Larry Nocella happened to see me in the hall and told me about a good algebra site he found.  Later, he emailed it to me.  If we hadn't happened to pass in the hallway, he probably wouldn't have thought of sharing it.  Social bookmarking is a much better way to share with colleagues.

During the past 2 summers I have spent part of nearly every day working on my blackboard class.  Much of the information I used from that class came from web sites.  And I didn't bookmark a single one of them.  How ridiculous of me.

My absolute favorite personal site is Flickr.  I post photos and videos on my site.  My kids have selected photos, edited them, and made copies for themselves.  They can see what we did each day when we were on vacation.  I used pictures from Flickr when I taught resource room World Cultures.  We learned about South Asia and Latin America and I thought my students had no idea what the regions and people living there looked like.  There are pictures from all over the world on Flickr that are available to everyone.  We took "virtual tours" of many of the regions of study in my class.

Are You a Teacher or Somethin'?

At the end of June, Otto and I make our annual trek to Hart Plaza to watch the fireworks.  It is quite and undertaking, as we spend the entire day and into the night on the riverfront.  It involves bringing a blanket, a cooler, books, games, and iPods.   As Hart Plaza fills, the grass becomes a patchwork of blankets.  One year, a little boy on a neighboring blanket kept wandering onto our blanket.  We shared our binoculars and watched freighters sail by.  We checked out Canada.  We talked baseball.  His mom called him back to his own blanket but it wasn't be long before he was back with us.  We shared our grapes.  We played Pass the Pigs.  Again his mom called him back.  This went on for the majority of the afternoon.  Finally, his mom said, "I don't know why he's so taken with you.  Are you a teacher or somethin'?"

Back in the Saddle Again

This was a pretty easy activity for me because I had to create a blog when I did Jim Dornberg's Web 2.0 online class. I haven't looked at this blog since 2009 and Otto assured me that it would no longer be active but-HA-it was. I just changed the name and picture.

The assignment is to discuss feelings about blogging and about having opinions out for the public to view. I think blogs are fun. I used to read my son's blog and laugh, although there were times there were things his mom shouldn't have been reading. I have not done much with blogs and teaching, other than to read Monday Morning Coffee.

I do have one thing I don't like about blogs. I believe that people write things that they would never say if they were accountable for their words. People can write things on blogs and remain anonymous. They can write rude, vile, hateful things and are never responsible for what they write. I think the blogs on the Monroe Evening News are terrible and I stopped reading them several years ago.