Filed under: schools
I was thinking this today on my run… education isn’t in trouble in California. It’s ripe for a revolution. We all know the system is broken and it won’t be repaired until it completely collapses. Well, I think that time is almost upon us. Most districts in California are near bankruptcy with no assets really but the property they have purchased for future school sites or land their schools sit on now. No one wants to buy a school… or do they?
Listen up teacher friends… because I know I am going to be scorned for even thinking this. Let’s privatize education–to an extent. With the privatization of education, I know your child becomes a number instead of a person. But isn’t that how it is now? Your child right now is just a dollar sign with pigtails. School districts look at pure numbers when determining how many teachers are going to be a school and in a class. They don’t take into consideration the needs of the individual student when staffing. So in reality, nothing in this aspect would be changing.
The school site itself could be sold or leased to the firm responsible for running it. Of course, the most desirable solution would be for the site to be sold. That way, the community is no longer responsible for maintenance of the school which was probably already falling apart. The firm could use money raised through the stock market to improve facilities and programs and even build newer, better facilities. But if it had to be leased, then the money goes back to the community–not the school district.
School districts are the most colossal waste of money and resources ever created. They mismanage and waste so much time, energy, and money. School boards are made up largely unqualified people responsible for guiding multi-million dollar budgets. If a corporation like Oracle had a board made up of “Joe Six Packs,” they would have been out of business years ago. Instead they are led by top business people and found managers they knew would make the company run efficiently and meet its goals. Why shouldn’t we apply the same thought to schools?
Yes, I understand that are original idea was the public should oversee public money. But read the newspapers. It isn’t working. Just because our system is in place doesn’t mean it’s the best system. Yes, we would no longer have a representative type organization. However, we would have a more financially responsible and properly educated board directing the professionals in its place. A board that understands budgets and education that could make decisions that best serve both the corporation and its customers–your child.
Teachers will disagree with me on this one, but we need to do away with the pay scale. When I was a teacher, I would get to school at least an hour and half before school and leave at least an hour after school was out. There were teachers that would arrive right before school and bolt right as the students left. Were these people bad teachers? Not at all. But they made more money than me. The pay I received had no correlation to what kind of job I was doing in the classroom. It also gave me no incentive to get better either–just do my time and take frivolous classes to move me over on the pay scale. Instead, what I suggest is keep the union–that’s important for worker’s right–but allow schools to pay teachers on their skills, dedication, and their results. I definitely don’t agree teachers should be paid for test scores. However, an administrator or supervisor should be evaluating a teacher’s work continually and then providing an honest evaluation (without the union’s intervention) of his or her work. They should also be able to be let go at the end of their contract for any reason at any time. In addition, teachers could become almost free agents. Their reputation for getting the job done might create a bidding war for their services. Isn’t that was capitalism teaches? If a school felt confident about a teacher’s work, they could offer a multi-year contract. Tenure is used by bad teachers to hide behind. The good teachers don’t care about tenure. Why? Because they are good teachers that are going to get the job done. They also have the social capital in the community to support any administrator trying to do something dumb.
Our public education system is screwed. There is no other way of looking at it. We cannot allow it to repair itself in the current state. We need to have a revolution that allows more flexibility in how schools are funded, governed, and operated. When the revolution is complete, we will have schools that will prepare our students to be competitive. We will have teachers that are fairly compensated for their skills. We will have facilities that match the service level of hotels or you can just take your student to a competing school. Heck, we might even see the return of field trips.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Obviously we have finally hit the wall in our society that we need lessons in basic life skills. I was at one of my schools today and it made me acutely aware that we need some lessons.
1. When people (regardless of gender) is near you at a door–you hold the door open and allow them to walk. If there are a series of people, you wait some more and greet them.
2. When you make eye contact with someone–greet them. You can use such phrases as “Hello,” ”Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening,” ”How are you?” The term “sup” is only acceptable to people you are familiar and are under the age of 17.
3. Text messenging isn’t talking. Texting is to be used when you’re not supposed to be talking in such places as boring classes, meetings, or other places where making loud audible noises are not acceptable.
4. When giving a public presentation, do NOT read straight from your paper. Reading from your powerpoint word for word will cause me to get out my taser or pepper spray if my parole officer hasn’t given me my taser back yet.
5. When someone calls you (I know it’s a weird concept) and leaves a voice message, you return the call. If they don’t leave a message–fuck them. They aren’t worthy of a return call. UNLESS you have a prearranged agreement with said friend that messages are not necessary.
6. At the supermarket, return your cart. Your mother doesn’t work there. And if she does, she doesn’t have time to put up with your juvenile acts.
7. If you see a piece of trash, pick it up. I know it’s not yours. But someone has probably picked up your crap before too. Pay it forward.
8. If you are flying, be patient with people traveling with old people and single parents traveling with kids. Try traveling with either and you would know that these people are saints for putting up with what they have to do.
9. Don’t leave people on hold for more than a minute when taking another call. Make a decision… it’s either person A or B… you can’t have both.
10. Saying “Thank You” goes a long way.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Okay, I’m a huge facebook fan. Apart from my earlier notations that facebook is the devil–it really is. Yet, I’m attracted to it like a mosquito to a bug zapper. The eerie color just attracts me and then smack I’m stuck. As with any technology, there are going to be revisions and upgrades. Of course we all will gripe about the upgrades, but soon we get used to them as that was the way it always has been. Yet, there’s one thing that is driving me nuts… flair.
When I first moved my cyber address from myspace to facebook, my main annoyance was being poked to death. I never got the point of it waste of time. You might as well have been picking my nose on facebook–at least you would have gotten something. After a few stern warnings to some of my friends that I would break their fingers off in real life if they didn’t stop poking me, it stopped. I thought life was good on in my facebook world… then came flair.
Okay, so flair rolls around. Being a huge Office Space fan, I can appreciate that you need at least seven pieces of flair. So instead of being poked, people are handing me cyber crap like a bear, a hug, or a drink. Big woop. Unless that came with a free REAL drink… don’t waste my time. So I ignored that and it went away… then came mob wars and 20 something you know about me.
Mob wars can bite the big ones. It was lame and kept my screwing up my navigating through facebook. Not to mention the hundred or so e-mails I was getting from facebook because I hadn’t figured out I could turn off the notification. The 20 something things you might not know about me was interesting. I learned somethings about people and I let that slide. But now… but NOW.. we’re out of control.
Facebook friends… I love you all.. but these quizzes about each other, what cartoon characters you liked, or movie character is best like you have to stop. I honestly don’t care. And the more you post, the more it just pisses me off. I know you’re bored… it’s okay. But instead of posting all this crap, contact a friend. Go outside.. .walk to the water cooler… I don’t care… but PLEASE stop posting this nonsense. No one is going to “Wow, I really didn’t think she was like Claire from the Breakfast Club. I really respect her now.” Find something with meaning and post it.
Facebook is not meant for poking, quizzes, or flair… it’s for stalking and I would like to keep it that way.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Okay, I’m back to ranting. Normally I don’t like to rant about work because well some of my friends that I work with are also on my facebook. But this lady deserves to have her story shared. Don’t worry friends, it’s at none of your schools.
This woman called me a few weeks back to order some graduation announcements for one of my small schools. I was in the car and trying to explain the ordering process while driving. Apparently, I wasn’t crystal clear on my instructions and she called me last week to follow up. She told me that I said they would be out in about five days. I don’t know what that means to you, but out in five days means they will be SENT to you in five days… not at your house. But graduations are delicate situation and I just tried to make it right. It was already too late to intercept it from UPS to speed it up so the best I could do is try to make it right. Out of a $125 order, I discounted it almost $75. I felt bad.
Well I guess this wasn’t good enough for this lady. Not only would she call numerous times in a row and not leave a message, she would call during the evenings, weekends, and other times too. I work from home and my office line most of the times is forwarded to my cellphone. Tonight was no exception. I got a series of phone calls and I was at a birthday/graduation party my friend threw for me. When I answered it, it was her.. .again. I lost it. In the three years I’ve been doing this and the three years I’ve taught, I’ve only gone off the deep end on a parent one other time. I was done with the lady. I explained that she could send the items back and we would refund her completely. I was done. This is one of those people who you couldn’t make happy even if you served it on a gold platter. I couldn’t tolerate being made felt guilty anymore. I told her I would check it and call her back. Well she already ruined my evening.
When I got home, I checked my orders and low and behold, I was right… of course. So I wasn’t going to let it go. I should have called her at 10:30 at night just to piss her off. Instead I just shot off an e-mail and I tried to be done with it. Of course, she will be calling me tomorrow because she’s not going to like what I said.
My point tonight is that there’s no need to be mean to people–especially those you don’t even know. I don’t know there was more I could do, but if I could, I’m not doing it now. She tried to place her lack of planning and guilt she was getting from her family on me. At first, I was taking it. But then I realized that I was working way harder for a person that didn’t deserve it than a person who was nice to me. No more. This lady is toast in my book.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I took a personal day in general. I turned off the computer and ignored the cell phone. I went to the gym and ran into my friend Kelly. She got me off my plan to take a nice leisurely run this afternoon. Instead I used the ellpetical machine and caught up on tv shows and life. I was feeling a bit guilty because I haven’t been running as much lately instead I’ve been using the machine. But I am still in good shape going into the summer months.
I got home and decided that I wasn’t really into finding something to do. So I got Revolutionary Road and went out to the hammock. I spent the entire afternoon finishing this intense novel. I was trying to finish the novel so I could watch the movie. After finishing the book, I couldn’t handle going and renting the movie–it was far more intense than I had bargained. Instead, I did a little work and worked in the backyard. I thought that I really didn’t like doing yardwork. But I had the ipod going and I was actually enjoying doing the work because it was MY house. I came in and watched the cars pass by while I had a quick dinner. But the night seemed too good to pass up inside–so I grabbed my bike and went for a quick loop around the park. Nothing is better than riding six miles in near perfect weather without worrying about anything. It was just me, my ipod, and my bike. It was close to twilight and the park wasn’t very full at all. I could just pump my legs and just enjoy the world around me for a half an hour.
Deceit came to mind for this entry because of the book. The main thing I am taking away from the book is it’s harder in the end if you lie to yourself at the beginning. The two characters, Frank and April, could have avoided many years of unhappiness if they were only honest with each other from the beginning. Yet, it’s not appropriate in our culture to be “mean” or “cruel.” We are not programmed to hurt people with honesty. I know for a fact that I am not programmed that way and it’s something that I’m working on myself. But what I am proud of is no longer dragging people along in my unhappiness just because I can step up and be honest. It’s easier to be deceitful and pretend that everything is fine. These characters in the story chose the second opition and destroyed themselves and those around them that cared for them.
I guess it also just put another speed bump in my journey of getting married. I’m already 29 and I don’t see myself getting married anytime soon. Not because I don’t have a desire, but just because I can seem to find the right match for me. Because when that day happens it’s not going to be because I have settled or I put myself in an impossible situation that I can’t get out myself out. I have seen too many of my friends get stuck in one or the other and now are like Frank and April (the main characters from the novel). I don’t want to put myself or my wife through something like that. I would rather take my time, be selfish, and get it out of my system.
Deceit just brings pain… and in most cases that pain could have been avoided if honesty was just applied. Of course in the short term being honest is harder and will cause immediate pain. However, the deceit will eat inside and destroy your values, integrity, and the relationships you hold dear. So for me, I will learn from Frank and April and try to be more honest and open in relationships.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I am in a funk but for an unknown reason. I am feeling really anti-social the last few days. I don’t know if it’s because I’m just mentally preparing myself for the rush of the end of the year. That’s the only thing that I can put my finger on at the moment. So there’s really nothing I can do about it when I get into it… I just have to ride it out. I’m not going to hole myself up at home. I’ve still being going out and doing things, it’s just that I’m not really there. When I fall into the funk, which is every six weeks or so, I just have to stay low and just do my thing. It usually lasts about four or five days and I’m back to normal. So I’m just going to bop along and do my thing today… do a little run and read some more.
I’m reading Revolutionary Road currently. It’s not a bad book. It’s main premise in the internal destruction of a suburban family in the 1950s. While I was reading it, I was reminded how much I love the 1950s. Minus our numerous technological advances, the 1950s were actually pretty swell. Life was much simpler then. Of course our society has quazi advanced by electing a non-white president and people are treated equal for the most part. But there’s something nastalogic about community values and a strong family unit. Now granted people just didn’t wear their problems on their sleeves like we do today.
There were just as many problems then as there are now. I just long for a society where we aren’t moving at a million miles a minute. Where we don’t have to twitter every event of our life. We don’t have text messaging… we can actually call the person to ask them how they are doing or if they would like to do something tonight. Facebook (which I love) has just kept everyone at an arm-length distance from you. No need to actually actively maintain a friendship–just look at their status and pictures on facebook and you’ll get the idea. You can leave a passive message about how cute their children are or how much fun they look like they are having. Should we get together sometime? No need. I’ll just message you.
I guess what I missing lately is authentic relationships. I can count on one hand people I have real conversations with on a regular basis. The rest of my friends I can just “check up” on via facebook and call it a day. Being a person of complete efficiency, this is brilliant. In less than 30 seconds, I can see what everyone is doing today. The downside is that three line status or a few pictures don’t really tell the whole story. That’s only the exterior people are putting up for appearance. What I might not know is that they are struggling to pay their bills because they lost their job, they broke up with their boyfriend/girlfriend, or are really struggling with who they are. Only taking the time to make contact with the person will actually uncover the real struggles of life.
So for the moment I’m stuck. I’m fine, I just need to get through it. While I am in my funks I get very reflective and as much as I try to write about funny things in my life, I just can’t gleen it out of my daily interactions. I miss going on my rants and hopefully they will be back soon. Until then, I will listen to some John Mayer and just be in my corner.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tonight I participated in Chico State’s Masters Graduation exercises. It concluded a two and a half year journey of my life. In this journey I learned much about education and how to apply it. I also made new friends and put myself in sometime a nearly impossible situation of buying a house, running a business, dating, and trying to keep my workload for the program manageable. Although I did not have the experience I was hoping for with my master’s, I wouldn’t say it was terrible either. I watched others tonight as we were lining up celebrating with their professors and advisers. I felt very alone in our program. Towards the end, we started getting some support but it felt very much like an undergraduate program all over again. When I walked across the stage and was officially hooded our university president asked me what I wished to do with my degree and I replied that I wanted to get my doctorate. When? I don’t know.
The better question most will ask is what I will do with my degree. Well to be honest, I’m rocking it out what I’m doing right now. So why ruin a good thing? But getting the master’s wasn’t for nothing. I have learned enough to apply it to my current job to do it better. I don’t think that being a lifelong learner that once you reach a milestone you have to make drastic changes. I think instead you should internally focus on how to make your life better with the new tools in your belt. Sometimes that might mean a new job or career… other times it just might be doing what you already do better.
It was also nice to have my grandma and aunt and uncle up to visit. The house provides enough space for everyone and I’m couch surfing in my house for the first time. I’m looking forward to tomorrow to go down to the market and get some fresh fruit and other goodies before I go all out grocery shopping.
I am ready to get back to funny on these things… but I can’t until my reflective stage has passed.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I haven’t been in a funny writing mood lately. I have been just been bopping along and enjoying life. I did however get a sweet, sweet ride today. I put my car in the shop for it’s 30K mile maintenance. I’ve only had it for a year and half… you usually send your car in for that around year 3 of ownership. So, I guess I drive a lot. It just doesn’t feel like it anymore. I don’t mind being behind the wheel anymore. I have some great music, take time to call my friends, and be on hold with annoying music. The last one, I’m actually pretty fine with driving and doing because at least I’m being productive.
Speaking of being productive, the bluetooth is the best thing to use out of the car. I swear people must think I’m like Rain Man or something. They always think that I’m talking to myself when I’m talking while carrying a box of stuff. They just come up and start talking away. Now, I’m not a soft talker by any means… I do have a tendency to mumble. However, it’s pretty clear when I am on the phone and people are trying to have a conversation. Although, I do think it’s extremely rude to be on your phone/bluetooth/texting when someone is trying to help you at the store. Put the damn thing down for three minutes and have some real human to human contact. It is scary that, yours truly included, would rather text or facebook someone that call or hang out with them. We have become a society that has these faux relationships with people. There are friends of mine that I have had three day text message conversations that could have been a five minute phone call and when I see them, I don’t have much to talk about… weird, I know.
But tonight’s topic is loyalty. I think I mentioned in an early blog that I am a loyal friend. I am beginning to think that at times I am too loyal. I work too hard to maintain friendships that don’t need to be maintained any longer. I’ve been trying to string along some of them when they are clearly on break or dead. So I am striving this month to thank the friends that keep in touch with me and understand that others will be back eventually–maybe. If they don’t, it’s okay. I have a great group of friends all over the world. When they are ready to join my world again, I’ll be here. It’s not a stubborn thing. It is a me thing. I can’t put energy in places where it could spent doing good elsewhere. I do have a tendency to just write people off when they hurt me or make me mad, but life is too short for that too. I just am. They are just am. When our paths cross again, the time will be right. But I just can’t spend the energy trying to keep connected with people that don’t have the energy to reciprocate.
My loyalty still runs strong with my friends and today just makes me appreciate them even more. Life is too short to be pissed off at people. Instead, when I get hurt–I get healed. Surrounded myself with people who love me for who I am what I offer them as a friend/lover/relative. I don’t want to draw lines in the sand because they just get blown away with just a moments notice. I’ll be here people just have to ask.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I do a lot of talking and sometimes I don’t listen much. Today, I was trying to do the opposite. I was at a meeting for a group that provides services for elderly people in our area. One of my friends approached me about it a few months back and I told him that I would do it once my master’s program was over. Well, he held me to my word and asked me to join. I thought, what the heck, I need more things to fill the hole that was being left from the masters program.
I got there this afternoon not really knowing what to expect. When I pulled up to the office, the first two people I see is my friend and another woman who is all tatted up. My first impression is what did I volunteer to do. The meeting gets started and I really have no clue what’s going on and how I can help. So instead of jumping in and asking a thousand questions like I normally do, I just shut up and listened. Of course I would be lying if I said I was quiet during the entire meeting. I interjected every now and the with questions or suggestions. But it was nice being dumb for once. I had nothing really of value to add to the conversation, but I learned so much.
The lesson learned today is that listening is actually pretty cool. I’m so keen on being fully into the conversation that I don’t really step out and just watch for a few minutes. What I find is that I can contribute much more meaningfully if I just stop and not try to steer the conversation.
Filed under: me
Monday is therapy day for me. My therapist is a nice lady. She’s tough, but keeps me in line. It’s just nice to process somethings out with someone that is outside of my life. We have worked through tough issues and also some minor ones that never thought were there. I went in today thinking that I had every under control and was sailing. Then, we hit another snag.
My friendships are great. I love all of my friends and I am extremely loyal to them for one reason or another. They all have brought something to me and hopefully I have done the same. What came up today is that I don’t let many of my friends into the house. Now of course, the house is a metaphor for my life. Most of my friends are all on the porch. The porch is safe for me. You can peer into the windows and kind of see what’s going in the house, but there are some boundaries to keep things in. What got me thinking today is what are all my friends on the porch? I trust them completely. What got me thinking is that I am not trying to hide anything, I just don’t really volunteer information unless I’m asked. If you ask me a question, I’ll usually answer it honestly and without judgement. But the trick to get me really talking about myself, I mean beyond topical stuff, is to ask questions. Because if you don’t ask questions, I’ll divert the attention right back on you and keep the doors and windows of my house tightly closed. It’s something I need to work on, but it’s also part of who I am. I’m not trying to be secretive, but you have to take an interest in me to get information from me. If someone is able to do that, they will get invited in the house and maybe get a cookie.
The other fun thing that was discovered today is that I’m a metaphoric runner. I just keep moving with the hopes that no one can catch me. It took some convincing on my part to buy this. I like to get stuff done and move on. I’m one efficient mo fo. I hate wasting time, energy, or resources. But if I’m ever going to have a chance in a relationship, I am going to have let someone catch up with me or slow down enough to allow them to see me. I just keep moving onto the next thing without really looking around or worried about who is behind chasing me. I just have to be okay if someone catches me ever now and then to allow them to be in my world. The problem I am battling is that right now I’m happy with my pace of life. As I said in my last post, I’m not lonely at all. I love being busy and I was seriously annoyed when I had to slow down when I was in a relationship. But really, I shouldn’t have been at all. As efficient as I am, I can do both easily. But instead of looking at what had to be done I was looking at what MORE I could do. There are days that i actually go to lunch and never come back from it because I’m done for the day. If I slowed down a bit, let people catch up and spread my work out, everything will still be okay.
And everything will always be okay.
