this is the truck-house that we will live in together (I had to remind him to include Rob). Not too bad; good natural light, antennas for radio/tv reception...I'll take it!
This is why I love teaching!!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Why I do what I do
If I could share all the stories of crazy things that go on in our classroom no one would believe me. Most days are crazy, but for 45 minutes a day I enjoy the pleasure of working with a 6th grade Aspergers student who isn't in our classroom, but needs a little extra help on schoolwork. He is the HIGHLIGHT of my day, and he LOVES LOVES LOVES me. See for yourself.
this is the truck-house that we will live in together (I had to remind him to include Rob). Not too bad; good natural light, antennas for radio/tv reception...I'll take it!
This is why I love teaching!!!
this is the truck-house that we will live in together (I had to remind him to include Rob). Not too bad; good natural light, antennas for radio/tv reception...I'll take it!
This is why I love teaching!!!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
I'm thankful for...
Juvenal?
You mean Juvenal the Roman satirist who was published in AD 112?
YES!
I know it is odd, isn't it? Here's the deal - so far this semester, I've had to read quite a few books. More than I can count on my fingers. Unfortunately because of all the required reading, I've not been able to participate in our ward's Book Club, since I don't have the time for pleasure reading - and I don't consider any of my required reading pleasurable. That is, until I read Juvenal.
Reading The Satires was so entertaining that many times I laughed out loud. He makes fun of every part of Roman society and culture. In Satire 6: Roman Wives (by far my favorite) in addition to complaining about the lack of morals among Roman men and especially women, he's trying to talk his friend out of getting married:
"Don't you think it better to sleep with a little boy-friend? A boy-friend doesn't argue all night or ask you for presents as he lies beside you, or complain that you are not giving a hundred percent...She rails at his slave-boys or invents a mistress to weep about. Floods of tears are always at hand; they stand at the ready, within the reservoir, waiting to hear the word of command; then they flow as she tells them. You, poor worm, are delighted, complacently thinking it's love. You set about drying her tears with your lips, little aware of what you'd find in her letters if you ever unlocked the desk of that whore who pretends to be jealous." Man, he's harsh.
Apparently even women then had the tendency to gossip:
"That kind of woman knows what's happening throughout the world- what Thrace and China are up to, what secrets a stepmother shares with the son, and who's in love, and for whom the ladies are scrambling. She will tell you who made the widow pregnant, and in which month; with what endearments each woman makes love, and in what positions...she snaps up the latest rumours and tales at the city gate, and fabricates others...that's what she tells to whoever she meets at every corner."
Here's a few more of my favorite lines:
"If you want the truth, it isn't a wife he loves, but a face. Just let a couple of wrinkles appear, let her skin become dry and start to sag, let her teeth turn black and her eyes go puffy - 'Pack your bags' a freedman will cry, 'and be on your way. You get on our nerves, forever blowing your nose; hurry up and be off; your successor is someone without a perpetual sniffle.'"
"If you don't intend to love the woman who was your betrothed and is now your lawfully wedded wife, why marry at all? Why waste money on a meal?"
"As long as her mother's alive, harmony is not to be hoped for."
Satire 9: The Woes of a Gigolo and Satire 10: The Futility of Aspirations are my other favorites. It is very easy to adapt the ways he scorns immorality to our current day. There are a lot of truths to what he says.
So yes, this Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for the unexpected entertainment I enjoyed while doing my homework.
You mean Juvenal the Roman satirist who was published in AD 112?
YES!
I know it is odd, isn't it? Here's the deal - so far this semester, I've had to read quite a few books. More than I can count on my fingers. Unfortunately because of all the required reading, I've not been able to participate in our ward's Book Club, since I don't have the time for pleasure reading - and I don't consider any of my required reading pleasurable. That is, until I read Juvenal.
Reading The Satires was so entertaining that many times I laughed out loud. He makes fun of every part of Roman society and culture. In Satire 6: Roman Wives (by far my favorite) in addition to complaining about the lack of morals among Roman men and especially women, he's trying to talk his friend out of getting married:
"Don't you think it better to sleep with a little boy-friend? A boy-friend doesn't argue all night or ask you for presents as he lies beside you, or complain that you are not giving a hundred percent...She rails at his slave-boys or invents a mistress to weep about. Floods of tears are always at hand; they stand at the ready, within the reservoir, waiting to hear the word of command; then they flow as she tells them. You, poor worm, are delighted, complacently thinking it's love. You set about drying her tears with your lips, little aware of what you'd find in her letters if you ever unlocked the desk of that whore who pretends to be jealous." Man, he's harsh.
Apparently even women then had the tendency to gossip:
"That kind of woman knows what's happening throughout the world- what Thrace and China are up to, what secrets a stepmother shares with the son, and who's in love, and for whom the ladies are scrambling. She will tell you who made the widow pregnant, and in which month; with what endearments each woman makes love, and in what positions...she snaps up the latest rumours and tales at the city gate, and fabricates others...that's what she tells to whoever she meets at every corner."
Here's a few more of my favorite lines:
"If you want the truth, it isn't a wife he loves, but a face. Just let a couple of wrinkles appear, let her skin become dry and start to sag, let her teeth turn black and her eyes go puffy - 'Pack your bags' a freedman will cry, 'and be on your way. You get on our nerves, forever blowing your nose; hurry up and be off; your successor is someone without a perpetual sniffle.'"
"If you don't intend to love the woman who was your betrothed and is now your lawfully wedded wife, why marry at all? Why waste money on a meal?"
"As long as her mother's alive, harmony is not to be hoped for."
Satire 9: The Woes of a Gigolo and Satire 10: The Futility of Aspirations are my other favorites. It is very easy to adapt the ways he scorns immorality to our current day. There are a lot of truths to what he says.
So yes, this Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for the unexpected entertainment I enjoyed while doing my homework.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
education complaints
I know today is Veteran's Day, so I will honor my veteran by saying, "I love you Rob!" and posting a few pictures.
my soldier
Iraq 2010
But my main purpose of this post is to release some anger and frustration over something I just read in the news. I found this article on Foxnews.com . The title of the article is "Father Sues District Over Reading About Slavery" and tells how a father of a 5th grade African American student is suing the district (for $50,000) because the reading contained racial epithets and racist characterizations. The prosecution claims the reading "affected the conditions of learning duties and the advantages of her further education, and seriously affected her mental and emotional well-being, past, present and future."
First of all, I commend the teacher for incorporating multiculturalism into curriculum by dedicating a unit that celebrates Black History Month. Way to go!
Second, I am SICK and TIRED of hearing in the news that people keep suing school districts. When did schools become the scapegoat for all the problems in the world; for students not learning how to treat one another kindly (bullying), for emotional and behavior issues, for making children to eat crap and getting fat, and for not 'properly' educating youth. Let me remind people that we live in a country where we are blessed with FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION for all. FREE! What a blessing that our education is accessible to so many. Now if there are problems with that education system please let me also remind you that CUTTING education budgets will not help anything. We just had elections, was educational policy a consideration in who you voted for?
Lastly, and more importantly - what happened to family responsibility? Aren't parents supposed to ensure their child is eating a healthy diet (I understand there is much poverty and some students don't have access to that at home). So who is really to blame for your kid being a fatty? Also, aren't parents supposed to teach their kids the golden rule? AND be an example of kindness to others? When did that responsibility transfer to schools? Like I said before, school here is free, so if you think your child's school is doing a poor job, you have a few options: private school or home school. If you don't like how we're doing it, do it your self or pay someone to do it for you. Don't SUE the school district, that's a little counterproductive don't you think?
That being said...
after a long rough day yesterday and today, I decided to take a mental health break from my Thursday night class. Even though the class is 2 1/2 hours long, doesn't get out till 9:30, is with a professor who simply reads his power points and I've rarely ever taken notes in his class (affirming to me that attending is pointless), even with all those considerations...I feel sick and horribly guilty for skipping it.
my soldier
Iraq 2010
But my main purpose of this post is to release some anger and frustration over something I just read in the news. I found this article on Foxnews.com . The title of the article is "Father Sues District Over Reading About Slavery" and tells how a father of a 5th grade African American student is suing the district (for $50,000) because the reading contained racial epithets and racist characterizations. The prosecution claims the reading "affected the conditions of learning duties and the advantages of her further education, and seriously affected her mental and emotional well-being, past, present and future."
First of all, I commend the teacher for incorporating multiculturalism into curriculum by dedicating a unit that celebrates Black History Month. Way to go!
Second, I am SICK and TIRED of hearing in the news that people keep suing school districts. When did schools become the scapegoat for all the problems in the world; for students not learning how to treat one another kindly (bullying), for emotional and behavior issues, for making children to eat crap and getting fat, and for not 'properly' educating youth. Let me remind people that we live in a country where we are blessed with FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION for all. FREE! What a blessing that our education is accessible to so many. Now if there are problems with that education system please let me also remind you that CUTTING education budgets will not help anything. We just had elections, was educational policy a consideration in who you voted for?
Lastly, and more importantly - what happened to family responsibility? Aren't parents supposed to ensure their child is eating a healthy diet (I understand there is much poverty and some students don't have access to that at home). So who is really to blame for your kid being a fatty? Also, aren't parents supposed to teach their kids the golden rule? AND be an example of kindness to others? When did that responsibility transfer to schools? Like I said before, school here is free, so if you think your child's school is doing a poor job, you have a few options: private school or home school. If you don't like how we're doing it, do it your self or pay someone to do it for you. Don't SUE the school district, that's a little counterproductive don't you think?
That being said...
after a long rough day yesterday and today, I decided to take a mental health break from my Thursday night class. Even though the class is 2 1/2 hours long, doesn't get out till 9:30, is with a professor who simply reads his power points and I've rarely ever taken notes in his class (affirming to me that attending is pointless), even with all those considerations...I feel sick and horribly guilty for skipping it.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Heart Attack!
Today was an exceptionally long (but good) day. I left for work at 6:50 - got off work at 3:40 - met with advisor at 4:20 - class at 5:30 - dinner on campus/homework starting at 7 - Birthday dessert with wonderful friends at 8:30 - finally get home at 10:30 and what is waiting for me?? A surprise on my front door!
Muchos Gracias! It made my whole night!
Muchos Gracias! It made my whole night!
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