Friday, October 30, 2009

Now I can breathe....




















I got the packing removed from my nose today. After waiting about an hour at the ENT clinic (which stands for Ear, Nose and Throat for those interested). Funny how whenever you make a doctor's appt. you rarely ever see them at the time you schedule for. My appointment was for 9:30 am, I got in to see them at about 10:30 for something that took all of about 2 minutes. I mean, seriously, it really only took 2 minutes tops to remove the packing. Then more waiting to get a phone number of a plastic surgeon I will never have to see because my nose looks fine as it is. Ugh, doctors. Thank god I have health insurance!

I was near Atlantic Avenue and Court and figured I should go into Trader Joe's. Never been there before but heard great things (mostly because of the Simpler Times beer, wicked cheap). It dawned on me how different supermarkets are based on socioeconomic location. Where I live, near Parkside and Flatbush, the population is mostly Hispanic/African American, I, being Caucasian am in the minority. The supermarkets there, Pioneer and Associated have most of the basic staples of food but the variety is less, there is only so much you can get. They have no lean meats, at all. At Trader Joe's, they had 80%, 90% and 96% (I got the 96% and made myself some healthy burgers for lunch). What amazes me though is a particular item that Pioneer carries as well: Morningstar.

For those who don't know Morningstar is a company which makes veggie burgers and other foods. They are great for breakfast or a quick snack, not a true substitute for real burgers. At the Pioneer, they are 4.99 a box, at Trader Joe's, they were 2.99. Milk was even cheaper at Trader Joe's. Now, here's what I found a problem with: Why is it more expensive for a product in a high minority neighborhood as opposed to a high caucasian neighborhood. It could be demand, sure, but is there something else at play? And why is it Trader Joe's can offer more variety? Is it because they are bigger? I've been to Walmart's where they didn't have much variety, and while Target has Morningstar products, they have very few of them. Which is shocking because out of all the veggie substitutes, Morningstar has food that actually tastes like food (as opposed to cardboard).

It's caused me to maybe have my economic kids do their own personal study of the markets in their neighborhoods and do a cost/variety comparison with markets in markedly different neighborhoods. See, and people think taking a day off does nothing for teachers.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Oh My Nose!



















So I broke my nose last night at rugby practice. Real not typical either. We were warming up playing "touch" rugby and my mate dove for the score, and as he fell his foot slammed into mine, moving it into a position that looks more like a Cro-Magnon's nose than a modern humans. Spent five hours in the E.R. (thank god we don't have national healthcare where it might have meant spending an ungodly hour there), and came home. Doctor said I should take 3 days off work and while I wanted to come in, I realize that me going in to teach, with a bandage on my face is just basically saying to the kids "Don't take me seriously." Not that I am Mr. Hardbutt anyway, but still.

Most teachers would love this I bet, but not me. I actually like being in school, feeling like I am making a difference in someone's life (even if I don't always see it). I love my classes and students and we were going to be starting a project where I hoped their potential would be reached. It will have to wait till Monday, when i get these sponges removed from my nose.

So, I am left with finding things to do each day. Maybe I can get ahead, and I will, probably. What's most annoying is the dripping from my nose. I can't decide whether to just tape some gauze to it or leave it, the feeling of gauze against my face feels so unnatural.

Anyway, yesterday teachers in the lunch area were talking of this job. It does suck the life out of you, as much as I do love it. Maybe it's not a lifetime thing and I should think of something else. Anyone who is not a teacher is always quick to point out the buzz words: "Summers off!" "Work 8-3pm!" etc. They don't know and they never will because you say "Well go be a teacher" they never will. Instead they'd rather us work longer days and years.

I don't have a problem with year round school. As long as we get paid for it. You can't extend our year but make us work for the same amount of money. Doesn't make any sense. If Obama really wants to push this through, then starting salaries should be much higher, maybe in the 60's-70's range. Allow us to be paid like year round professionals. Hell, allow us to be treated like professionals anyways. Most often were not and just made as cannon fodder for the media, whom Bloomberg has his mitts tied right around it. Though sometimes you see an article in the Post calling him out. Makes the Times look bad when the Post is doing the legwork, doesn't it?

Monday, October 26, 2009

I got 99 Problems...but Bloomberg isn't one

I know I haven't updated this in many months. What can I say? I hate working over the summer. Also, I just haven't found time to write, what with this teaching thing at all, doesn't really leave much time to us, as it is. Then the weekends come and the last thing I want to do is write on the internet or maybe I do, but don't remember I have a blog.

I recently started playing rap music in class. No reason really, except that the kids like it. I did this last year and they seemed to like me taking one of their ipods and plugging it into the speakers. I know my principal might not approve of this method, (esp. since the students are reminded about the Chancellor's policy on electronics). Really, if they didn't want the students to have electronics, they'd collect them at the door. But that's another thing entirely.

Maybe I see it as me connecting with the kids. It's their classroom too, we're all in this together, and yeah, I don't play music everyday, but most days, I don't see an issue with it. If anything, many of the low performers have been given a reason to pay attention. And when teaching history, that is important. Especially when topics seem to be very similar to what was previously taught.

I wish I could have thrown a weight at the tv at the gym today. Another Bloomberg ad. Blah Blah Thompson, Blah Blah Board of Ed. Maybe it's me because I'm not from NYC, but Department of Ed and Board of Ed sound pretty much like the same thing. Other teachers do say the Board of Ed was bad, but if it was worse than this, then it must have been really bad. Because this current system just plain and simply sucks. Graduation rates falsified, kids not achieving, just being passed along. I really wish the voters could live a life as a teacher to see what really goes on. I really wish Thompson's people would have teachers helping him.

I know full well what my life is. Everyday I hear it, pass more kids, pass more kids. It's all about numbers and we all know this now. It's not about the kids. It should be, but it's never about the kids. It's about making people in suits look good. It's about making Obama look good. He who knows nothing of public education, he who talked about change but hasn't changed a damn thing. I'm rambling, I know, probably means I'm not a good blogger.