Apparently the new direction I should take is to create a class to teach people losing their jobs how to code. It is what Rham thinks is necessary. Rham Emmanuel : "Learn to code. Those jobs aren't coming back ..read more

Today I created a sign for my room. For a class of Gen Ed seniors. PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR PAPER. Really? I got an email from a parent. I wrote her son up for skipping my class, because he didn't come to my class or tell me a teacher he was with. Apparently (according to the mom) I didn't investigate enough. I repeat: gen ed senior. Really ..read more

In NYC you can be fined for calling an illegal alien an illegal alien. My school is teaching us "functional Spanish" once a month, for less than 10 minutes, in the faculty meetings so we can call non-English speaking parents to talk with them about their children. And (and I think this is related to the above) the state is not requiring teachers be certified because it is too difficult to get certified teachers. Oy vey ..read more

I have been in this school for years. Last year they hired someone with a similar but different name. And, then, suddenly - they couldn't tell us apart. And I started getting her phone calls. This year I pointed that out. Now I get her emails as well. My theme song follows. Mister Cellophane If Someone Stood Up In A Crowd And Raised His Voice Up Way Out Loud And Waved His Arm And Shook His Leg You'd Notice Him If Someone In The Movie Show Yelled "Fire In The Second Row This Whole Place Is A Powder Keg!" You'd Notice Him And Even Without Clucking Like A Hen Everyone Gets Noticed, Now An ..read more

I was talking with a friend and mentioned an EOC (End of Course) teat (not given by the state) and mentioned how we, as teachers, cannot see it and the information we are given doesn't really match the test. She said that once the test is given once, the teachers will know what it looks like. Not really, I said. You monitor tests form other departments and cannot see your own. She insisted that teachers will know. Shades of the Atlanta Cheating Scandal from five years ago. It told me a lot about her. My silence should have told her a lot about me - but I will bet she didn't hear it ..read more

I got a lecture from a friend (Dawn) the other day about my reaction to another teacher, we'll call that teacher Annabelle. Dawn said I need to cut Annabelle slack, because she's sensitive and I am apparently intimidating. Annabelle was in a position to make my life significantly easier but, because she was sensitive and hurt by the principal, she packed up her mitt and ball and went home and never answered a single request for information. Now I am supposed to work with her. Sarcasm aside, understand I don't care that she is sensitive. If she asks me for something, I would probably give ..read more

A group of our students went on a field trip last week - a play then a meal at a restaurant. Six of the lovely darlings decided it would be fun to skip out on paying for their meals. I wonder when we will get to have field trips again ..read more