What the fuck is up with all these freaks screwing up the education system
Lately there has been a rash of disgusting education horror stories spreading across Southern California. The story that caught national eye hailed from our own Los Angeles County, a Mark Berndt from Miramonte Elementary school who was accused of photographing blindfolded students and feeding them cookies (alleged frosted with his semen).
Since then, I’ve noticed more and more stories being uncovered reporting horrific stories of elementary and middle school teachers. Like, such as:
Art Teacher Alleged Forced Student to Pee in Bucket During class - laist.com
Twi-hard Teacher Seduces Student Who Resembles Taylor Lautner
High School Band Teacher Has Sex with Student on Dance Team
Teacher Allegedly Made Autistic Student Sit in Cardboard Box for Punishment
As much as it sickens me to think that this shit ACTUALLY GOES DOWN now, in America in 2012, it makes me feel a lot worse that these evil perpetrators sadly came through the same education systems that they are now wreaking havoc all over. Of course I’m not suggesting that the school system is to blame for creating these sickos and perverts but something has to change about the credentialing system and interviewing process. These days, it seems like and easy, low-stress choice to just take two years to get a credential, and then you’re good to!
I’m a firm believer that the best teachers are born, not made.
Will finish later ~ goodnight
Why I did TFA, and why you shouldn't
The 2011 corps is nearly 6,000, twelve times as big as the cohorts from the early 90s. Unfortunately, the landscape in education has changed a lot in the past twenty years. Instead of facing teacher shortages, we have teacher surpluses. There are regions where experienced teachers are being laid off to make room for incoming TFA corps members because the district has signed a contract with TFA, promising to hire their new people. In situations like this, it is hard to say with confidence that these under trained new teachers are really doing less harm than good.
If I were ‘America’ I would have this to say to TFA: While I appreciate your offer to ‘teach’ for me, I’ve already got enough untrained teachers for my poorest kids. And if teaching is just a stepping stone, for you, on the path to becoming an influential education ‘leader,’ thanks, but no thanks to that too. I don’t need the kind of leaders you spawn — leaders who think education ‘reform’ is done by threats of school closings and teacher firings. These leaders celebrate school closings rather than see them as their own failures to help them. These leaders deny any proof that their reforms are failing and instead continue to use P.R. to inflate their own claims of success. We’re having enough trouble swatting the number of that type of leader you’ve already given us. If you want to think of a new way to harness the brain power and energy of the ‘best and brightest,’ please do, but if you’re just going to give us a scaled up version of the program that tries to fill a need that no longer exists, please go and teach for someone else.
Interesting food for thought.
And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”
-Kurt Vonnegut
Santouka ramen #embracingfall
pictured: Shio (salt) ramen,
For the cold wet days get spicy miso ramen. :D
#EMBRACINGFALL
For those of you that don’t know, I get SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) about twice a year and it can last for as little as two months or sometimes as long as half a year. It manifests in the form of deep depression, laziness, sudden emotional throes and unpredictable attitudes toward things that would normally make me happy.
In the past, SAD has cost me many relationships that I’ve held valuable, jobs that were secure, five pounds of emotional eating, countless social and travel opportunities given up and for what? A lack of Vitamin D and sunlight? Unfortunate genetic inheritance? Hours of practice in creating playlist after playlist of sorrowful songs? My own laziness / weakness / disregard for the color changing world around me?
In addition to the recommended light therapy and antidepressants, this year I’ve decided that instead of falling victim to the self gratify/pity party also known as the winter blues, I will do my best to fight the fall as best as I can by doing all the things that epitomize the autumn harvest spirit. This means lots of baking of pumpkin flavored things, long late afternoon walks, decorating, seasonal movies, even perhaps a bout of allergies (i hope!). Some people might call these mannerisms cliched, traditional, resembling an old woman but I call it #EmbracingAutumn.
If you get SAD too, check out my campaign for ideas that will help bring out from under the heavy cloudy blanket over your head and out of your bed. 5 more months until 14+ hr sunny days :D
love, Diane
