Back to Normal

Day four of school has come and gone...and I'm tired. This whole "working" thing; really, who thought that was a good idea? Cavemen didn't work, except to get food. Of course, they live about 12 years, but that's just a minor issue.

I could also be tired from our camping trip to Bremen this weekend. Nothing like being around wild animals. Of course we live with them, too, but Erin and Griffin seem to rise to the occasion when we're away from home.

Speaking of rising, I can't make bread. Just thought you'd want to know that. Ask Steph.

Collin is planning on playing alto sax in the school band this year. A big thanks goes out to Matt, who actually owns one. Seriously, is there anything you don't have? An ancient Potowatomi arrowhead? Ticket stubs to Skynard? A booze-soaked original Hemingway manuscript?

I have my fantasy football draft this weekend. Any pointers?

Opinions are like...

A raise would be nice. Or a company car. Although I doubt having a school bus parked on the curb is allowed in our covenants.

Blissful ignorance is a virtue that guys should embrace. Again, I am astonished by how much gossip (usually true) travels around a community, especially when it involves a child's school. I swear I probably knew my class list after many parents did. I certainly didn't know that a new third grade teacher was hired before many parents (Judy, I give you props for that one, and so do all of the third grade teachers). And I'm pretty sure I knew about it even before the new teacher did. It's kind of spooky how things get out.

The floating opinions of parents really get to me sometimes. I haven't really heard much about myself (again, blissful ignorance is a gift), but I overhear things about other teachers. But here's my philosophy: I am not a perfect teacher or human being. I am aware of my flaws (which are many; some hidden, others not), and I must work with them. But rest assured, I work my darndest to be the best teacher, parent, husband, and person I can be. Also, any teacher decisions I make are made because that's what I consider best for the kid. I figure that if I keep this in mind for all people, I can relate to them.

Here's something I found: Rules for Teachers from 1915 (as you can tell, this refers to female teachers, I hope)

1. You will not marry during the term of your contract.
2. You are not to keep company with men.
3. You must be home between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM
unless at a school function.
4. You may not loiter downtown in any of the ice cream
stores.
5. You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you
have permission of the chairman of the chairman of the
school board.
6. You may not ride in carriages or automobiles with any
man except your father or brother.
7. You may not smoke cigarettes.
8. You may not dress in bright colors.
9. You may under no circumstances dye your hair.
10. You must wear at least 2 petticoats.
11. Your dresses may not be any shorter than 2 inches above
the ankles.
12. To keep the classroom neat and clean you must sweep the
floor once a day, scrub the floor with hot soapy water
once a week, clean the blackboards once a day and start
the fire at 7 AM to have the school warm by 8 AM when
the scholars arrive.

Comment Responses

Alaina: Yes, I did do a baseball theme before. Wow, that's pretty impressive that you remember that. Actually, now I'm doing just a generic sports theme. I have tons of sports decorations, so that'll be easy. And, since I am such an athlete that this theme won't be much of a stretch.

Judy: Please don't let out all of my secrets. Any materials for my anatomy unit are safely locked up with my "drug awareness" tools.

Katie: Judy has offered to keep the kids for Tuesday, but thanks for offering. I might be asking you later on one of Westfield's many professional development days.

School and Home

Ah, it's the last week before school. Time to start thinking about what to do. Today was the first day that my classroom actually contained furniture, but whatever. I think I'm going to go for the baseball theme this year. You see, elementary teachers can get away with decorating and not be made fun of. In fact, parents kind of expect the room to look cheery and happy.


This also reminds me of my summer to do list. Hmmm, not going too well. In fact, I've done very little of it. I'm currently in the middle of painting the shed, and I'm not getting anything done today with the rain we've had. Probably just as well that I haven't completed all the jobs; these things cost money, and there's never a lot of that at Start of School time.

But being Super Dad (copyright pending), I have tried to get the kids out and about this summer. That's one accomplishment. Thanks to Judy W. for volunteering to watch my kids tomorrow. Is there anyone who'd like to take them on Tuesday, August 12? My first day of school (but not the kids).

BTW, most pic on my blog were taken by my talented wife. My pics are typically crap.

Lake Erie's Symbol

To sort-of quote Shrek, "Do you think they were trying to compensate for something?"

Eat Your Heart Out, Matt

I'm trying to be like Matt. Isn't it an artistic pic? No, it wasn't taken in Amsterdam, Japan, or any other crazy foreign country he's been to or is going to.

I've been a reading machine lately. My tastes in books are strange; the majority of books I read are considered children/young adult novels. It's really because the science fiction/fantasy genre for young adults is in a golden era, so to speak. You can thank J.K. Rowling for that; there were a lot of great Sci-Fi kids' books written before then, but it's popularity has exploded since.

Ironically, Rowling's United Kingdom seems to churn out the most sci-fi/fantasy authors. It's not easy finding popular books as such written by Americans. Don't get me wrong, there are some great books. But for read-alouds to kids, having a book written by an author with the same dialect and verbal mannerisms as our popular culture does make a difference.

Right now I'm reading the Shadow Children series, by Margaret Peterson Haddix. In short, our government has become totalitarian after a huge food shortage, and one of the "rules" they came up with is to outlaw having more than three children, which is punishable by death (the whole family, that is). The lead character is twelve, a third child, and has lived his life being blinds and in an attic. It's very big brother 1984-ish. And not something you'd consider a plot to a children's series.

Check out my link for www.goodreads.com. It's fun, especially if you like to read.

Collin Grows Some

That is what Collin and I went on when we spent the evening at Cedar Point. From 5:00 to 10:00, we stood in lines and rode five coasters, including the Top Fuel Dragster, which launches you from 0-120 and shoots you up 420 feet in the air, before falling face first back down again. No food; only one stop for bathrooms. We were on a mission. And Collin loved it; this was one of his favorites (the other was the Raptor, which dangles your feel while corkscrewing and flipping all over itself.

At some point between us last going to Holiday World and now Collin has grown from a kid afraid of his own shadow to someone willing to try THAT. And it is enormous; we stopped at a lighthouse on the other side of the bay, and the view of the park was impressive from there.

All in all, it was a fun time. Griffin's meltdowns were a bit unnecessary, especially in a campground where there is no good place to hide a screaming kid. Now we're back in town (be afraid).

BTW: For all of the Byers' kids friends out there...do you do any babysitting? Yeah, I'm shameless. I'm looking for help on Monday, August 4 (I have an inservice) and Wednesday, August 6 (the 2nd grade teachers have a workday).