Schools

Sometimes I sit and wonder and sometimes I just sits.

I don't have confirmation of this, but don't at all doubt it.  In fact, I wonder what has taken so long for this to happen.  Some school district has stopped giving homework because those who do it have an unfair advantage over those who don't do it.  Now, like most folks, I'd likely scoff at this, saying, "Nah, this couldn't be true."  But, after 42 years in education, I believe it.  I'd just like to know where and how widespread this homework thing is. 

In my experience, schools have often made a farce of success.  Sometimes it is watered down so much as to make in meaningless.  I worked, part-time, at a college which annually gave a "teacher-of-the-year" award to someone in a particular department.  I don't know what other recognition was included, but "winners" names were etched on a plaque that hung in a corridor, for all to see.  I wonder if others saw what I did.  The first member (that is, the one who had the most seniority) was the first recipient.  Then, another department member, then another.  Including new hires, once all the full-timers were "winners," giving the award just started over again, with the same names, winning twice and then beginning a third round.  And, often (and not to single out this place, but many places) recognition is given to some who really don't deserve it.  Such recognition diminishes that actually deserved by others.  But, in the schools, we certainly don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, left out, etc.  And I remember some of the comments on my own college papers at Amherst:  "No sloppy thinking allowed."  "If you can't do better work than this, maybe you better think about transferring to another school."  Comments like those--and others!--will get one's attention pretty quickly.  They certainly got mine. 

You know, speaking of "unfair advantages," maybe, at some big marathon like Chicago, New York, or Boston--one with a big payday--I could start at mile 20 while the elites like the Kenyans and Ethiopians run the entire 26.2 miles.  Then, that would eliminate the unfair advantage they have over me and I'd now have a fair chance to win all that money!  In fact, they already are cheating by running well over 100 miles a week, pushing their bodies with all that hard work, keeping their weight down, etc.  Maybe I should just win the money without racing at all??????

There must be a fine line between doing what's politically expedient and being a coward.  I'd like to know where that fine line is located.

Learning?  I know time is running out, but I still want to learn it all.  There's just so much more to learn.  The more I learn the more I realize how much I really don't know.  What brought this to mind was something a student asked me.  I hadn't even heard of this, but have started some research.  And, it's led to more research.....  There's just so much more to learn.

Even though we won our first little league basketball game last weekend, after 7 unsuccessful tries (OK, losses), I was bummed out because of the rotten officiating and the lack of apparent concern
demonstrated by the league.  I was pumped up a bit again last night, though, at our practice.  We scrimmaged, for something new to do, with a team that shares the gym with us.  This team whupped us pretty good the first week of the season, game 2 I think.  But last night, our first group more than held its own against the other first group, doing a lot of things right, including scoring more than the "bad guys."  Our second group pretty much gave all the points back, but still a couple of the guys did some things right for the first time!  Hooray!  We're back on track--and so am I.

Why have the weekend newspaper coups been so lousy lately, since about Thanksgiving?  I thought there'd at least be a nice collection for the Super Bowl, but nope. 

Speaking of the Super Bowl......  "Blackout?"  What "blackout?"  That shows how much I was paying attention.  But the food room was a good place to be!