Hope for the future

Today, I was having a conversation with my Junior English class on what it means to be an American and I was totally amazed at the point of view they shared.  For the past few years, I have been of the opinion that this generation simply wanted everything handed to them.  I have felt as if they did not want to work for anything and the world owned it to them to provide what was needed.  They have just always seemed very lazy to me.  But today, my students renewed my faith in old time American values:  Hard Work.  I feel hopeful for my future as an American if their counterparts felt this was as well.  I can only hope.

School Vouchers: Are we just giving up on the public educational system?

Recently, as I was reading this article about the growth of school voucher programs called "School year ends: Nevada leads nation as more states embrace school choice", I was struck by the idea that we are just giving up on our public educational system.  This article talks about how new Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), allow parents to seek more promising educational opportunities.  What exactly does that mean "promising"?  Why are we so prone to the shiny new things?  I am all for what is best for students and everyone having a choice of where their child learns, I am not sure tax payer money should be used for this.  It seems that all people do is rag on the public educational system and never provide any solutions to the so called problems.  The fact is that public education teachers are the most underpaid and over worked in the educational system and public schools are held to different standards that private schools.  Although private schools may align or try to integrate the state standards, it is not a requirement.  Private schools are not subject to all the standardized testing that public schools are that tends to lead to teaching to the test.  This restriction also limit the teaching structure and curriculum in public schools.  Sure it is great to "edutain" like the Ron Clark Academy, but due to state restraints that is not always possible.  Why do you think Ron Clark doesn't teach in the public schools any longer?  Now, I don't know this for certain but I would put money on that the restrictions of the public school systems were too restrictive for what he wanted to do as and educator.

When did we become such a disposable society?  No wonder our kids can't sustain any relationship or express empathy for other. Everything is so easily tossed aside.  If everyone is so sure about the quality of these private institutions, why are we not implementing these in the public schools?  Instead, we are setting up a system to toss away the public educational system.  Or are we just looking for a way to take education out of the hands of state and federal governments?  It seems that all the things that make these private schools so impactful are all the things that we are removing from public education.   Something as simple as home economics has gone from just simply learning how to feed yourself to the culinary arts.  When do we just teach, hey this if a fun meal to make home before we bog students down with the correct refrigeration temperature for commercial settings.  Maybe it's time to take a step back and examine what we as a country want our children to know and value upon leaving secondary school instead of focusing on how to measure and rate teachers.  

Never-ending Journey

So, I have been thinking recently that I am on too many journeys.  Between the hair, eating, writing, self-discovery, weigh loss, career, creative, social, family journeys, I am totally pooped.  Is it possible to be on too many journeys?  Do you gain anything with so many balls in the air?  What I am finding is, I CAN'T COMMIT FULLY TO SO MANY THINGS.  I am not gaining anything really from all of these journeys because I am unable to give full effort to any one of them.  So in turn, I am focusing on two right now: writing and eating.

http://www.picturequotes.com/lets-start-the-journey-quote-6942

I truly believe that writing is meant to be read and the blog has helped me to write regularly in a place that can be traveled upon by many different people.  In this way I feel like I am sharing a piece of me with the world.  I never really thought that something so simple as a blog would get my creative juices flowing.  I had been at such a loss for words over the past 10 years or so; which left an empty space.  Just writing the blogs have restored my creativity.  I am more inspired and excited to write than I have been in years.  I owe it partly to +National Writing Project and Ozark Writing Project.  A few years ago, I attended the Summer Institute in 2013 at +Missouri State University which sparked something in me.  Now because I am super lazy, it has taken me several years to get going on this journey.  I really just went to through the symposium because my teaching partner +Casey Daugherty kept hounding me ;) .  However, with her support, encouragement, and perspective I started a journey that has not only opened my mind but is sure to change my life.

magicwriter.co.uk 

The food is a whole other journey.  By far, healthy eating has always been a struggle for me.  Work in progress doesn't even describe  construction of the new me.  Again, I am LAZY.  It is a real chore for me to make the right food choices; especially since I don't do much cooking at home.  This compounded with that fact that I LOVE food.  I just like the feeling I get while I am eating.  However, what I have noticed is that feeling only last while I am eating.  When I overeat, guilt immediately sets in. This feeling has only started occurring when I hit 30.  I think 30 is a milestone that makes you look at your life differently and my weight has always been a thorn for me.  I have always saw myself as fat; even as a size 8.  There has to be something deeply rooted in my psyche that has caused this distorted view.  Maybe I should seek some help for this.

www.motivationblog.org

Ending the school year!

Each year as school comes to an end I always go into reflect mode.  I look back on the moments that have made me laugh.  The moments that have made me cry, The moments of frustration.  Mostly, I reflect upon how I can be better.  This year I am reflection on my career choice.  I have been going through this turmoil all year.   I have asked myself all year, "What else can I do with my life?"  I know in school they tell you that the first 2 years are the hardest and if you can get through year  everything else would be a breeze.  Well, they sold a bag of wolf tickets on this one.  I find that I go through this crisis every 3-4 years.  My current school is the longest I have been in any one place. So, I think this has made this feeling magnify.  It has been the mos discouraging.  As a Gemini, I find that I need constant newness.  I need to be in a constant state of change.  So, the sedentary nature of this is hard for me.  The oxymoron is that I need to have a sense of security as well.  These two notions are completely contradictory.  No wonder I am so screwed up.  This compound is magnified by the fact that I never feel like a I do my job well, I always feel like I fall short.  On one hand this is a good thing, but on the other had it is very stressful.  It can be good to always fall short because it drives me to want to be better and work harder to be better.  However, this also places me in a constant state of panic because I always think I am on step from loosing my job which jeopardizes my need of security.  No wonder I have high blood pressure (well, that's one reason).  It's a wonder I haven't had a stroke.  
As I look around and see everyone making decision and changes in their life and careers all I can think about is my goals and plans for the future.  This year, I am truly thinking about what I want for the rest of my life.  Where do I see myself.  Overall, I still love teaching but I want more.  Now, it is up to me to figure out what that more is.