Sunday, October 31, 2004
Fear Itself
A beautiful day in the neighborhood. The foliage has finally started to change noticably and the view off my balcony has transformed into a spectacular array of colors. In some ways, with the city skyline in the background, it is as nice a view as anything you might find in my hometown, although I do miss the mountains. (So what if they were really glorified hills? They were called mountains and that's good enough for me.) Walking around outside today I wonder if this might be the last truly beautiful day of the year, before November comes in its sluggish gray way to dampen my doorstep with rain and slush. No matter, I plan to enjoy this day of Halloween, even if unlike years past I will not be in costume seeking out sugary sustenance or attending (or participating in) the pageant and spectacle that is a juggling fire show. No, I think I shall grill. That has been my custom these past few Sundays, and I do not think I need to vary it. Not yet.
You may be wondering about the title of this entry given the relatively upbeat tone of its introduction. The obvious connection of course is with Halloween and the daylight savings jump forcing an extra hour of darkness into my night time. But the less obvious connection has to do with Underwood High School, as so much of my life does these days...when I'm not consumed with poorly run graduate courses or other niggling personal affairs.
This school year continues to be full of interesting challenges, not the least of which is the implementation of a district-wide core curriculum, emaning that I am not only told what to teach, but also when and how to teach it. This would be well and good if my students were on a ninth grade reading/mathematics level...but some of them are much lower. How much lower? Let's say 4th grade as a baseline and work from there. And that's just cognitive level, not emotional maturity. In any event, grades have not been that great this year. The last test, class averages ranged from the 20s to the 40s...and that was curved. I've taken to posting up the averages now, and the kids seem to be getting into the spirit of the inter-class competition, if nothing else.
Of course my students will claim that the low scores and what-have-you are my fault. And many days I fear they may be right. After all, how qualified am I to really teach students about meteorology or earth science...or much else for that matter? What the heck do I know? And since students refuse to take responsibility for their actions, the obvious culprit must be me. The logical part of my brain says these attacks are ridiculous attempts to get under my skin. The doubting emotional part tends to wonder, but what if they're right?
Which is why I found myself at Underwood until 7 PM last Friday night grading papers. Because even if my teaching left a lot to be desired, I figured I could at least forget about that by getting my work done. Besides, it wasn't like I had anywhere else to go. A friend's birthday party that evening was not planned until 9. So I had plenty of time! And, surprisingly, I got my work done. Even got a chance to have a long chat with my vice-principal, department chair, and the custodian as part of the deal. But then, as I walked out the marble front hall, past the statue of Nike we keep there (as anomalous a piece of sculpture as I've ever seen), I realized something. It was indeed very late, especially given that most teachers had left at 3 following our professional development for the day. And there were no custodians in the area. And oh yes...the doors would all likely be...
LOCKED!
Yep. I was locked in. On a Friday. With no one around.
Not a good feeling.
Fortunately I had two things on my side. First, a cell phone, and second (and more importantly) a knowledge of the custodial entrance which is almost always unlocked even on weekends. So, I break out the old phone, call up the Indefatigible Mom and start chatting with her about the situation...and a good thing I did. Because as soon as I got outside, I realized something else. There were no security guards or police around the building. Which might explain the fact that students now scurried around on the building grounds, the basketball court, and the surrounding sidewalks like cockroaches. Like in that recent cell phone ad...they'd gone nocturnal. For the first time since I've been at Underwood, I actually was nervous, no...afraid, for my safety. I just kept chatting on the phone figuring that no one would disturb me if they knew that someone was on the line, and for the most part I was right. A long walk around the building to the parking lot later and I was in my car and safely on the way home...but there was a moment or two where I got really freaked out.
Underwood is like a castle, you see. And at night on Friday, with the full moon half covered by clouds it resembled nothing so much as a haunted fortress from ancient days. And these students , were they students or were they spectres?, they haunted the grounds, afraid to show their faces by light of day. But all too willing to reveal themselves at night.
What future remains for the ghosts?
What future remains for us all?
As Edgar Poe once wrote:
That motley drama- oh, be sure
It shall not be forgot!
With its Phantom chased for evermore,
By a crowd that seize it not,
Through a circle that ever returneth in
To the self-same spot,
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
And Horror the soul of the plot.
Happy Halloween...
A beautiful day in the neighborhood. The foliage has finally started to change noticably and the view off my balcony has transformed into a spectacular array of colors. In some ways, with the city skyline in the background, it is as nice a view as anything you might find in my hometown, although I do miss the mountains. (So what if they were really glorified hills? They were called mountains and that's good enough for me.) Walking around outside today I wonder if this might be the last truly beautiful day of the year, before November comes in its sluggish gray way to dampen my doorstep with rain and slush. No matter, I plan to enjoy this day of Halloween, even if unlike years past I will not be in costume seeking out sugary sustenance or attending (or participating in) the pageant and spectacle that is a juggling fire show. No, I think I shall grill. That has been my custom these past few Sundays, and I do not think I need to vary it. Not yet.
You may be wondering about the title of this entry given the relatively upbeat tone of its introduction. The obvious connection of course is with Halloween and the daylight savings jump forcing an extra hour of darkness into my night time. But the less obvious connection has to do with Underwood High School, as so much of my life does these days...when I'm not consumed with poorly run graduate courses or other niggling personal affairs.
This school year continues to be full of interesting challenges, not the least of which is the implementation of a district-wide core curriculum, emaning that I am not only told what to teach, but also when and how to teach it. This would be well and good if my students were on a ninth grade reading/mathematics level...but some of them are much lower. How much lower? Let's say 4th grade as a baseline and work from there. And that's just cognitive level, not emotional maturity. In any event, grades have not been that great this year. The last test, class averages ranged from the 20s to the 40s...and that was curved. I've taken to posting up the averages now, and the kids seem to be getting into the spirit of the inter-class competition, if nothing else.
Of course my students will claim that the low scores and what-have-you are my fault. And many days I fear they may be right. After all, how qualified am I to really teach students about meteorology or earth science...or much else for that matter? What the heck do I know? And since students refuse to take responsibility for their actions, the obvious culprit must be me. The logical part of my brain says these attacks are ridiculous attempts to get under my skin. The doubting emotional part tends to wonder, but what if they're right?
Which is why I found myself at Underwood until 7 PM last Friday night grading papers. Because even if my teaching left a lot to be desired, I figured I could at least forget about that by getting my work done. Besides, it wasn't like I had anywhere else to go. A friend's birthday party that evening was not planned until 9. So I had plenty of time! And, surprisingly, I got my work done. Even got a chance to have a long chat with my vice-principal, department chair, and the custodian as part of the deal. But then, as I walked out the marble front hall, past the statue of Nike we keep there (as anomalous a piece of sculpture as I've ever seen), I realized something. It was indeed very late, especially given that most teachers had left at 3 following our professional development for the day. And there were no custodians in the area. And oh yes...the doors would all likely be...
LOCKED!
Yep. I was locked in. On a Friday. With no one around.
Not a good feeling.
Fortunately I had two things on my side. First, a cell phone, and second (and more importantly) a knowledge of the custodial entrance which is almost always unlocked even on weekends. So, I break out the old phone, call up the Indefatigible Mom and start chatting with her about the situation...and a good thing I did. Because as soon as I got outside, I realized something else. There were no security guards or police around the building. Which might explain the fact that students now scurried around on the building grounds, the basketball court, and the surrounding sidewalks like cockroaches. Like in that recent cell phone ad...they'd gone nocturnal. For the first time since I've been at Underwood, I actually was nervous, no...afraid, for my safety. I just kept chatting on the phone figuring that no one would disturb me if they knew that someone was on the line, and for the most part I was right. A long walk around the building to the parking lot later and I was in my car and safely on the way home...but there was a moment or two where I got really freaked out.
Underwood is like a castle, you see. And at night on Friday, with the full moon half covered by clouds it resembled nothing so much as a haunted fortress from ancient days. And these students , were they students or were they spectres?, they haunted the grounds, afraid to show their faces by light of day. But all too willing to reveal themselves at night.
What future remains for the ghosts?
What future remains for us all?
As Edgar Poe once wrote:
That motley drama- oh, be sure
It shall not be forgot!
With its Phantom chased for evermore,
By a crowd that seize it not,
Through a circle that ever returneth in
To the self-same spot,
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
And Horror the soul of the plot.
Happy Halloween...
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
R.I.P. Bambino.
Best World Series...EVER.
That's all I have to say.
1918-2004.
That is all.
Peace.
Best World Series...EVER.
That's all I have to say.
1918-2004.
That is all.
Peace.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Another exceprt from the grading file...
Directions: Answer these questions based on the excerpt from The Geological Story of Pennsylvania.
Question 4: Where was western Pennsylvania located during the latter Mississippian period? What do you thinkt he weather was like there compared to today?
Student Answer: Yes I was very more heavy.
Directions: Answer these questions based on the excerpt from The Geological Story of Pennsylvania.
Question 4: Where was western Pennsylvania located during the latter Mississippian period? What do you thinkt he weather was like there compared to today?
Student Answer: Yes I was very more heavy.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Death to the Bambino?!?
The Boston Red Sox have entirely redeemed themselves.
Just moments ago they finished arguably the most exciting championship series...ever, pulling off a 10-3 victory over the Yankees and sweeping the 4th straight game in a row.
Damon, Bellhorn, Foulke, Schilling, Ortiz...all outstanding.
It doesn't matter that my teaching was miserable today...
That my graduate classes are mind numbing and pointless...
That my life seems adrift and empty...
All I can say is rest in peace, oh great Bambino.
And long live New England's baseball team...the Boston Red Sox!
(NB: My colleague at Sideshow at the Seashore has also posted a series of informative and entertaining posts in the aftermath of Saturday's game. He also has nothing but admiration for the Sox's recent achievement.)
The Boston Red Sox have entirely redeemed themselves.
Just moments ago they finished arguably the most exciting championship series...ever, pulling off a 10-3 victory over the Yankees and sweeping the 4th straight game in a row.
Damon, Bellhorn, Foulke, Schilling, Ortiz...all outstanding.
It doesn't matter that my teaching was miserable today...
That my graduate classes are mind numbing and pointless...
That my life seems adrift and empty...
All I can say is rest in peace, oh great Bambino.
And long live New England's baseball team...the Boston Red Sox!
(NB: My colleague at Sideshow at the Seashore has also posted a series of informative and entertaining posts in the aftermath of Saturday's game. He also has nothing but admiration for the Sox's recent achievement.)
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Suck the Fox?
Well, last night I had the "privilege" to watch my beloved Boston Red Sox fall flat on their collective faces in the face of the Evil Empire. I don't mind the loss so much...in a way I was expecting it. But the sheer magnitude was rather stunning.
I'm not a baseball expert, so I can't really say how yesterday's debacle of game occurred.
Instead I yield the floor to my esteemed colleague Josh and his Sideshow by the Seashore.
Well, last night I had the "privilege" to watch my beloved Boston Red Sox fall flat on their collective faces in the face of the Evil Empire. I don't mind the loss so much...in a way I was expecting it. But the sheer magnitude was rather stunning.
I'm not a baseball expert, so I can't really say how yesterday's debacle of game occurred.
Instead I yield the floor to my esteemed colleague Josh and his Sideshow by the Seashore.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Egg on my...
Why oh why do I bother sometimes?
I decided to teach my students about the natural strength of arches (it all fit really, if you think about the idea of geology, keystones, caves, and so on). So last period I remember I have some left over eggs from my chemical weathering demonstration adn I decide to demonstrate the strength of the egg by squeezing it in one hand. Unfortunately, this egg must have had small cracks in its shell from age/temperature/etc...so of course just as I mention how strong the egg is, it pops in my hand.
And egg covers my shirt and my class devolves into chaos.
(sigh)
I'm glad it's the weekend.
Why oh why do I bother sometimes?
I decided to teach my students about the natural strength of arches (it all fit really, if you think about the idea of geology, keystones, caves, and so on). So last period I remember I have some left over eggs from my chemical weathering demonstration adn I decide to demonstrate the strength of the egg by squeezing it in one hand. Unfortunately, this egg must have had small cracks in its shell from age/temperature/etc...so of course just as I mention how strong the egg is, it pops in my hand.
And egg covers my shirt and my class devolves into chaos.
(sigh)
I'm glad it's the weekend.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Whistling in the Dark
This evening as I was grading papers around 11 PM, the power went out. Since I now live in a relatively large apartment building this was, needless to say, rather unexpected. But, peeping out into the hallway, it was clear that something was amiss. Emergency lighting was on, and the elevator was not. From the perspective of a resident of the 18th floor, this was inconvenient to say the least! I fumbled in the dark for a pair of shoes and my keys and hiked down the emergency stairways to the lobby to see what was going on. Turns out a transformer blew and the whole block had lost power.
Just perfect, right? Well, now I couldn't get any work done, I figured I would go to bed. (Perhaps a divine omen?) No sooner had I finally nestled into bed with my backup battery powered alarm clock at the ready when, BAM, lights go on. Computer goes on. And that's where we are right now...with me eating a snack, resetting my blinking clocks, and then going to bed.
Although this reminds me...I really should make sure my electricity bill is paid before the weekend!
This evening as I was grading papers around 11 PM, the power went out. Since I now live in a relatively large apartment building this was, needless to say, rather unexpected. But, peeping out into the hallway, it was clear that something was amiss. Emergency lighting was on, and the elevator was not. From the perspective of a resident of the 18th floor, this was inconvenient to say the least! I fumbled in the dark for a pair of shoes and my keys and hiked down the emergency stairways to the lobby to see what was going on. Turns out a transformer blew and the whole block had lost power.
Just perfect, right? Well, now I couldn't get any work done, I figured I would go to bed. (Perhaps a divine omen?) No sooner had I finally nestled into bed with my backup battery powered alarm clock at the ready when, BAM, lights go on. Computer goes on. And that's where we are right now...with me eating a snack, resetting my blinking clocks, and then going to bed.
Although this reminds me...I really should make sure my electricity bill is paid before the weekend!
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Scribblings from my Seating Charts
One of my least favorite part of a Sunday afternoon is going through and transferring attendance records from my seating chart to an Excel spreadsheet. One up-side (or is that a downside?) however is that I get a chance to relive all sorts of memories by reading over the notes I write about student behavior. The following are actual comments from my first period class. FYI, the numbers in the beginning of these comments are references to student desk numbers.
* 27- No shirt. [just to clarify...this means "no school shirt", not shirtless, although i've had that too.]
* 18- Unprepared
* 33- FAD (food and drink)
* 17- No Homework
* 33--Profanity
* 28 v. 22--fighting
28- not scared to f***-ing fight nobody
If he didn't say s***, I wouldn't act like this.
Ah, f*** well. If he was that damned worried, he would ahve picked that s*** up.
28- refused to follow directions
- lying re: suppplies
* 33 - "Why you always sweating me?"
* 17- "He hates black people."
"Why'd you ball your fist at me?"
One of my least favorite part of a Sunday afternoon is going through and transferring attendance records from my seating chart to an Excel spreadsheet. One up-side (or is that a downside?) however is that I get a chance to relive all sorts of memories by reading over the notes I write about student behavior. The following are actual comments from my first period class. FYI, the numbers in the beginning of these comments are references to student desk numbers.
* 27- No shirt. [just to clarify...this means "no school shirt", not shirtless, although i've had that too.]
* 18- Unprepared
* 33- FAD (food and drink)
* 17- No Homework
* 33--Profanity
* 28 v. 22--fighting
28- not scared to f***-ing fight nobody
If he didn't say s***, I wouldn't act like this.
Ah, f*** well. If he was that damned worried, he would ahve picked that s*** up.
28- refused to follow directions
- lying re: suppplies
* 33 - "Why you always sweating me?"
* 17- "He hates black people."
"Why'd you ball your fist at me?"
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Seismology: A Student Perspective
(Handed in on September 29, 2004 in response to a pre-class assignment to free-write on earthquakes and volcanoes. Republished in its entirety below, all spelling and puncutation intact.)
earthquakes and volcanoes
I now that earthquakes can be relly danedreas because. say If your in you hose walking down the steps and a earthquak starts you would get fritend because you dont now whats happening and you fall down the steps and brak your leg. earthquakes come and go just like volcanoes erup unlest there a resion I just dont blast of that esey.
(Handed in on September 29, 2004 in response to a pre-class assignment to free-write on earthquakes and volcanoes. Republished in its entirety below, all spelling and puncutation intact.)
earthquakes and volcanoes
I now that earthquakes can be relly danedreas because. say If your in you hose walking down the steps and a earthquak starts you would get fritend because you dont now whats happening and you fall down the steps and brak your leg. earthquakes come and go just like volcanoes erup unlest there a resion I just dont blast of that esey.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
And the walls came a-tumblin' down...
We all put up walls in our lives. The separation between work and home. The divide between family and friends. In teaching, these mental barriers serve to separate the teachers from the students. When you let these barriers slide, you leave yourself vulnerable, open to disappointment and anger. Student insults that should normally roll off the skin stick instead like barbs, and student lack of motivation is amplified, retransmitted, and received by the instructor. I consider myself fortunate that up to today, I had not let my control slip before my students. I rarely lashed out at individuals and could care less about the ingrates and reprobates who were sprinkled throughout my classes.
But today that ended. I'm not sure why. I really don't. But between the constant disruptions, the probing questions, the insults, the put downs, and the general idiocy, it got through. To the point where I basically told students to get out of my room, I was tired of teaching them. Why was today different than any other day? Was it a poorly designed lesson? Maybe. Rocks and minerals can be boring. I admit that. But I tried to give examples...they threw (and subsequently shattered) my rock samples and kept asking to hold my Play-Doh models of sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Why was it that my last period class featured not only people fighting in front of the doorway, not only students littering my floor and not picking up after themselves, but also 20 minutes of fully wasted time. 20 minutes I stood there.......just waiting.
"You're wasting your own time." I told them eventually. "Your families pay taxes to the city of Philadelphia to keep these schools open...you are wasting their money with this behavior."
Yeah, right...logic has no effect.
Rational arguments don't work.
I went after my first period class to visit a family friend who also happens to be Underwood's school psychologist. She offered little solace, but some good advice. Maybe I need to get out of here after all...
I don't know.
Esp. if the rumors of an international baccalaureate program come to fruition. More on that forthcoming as events develop....
Monday, October 04, 2004
Acronyms are confusing...
Question from last night's homework: Why do you think NASA was interested in studying the effects of Mt. Pinatubo?
Paraphrased answer from one student's homework: They wanted to see how it would effect the races.
You don't have to be Dale Earnhardt to see that someone has their organizations confused...
Question from last night's homework: Why do you think NASA was interested in studying the effects of Mt. Pinatubo?
Paraphrased answer from one student's homework: They wanted to see how it would effect the races.
You don't have to be Dale Earnhardt to see that someone has their organizations confused...
