The Coffee House

JonA_CT · Sep 15, 2016

Shitty couple weeks at work, so I've been self-medicating tonight with some Mount Gay Rum, a splash of triple sec, and some ginger ale.

I know most of y'all that post on this thread have kids that are out of school (or maybe not at all), but if you think your kids' teachers do a good job, take five minutes and send an e-mail to the teachers and to the principal. Unfortunately, usually they only hear from parents when things aren't going well.

EDIT: To clarify, because people who are vague suck....I've been getting raked over the coals because of something sarcastic that I said to a student I had last year (who I have a great relationship with...who laughed, and I had a full conversation after I said it). A different student heard it, told their parents, who called the superintendent, which resulted in me having an invitation to the principal with union representation (look up Weingarten Rights), which has led to me losing my edge for the last few weeks. Ugh.

Gary A. · Sep 15, 2016

What a perfect day weather wise. Gary moved his desktop to the patio so he can work and partake of the perfect day. Presently, he has some bread baking away and chicken on the BBQ and he's chugging down an Angry Orchard.

Gary A. · Sep 15, 2016

JonA_CT said:
Shitty couple weeks at work, so I've been self-medicating tonight with some Mount Gay Rum, a splash of triple sec, and some ginger ale.

I know most of y'all that post on this thread have kids that are out of school (or maybe not at all), but if you think your kids' teachers do a good job, take five minutes and send an e-mail to the teachers and to the principal. Unfortunately, usually they only hear from parents when things aren't going well.

EDIT: To clarify, because people who are vague suck....I've been getting raked over the coals because of something sarcastic that I said to a student I had last year (who I have a great relationship with...who laughed, and I had a full conversation after I said it). A different student heard it, told their parents, who called the superintendent, which resulted in me having an invitation to the principal with union representation (look up Weingarten Rights), which has led to me losing my edge for the last few weeks. Ugh.

My business partner and I had a discussion on teachers and where this country would be if parents has custody of their kids 24/7 until they were 18 y/o. God bless you teachers.

kundalini · Sep 15, 2016

I can't remember if this thread is about random thoughts. On that premise, here goes....

I'm in the process of purchasing a 2nd row bungalow at Surf City, NC. I'd prefer to be on the south end of the island, but you gotta start somewhere.

Gary A. · Sep 15, 2016

Yes, the more random the better. Jason's been posting ferret images for the past month and he doesn't even own a ferret. Dunno anything about Surf City, NC. I used to live in the original Surf City in California.

SquarePeg · Sep 15, 2016

JonA_CT said:
Shitty couple weeks at work, so I've been self-medicating tonight with some Mount Gay Rum, a splash of triple sec, and some ginger ale.

I know most of y'all that post on this thread have kids that are out of school (or maybe not at all), but if you think your kids' teachers do a good job, take five minutes and send an e-mail to the teachers and to the principal. Unfortunately, usually they only hear from parents when things aren't going well.

EDIT: To clarify, because people who are vague suck....I've been getting raked over the coals because of something sarcastic that I said to a student I had last year (who I have a great relationship with...who laughed, and I had a full conversation after I said it). A different student heard it, told their parents, who called the superintendent, which resulted in me having an invitation to the principal with union representation (look up Weingarten Rights), which has led to me losing my edge for the last few weeks. Ugh.

Not a teacher but also had a shitty couple of weeks at work so I can relate. And I have a middle schooler so I am well aware of how things are these days. Sorry for us both! Enjoy your drink and try to move past this without second guessing everything you say and do going forward. I'm going to add my boss to my ever growing personal and professional "No Unnecessary Conversations" list and see if that works better for me.

limr · Sep 15, 2016

JonA_CT said:
Shitty couple weeks at work, so I've been self-medicating tonight with some Mount Gay Rum, a splash of triple sec, and some ginger ale.

I know most of y'all that post on this thread have kids that are out of school (or maybe not at all), but if you think your kids' teachers do a good job, take five minutes and send an e-mail to the teachers and to the principal. Unfortunately, usually they only hear from parents when things aren't going well.

EDIT: To clarify, because people who are vague suck....I've been getting raked over the coals because of something sarcastic that I said to a student I had last year (who I have a great relationship with...who laughed, and I had a full conversation after I said it). A different student heard it, told their parents, who called the superintendent, which resulted in me having an invitation to the principal with union representation (look up Weingarten Rights), which has led to me losing my edge for the last few weeks. Ugh.

Ugh, indeed. I know what it's like, how it can get into your head. To be a good teacher, you have to throw your entire self into it, often with little or no recognition, but when something positive finally happens or comes back to us, we can feed on it for weeks. Unfortunately, the same thing happens in reverse when something negative happens. It can feel like the rug has just been pulled out from under us and it really affects the work because now we are not putting our whole selves into it. We're distracted and fearful and second-guessing every move.

This too shall pass. You got this.

JonA_CT · Sep 16, 2016

I'm feeling better about life this morning. Thanks for giving me a little encouragement. Fridays always help, too!

I have big plans for the weekend. UConn is playing Virginia tomorrow at home, and I'm going to the game (first time in probably 3 or 4 years). I have to iron out the tailgating plan and head to the grocery this afternoon.

SquarePeg · Sep 16, 2016

TGIFF People!

snowbear · Sep 16, 2016

JonA_CT said:
I'm feeling better about life this morning. Thanks for giving me a little encouragement. Fridays always help, too!

Good to hear you're feeling better - hopefully things will get normal soon.

JonA_CT said:
I have big plans for the weekend. UConn is playing Virginia tomorrow at home, and I'm going to the game (first time in probably 3 or 4 years). I have to iron out the tailgating plan and head to the grocery this afternoon.

Bacon. Always bacon.

snowbear · Sep 16, 2016

SquarePeg said:
TGIFF People!

Yea! I'm going in late but not staying late, tonight.

KenC · Sep 16, 2016

JonA_CT said:
Shitty couple weeks at work, so I've been self-medicating tonight with some Mount Gay Rum, a splash of triple sec, and some ginger ale.

I know most of y'all that post on this thread have kids that are out of school (or maybe not at all), but if you think your kids' teachers do a good job, take five minutes and send an e-mail to the teachers and to the principal. Unfortunately, usually they only hear from parents when things aren't going well.

EDIT: To clarify, because people who are vague suck....I've been getting raked over the coals because of something sarcastic that I said to a student I had last year (who I have a great relationship with...who laughed, and I had a full conversation after I said it). A different student heard it, told their parents, who called the superintendent, which resulted in me having an invitation to the principal with union representation (look up Weingarten Rights), which has led to me losing my edge for the last few weeks. Ugh.

Hang in there - sounds like something that blows over with no problem, although kind of a downer for a little while.

I guess things have gotten worse. My wife was teaching a class in a community college about 20 years ago. A disagreement with a student in class, the details of which I don't remember, but which basically involved the student whining about the work, culminated in my wife saying: "I don't give a flying f*** what you do." The administration was a little disturbed, but no official meetings or anything like that. She tried to quit for a variety of reasons, but they wouldn't let her.

limr · Sep 16, 2016

KenC said:
Hang in there - sounds like something that blows over with no problem, although kind of a downer for a little while.

I guess things have gotten worse. My wife was teaching a class in a community college about 20 years ago. A disagreement with a student in class, the details of which I don't remember, but which basically involved the student whining about the work, culminated in my wife saying: "I don't give a flying f*** what you do." The administration was a little disturbed, but no official meetings or anything like that. She tried to quit for a variety of reasons, but they wouldn't let her.

I do agree that the climate has changed, although college has always been a whole different ballgame. Some of the things my teachers in elementary and middle school said and did probably would get "official inquiries" today, but in college, there's still a lot more freedom for a teacher to have conflict with a student without everyone getting their panties up in a bunch. Cursing would probably get a teacher called to see the dean, though that would depend on the administration of that department. Some departments wouldn't barely care and others would go apedoody. But just getting heated with a student who is giving you crap? Meh.