Tuesday, Tiptoe...

How do you make a 32 year-old man cry? Have him come to Englewood and spend a couple hours in your classroom! My darling brother came to see me today at work so I could help him with something for one of his classes. Not only did he get the smallest little taste of what my days are like, I actually left him alone with my babies for a few minutes. YIKES! Luckily, my former assistant rescued him. All he kept saying was, "How the hell do you do this everyday?!?!" So, of course, I told him, "The next time you and your sister want to say I'm a bitch, remember this, and you'll know why!" He and our sister just don't get it. To be fair to my babies, they were a bit more wound up than usual because he was there. Whenever there's a visitor in the room, they have a hard time remembering all the rules.

I really want him to come again another day when he can just sit in the back of the room and observe. I'd love him to see my kids in action, doing their lessons, singing their songs, etc... All he could focus on today was the stressfulness of it all. It didn't help that I told him about the shooting going on this morning on the playground. AGAIN! One of the younger teachers drove right past it, and thought her tire had popped. That scared her enough, but when she heard 5 more 'pops' she realized it was shooting. Jeezaloo! I was already in my room, working, so I missed all the excitement. I didn't even know what was going on until my girlfriend came to my room, and then I saw all the cops. Never a dull moment around this place, that's for sure!

Unfortunately, my brother felt the need to mention the shooting to my dad this afternoon, so I'm waiting for my parents to call and try and talk me into leaving my school. It happens a couple of times a year. So far, I've been able to just ignore them!

Oo, some possibly good news! I spoke to our clerk, Mrs. J., last week about a new afterschool program that she's trying to get into our school. She asked if I would be interested in being the site coordinator for the program. Naturally, I said yes. Actually, it was more of a "Hell yes!!" I've always worked the afterschool program because I need the money. I'm still trying to pay off my graduate school tuition! By the time I finish that off, it'll be just in time to start paying high school tuition for my son. Whoopee!

Anyway, the site coordinator position is great because I won't actually have any kids or a class of my own. I simply will oversee the program. Plus, the position pays more than a teaching position. All in all, it's going to pay $14 more per hour than the other program I always work. So, bully for me! I still need to get all the details from the man whose program it is, but it sounds good to me!

Quote of the day:

Education is the transmission of civilization.

---Ariel and Will Durant

I thought this quote was especially fitting today because my brother went on and on about how my kids were acting like a bunch of uncivilized animals. He was going nuts with 26 5-year-olds, so he should see when I have over 30! OK, I don't want to jinx myself, so no more talk of more students! Have a great night!