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April 26th, 2004
09:43 pm - Saga of Unpacking
Getting settled into the new house, but I'm getting bogged down in boxes. It seems as if every time I make a trip to the garage to get a new box, three more appear. Plus, since we are painting several rooms and refinishing two book shelves it seems as if half of the stuff we have in the garage needs to stay there. The difficult job has now become deciding what stays and what comes in as well as getting stuff out of my way to get to the stuff that matters.
Adding to this I've come to realize that I completely forgot about a ten page research paper I had due for a graduate class I'm taking at USC while preparing for the move. I must get this done by class this Thursday or I'm dead meat. So, now, when a student begs me to overlook his missing HW assignment in class I get to become a total hypocrite for getting on him about his lack of responsibility.
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April 25th, 2004
10:14 pm - Moved In!
Well, thanks to the help of family and friends, my wide and I have moved into our house. I cannot say how happy I am. I ran the speaker wire for surround sound, and painted our bedroom already, and I feel like such the handyman. My wife already has a large lst of tint changes for to work on, and we haven't even unpacked half the boxes.
Cable and Sattelite were installed yesterday, but this was my first chance to sit down and type something up. In short, I've made the pass around the moon.
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April 23rd, 2004
11:57 am - Fade to Black
Packing up the last few things in the apartment today. Big move is tomorrow, but I hope to move a few things tonight and start painting a few rooms before we move completely in. Closing was yesterday, and the couple we bought the house from is still moving out. I know they are having anxiety about moving, but come on. Did they not realize what closing was all about. I'm giving until tonight, then I'm joining them for dinner in my (and my wife's) house. They have known for more than a month we were buying the house, and the contract was approved weeks ago. They have had plenty of time.
Anyways, I was wondering what a sad statement I'm making by making the absolute last two things I'm packing today are the TiVo and my computer. I just broke down the TV and will shut down the iBook in a few minutes. I think I know how the Apollo astronaut in the capsule must have felt on his silent radio black out swing around the moon must have felt. You know the one poor guy who did not get to go to the moon in the three person crew who had to stay on board and pilot the ship around the moon before the other two guys joined him for the return trip. Well, anyways, I will being internet blacked out for a bit while I wait for the cable internet guys to install in the new house.
BTW, its also sad the two things I am getting hooked up first are TiVo and Cable internet.
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April 22nd, 2004
06:38 pm - We're Moving On Up!
Well, today the wife and I managed to close on our house. We are moving on Saturday, and not a minute too soon. Since my last entry my car was broken into again, and my window and cd player were broken. The gang kid downstairs has been shot at by rival gangs, and the apartment manager and I have stopped speaking. (It has been fun yelling at her. She so easy to dislike.)
Closing on a house is such an ordeal. I was kinda shocked by how ho hum the lawyer was about all the money and contract stuff that was changing hands, but as everyone has told me I just signed and went on asking no questions about what I was doing and the whole thing did go smoothly.
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April 15th, 2004
11:41 am - Too Much Time?
Sitting here at home enjoying my break this week. Quick News Radio Trivia question. Name 3 0f the 4 talents/ hobbies that Dave tries to keep secret from his staff at WNYX.
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March 4th, 2004
09:18 pm - Boy, What a year... So far!
Ok. It's been awhile since I've blogged, but I've been busy. Been thinkin back on the year, and I must say, "Wheeew!" I sure hope it slows down from now until May. Since I turned 30 last May 20, I have broken my first bone (collar), gotten married, been picked teacher of the year, taken over a new technology classroom project at my school, become an expecting father, and now, if all goes as planned, I will be a home owner by the end of April! Not bad, huh?
My wife and I found a great little brick house in Briarcliffe Estates, and our offer has been accepted. I must say I'm excited and terribly scared about the prospects of being a home owner. Props to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) quarks for his pops, who has coached us through the whole buying experience. I almost feel like I know what I'm doing now.
We have the home inspection coming tomorrow, and fill out the home loan papers on Tuesday. Wish us luck. By the way, does anyone own a truck?
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February 5th, 2004
10:02 pm - My Most Unforgettable Moment
I originally composed this prose to hang in the hallway of my school. As part of a movement to improve writing in the students of our school, teachers are taking part of writing projects along side students.
“My Most Unforgettable Moment”
I’ve had many unforgettable moments so far in my life. Just when I thought that was it, another lasting memory has appeared. That’s what’s made my life so great.
In College, I had the memory of my absolute, very last at bat in baseball. I had played the game, since I was 6 years old in T-Ball leagues, and on Pee-Wee and Dixie Youth Teams. Batting was my strength, but despite several ground rule doubles, and a few long fly balls that bounced off the wall, I never quite managed a “Real” home run. That is until I came to the plate my senior year of high school during the last game of my high school career. I clobbered a high hanging curve over the right center field fence at Camden Military’s baseball/ football field. The only bad part was that I hit the ball a too well, and it sailed over the fence and a two lane country highway into a pond on the other side. Several of teammates still call it the best swing they have ever seen to this very day.
Then came the day when I asked my College sweetheart to marry me after about ten years of dating. I will never forget pulling her aside at her grandfathers house on a Thanksgiving weekend to get down on one knee and ask her to be my wife. I was pretty sure what her answer would be, but I was shaking and choked up about the question. Knowing now that her grandfather would not live to make it the wedding has made the moment even more special.
She said yes, and the stage was set for my next unforgettable moment to take place just this past summer - standing in front of a crowd of friends and family at the front of Rutledge Chapel on the Horseshoe at USC to watch her walk down the aisle on her way to becoming my wife.
I thought nothing could match this event. That is until this past Wednesday, Feb 4 – the day I was able to our unborn child in our first ultrasound. Nothing can explain how unforgettable it was to see our baby’s heart beat for the first time.
I'm glad I finally get to blog about this. From the time my wife and I found out this past Christmas I've been itching to tell people.
Not only did the event of the ultrasound this week make the whole idea of having a baby very real, but I was amazed at being able to actually see the baby's heart beat. Baby Swick even put on show for us and wriggled around a bit putting that little peanut shaped body into motion. I have to say, that was something special.
My wife will be due sometime in late August, and while the next few months will be very hectic as we attempt to try and get ready for an arrival, I am very excited about becoming a dad. Wow, that's a scary thought!
And, in the immortal words of my younger brother, "My God, I don't think the universe can handle another SWICK!"
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January 27th, 2004
11:00 pm - Great Ice Storm of '04
It is ridiculous how dependent I have become on electricity. And when the ice starting dropping from the skies this past Sunday Night and Monday Morning, I dreaded what would be coming.
I still remember the last great ice storm of this area way back in about 1980. Our family lost power for more than week, my favorite tree (a weeping willow) fell victim to the weight of ice, and my Mom nearly went nuts trying to keep us warm. My little brother had just been born and my mom kept a fire running around the clock, and pulled down mattresses to block us into our family room. Eventually she gave up and forced my Dad to book us into the only hotel with power in the area, a HoJo in Cayce.
This event has been locked in my memory banks, so when the pine trees started drooping this past Monday, I knew the worst could be coming. I had been enjoying a "Snow" day from school, and was quite content to sit at home with my wife watching some banked movies on our TiVo. My wife was doing long overdue laundry. I was going to also use my time to catch up grading some of my student journals online that they had turned in the week before.
It was too good to be true, and sure enough the lights flickered once, and then they went out. My TiVo, the internet, our wash, light, heat, the ability to cook, it was all gone.
Quickly, we dodge falling limbs and made our way into the Jeep, after chipping away a 1/2 inch layer of ice, and made a trip for the essentials: wood, milk, bread, and Clementines. Back at home, a fire was started to keep us warm, and then my wife and I huddled around a window to pass the day reading. As the sun set, we dug out our camping gear for light and a stove for dinner.
Before settling in for the night we made a trip around the block for some more wood, and found there was none to be found, but did discover that lights were back in in the area around our side of town.
Two Notch had stop lights again, restaurants were open for business, and the apartment complex right across the street from us was light up like Manhattan. Our apartment, however, was still cold and dark. We were literally the dividing line between modern civilization and the dark ages. I will likely resent the jerks living in the complex across the street the rest of my life now.
The power even flicked back on a few times during the night just to taunt us, which, as every light and machine in our house came suddenly alive, caused my wife to scream out for sacred excrement (HOLY SHIT).
Needless to say the power is back. I have my TiVo purring, the laundry spinning, and the internet running. I'm happy again, and the greatest part is that I still have one more "Snow" day to enjoy. I just found out my school is not opening until Thursday.
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January 25th, 2004
09:44 pm - Learning: The Hard Way
Teaching in a classroom where all my students have a computer at their desk has taught me an awful lot this year. There have been so many unique lessons, and interesting projects to develop with this new technology, I have felt like a kid in a candy store.
I have also learned a lot about classroom management. Keeping my kids from playing on them 24/7, or from downloading games has been a challenge.
A funny thing, however, did happen this week I have been dreading all year. I knew something like this could occur, and have just been waiting.
Well, it starts like this I have managed to set up e-mail accounts for my kids at school using a company called gaggle.net. I have complete control and monitor all e-mails for content, and have also managed to automatically suspend e-mail of kids that use offensive language without my worrying.
I also created e-mail for parents to contact each other using a company called Blackboard, where I also manage all my internet activities for my kids in my classes.
I have clearly stated many times students should not e-mail each other using Blackboard, since these messages go to parents.
Well, a student this past week made the mistake of using Blackboard to send an e-mail complaining about a student who had been "Farting in class! ALL DAY."
Its gets better. The student mistakenly clicked the send all button. This message was sent to every parent and administrator in my school.
I felt lucky fart was the worst word used, and that most parents have found this funny as I have. The kid and all of my students learned an important lesson about the perils of e-mail.
Oh, also, the kid did really have bad gas! She wasn't lying.
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January 17th, 2004
09:23 pm - Beautiful Day in the 'Hood
I'd like to paint a scene of the folks that live around me and my wife in our not so quaint apartment complex. I know its not exactly a bad place to live, but right now we are surrounded by an odd assortment of neighbors.
While thumbing through our index of shows on TiVo, my wife and I were disturbed by shouting outside our window. The single black mother of two teenage boys was going off on her youngest son. Evidently, she was discovering what everyone else has been complaining about for months. She was tearing through her son's car pulling out plastic bags of dull green substance (Pot!), lots of red clothing, and some various car stereo equipment laying around as well.
Of course, this being much more interesting than television, I set up camp by the window, and listened in.
During this argument, older son plays peacemaker, yelling back at moms to stop driving her son away, and that since they were a poor black family, and not like the rich white folk in the area, this was the sort of thing that was okay for boy to be doing.
This all made for great drama and the other lady who lives with her three young sons below me called up to make sure I was tuning in. It was great!
But there's more.
I recognized a station wagon with its hood up that looked familiar in the back ground. I remembered it as a car of a friend of mine who works at Heathwood with my wife. Only the guy working on it was quite disheveled, and much older, nastier, and strange looking than I remembered.
My wife comes to the window to and says, "Oh yeah, that's him. He left his wife a few weeks ago for some other young chick. I hope you see what's happens when older men leave their wives for younger women. I knew he moved here, but I thought he lived further down. Huh."
She walked off smug and satisfied.
Yeah, I was watching and learning. Evidently leaving your wife makes you live in a crappy apartment, turns your car into a piece of shit, and makes you fat, ugly and bald as well. God, he looked so pathetic.
And, just when I was about to go back to TiVo, the Al-Queda triplets came into view. A few months ago, these young Arab males moved in and I have been unjustly over suspicious ever since.
They speak little English, and have loud arguments in a foreign language late at night at the door of their apartment. Obviously, I have no idea what they are talking about, but it always sounds like a plot to blow up important targets located in the greater Columbia area.
When I walk by their place, and the door is just slightly ajar, I always take a peak inside. You know, doing my part for Homeland Security. They have absolutely nothing other than a 12" black and white TV, and a mattress and white sheet. I know the goods are around somewhere.
So, I've been waiting for some real evidence of what they are planning, and as they came into view today, I was hoping to see if they'd slip up and I could catch them up to something. But, other than the tennis rackets they have obviously purchased to help the fit in to American life, no new information was gained.
The show was over for the day, and I left the window, and went back to TiVo.
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January 12th, 2004
10:27 pm - A Sobering Moment
I found out that I lost a friend to cancer last night.
This is hard, because I've always considered myself too young to be losing friends.
It will be hard coming to terms with losing someone who shouldn't be gone. She was only 31, and only a year older than me. Thinking about this makes you stop and be thankful.
Her name was Joanna Farris, and I'm not sure any bloggers out there know of her or not, but she has been battling a variety of cancers for more than the past couple years.
She was a good friend from my college days in theatrical lighting design. We both were undergrads in the program at USC. It was her major, but my minor, and we took a number of classes, and worked on a number of projects together.
I had lost track of her in the years after school, but kept track of her through friends. She had been working in a number of theaters and amusement parks around the U.S. in a number of ways. She would do almost anything to stay in theater, which she loved.
She married a man named Tad, and I caught up with her a few years back at another friends wedding. It was great seeing her, and talking about old times.
Not long after that day, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because she did not have continuos health coverage since she and her husband were working part-time in different theater jobs around the country ( a hazard of the profession), she initially avoided the lump, and pain, hoping it would go away.
She did eventually get treatment and underwent massive surgery. Things started to look better, and she made it to mine and my wife's wedding last year. It was great seeing her, especially knowing what she had been going through.
Since then however, a back pain that would not go away wound up becoming a spreading cancer that ran throughout her back and found its way into her organs.
Hearing about all this makes me stop and wonder how I could go on if my wife and I were put in this situation. I have been praying for Joanna, and hope her sudden passing is actually a blessing instead of months of struggling through treatment and further pain. I pray for Tad as well. There is no way he could have been ready to deal with this.
I wish today that I had kept in better touch with her, or had been of some help to her before her passing. She was a far better friend to me, than I was to her.
I know its always dangerous and useless to say what might have been, and I don't really want to start a debate over this issue, but I can't help wonder what could have been if there were some sort of national health care in our nation. If Joanna's breast cancer had been caught early, and she had received proper treatment, she could very likely still be with her family and loved ones today. There is no reason her life needed to end so soon. A country as great as ours should be able to help these things from happening.
I know many people out there disagree, and have their own reasons for their feelings, but please just let me rant about this.
What we should all take from this story is two fold. One, if you can, take care of yourself with regular health check ups especially breast exams. Two, hug someone special to you today.
Why, because you can.
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January 6th, 2004
10:27 pm - First day back, and...
Well, it was a nice day getting back to work with my students. I am amazed at how lazy I can get without work to do. I had so many projects planned for the break, but spent most of my time chillin' by the TiVo with the wife.
Anyway, I got some bad news today. I have this great kid in my room this year, who is new to my school. He had been saying for weeks up to the holiday break that he would be moving. Of course, I have learned to not believe anything about "moving" from my students. I have waited months to no avail for certain little monsters to make the move.
But, with this kid, I just hoped and wished he was giving me a line about moving. You see, this kid is a true rarity. He's not the brightest kid in my class, in fact, he can barely read, but what makes him so rare is that how nice has been.
I don't mean this to sound racist (I know just saying that sounds like I really am! sorry), but what made this boy so special was the fact that he came from a single parent background, he lived in a trailer with more than 7 other brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and so on, he was black, and he was this biggest kid in my room. Normally, this is a recipe for a crappy kid with a bad attitude. He had so many strikes going against him, but he despite all that he had no chip on his shoulder. He was the nicest kid in class, and no matter how bad the other kids around him would act, he never followed their example.
Many other teachers in my school never gave him a chance. Other teachers would see him walking in he hallway, and just watch him, waiting to find him doing something wrong since he fit the bill of the idea of a bad kid. I hated it when other teachers would come to me telling me how much of a bad kid he was (in front of his damn face even!), when in fact he had done nothing wrong. Most kids these days would argue back in his situation when this happened, and in fact he had the right to, but not him. He would just stand there and take it. Not once did this kid ever act out in my room, raise his voice, or do anything even remotely mean to anyone else in my room, and some teacher who does even know his name drags him to my room to get me to punish him. Ha!
Needless to say, this kid has really gotten to me this year. I had made it my mission to see him pass the PACT, and get him reading. He has been working hard, despite never doing any homework, but well... that's another blog. He has slowly picked his grades up, and even raised his reading level a slight bit.
And just as we reached the days after Christmas (the usual real days of student growth as any teacher has learned) he moves away. Arghh! No wonder this kid can't read. I hate the fact that parents can just pick their kids away from one school, and move to another over night. It is completely counter productive. A kid like this would be so different if he was ever allowed to finish even one year at the same school he started.
Of course, there is little to nothing I can do about this. I never even got a chance to say good-bye, and he will likely move to another school, where even if he gets a great teacher, he or she will likely do little to help along the struggling black boy who moves in at the middle of the year. In fact, even if this new teacher wants to help him, it would take a few weeks to a month to even figure out what it is he does and does not know like I have since August. Learning the best ways to teach any kid takes time. Time this kid just doesn't have anymore. He could quickly get lost in the system of education, especially next year in a much larger middle school setting.
If I had my way, the parents of failing or struggling students would not be allowed to move their kids mid year. I know that in reality there may be more pressing reasons for the move, like not being able to make rent, but I know this mother stays home during the day, and should just be forced to get her lazy ass in gear to make a difference for her kid.
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December 28th, 2003
12:24 am - TiVo is Television
Well, my wife and I became one of the TiVo Dish Network nation today. We literally moved from the stone ages of TV into the future.
But, let me begin at the beginning. I also pulled off a tremendous coup. You see, I got TiVo as a surprise for my wife as her Christmas Present. We have been using rabbit ears since being in the apartment together and have dealt with annoying static that has sent my wife into fits nearly every few minutes of tv viewing.
Using these complaints, I decided to surprise her with a satellite system as a present. It has, however, not gone unnoticed that the remote has spent a large amount of time in my hand and not hers! I have so far used the excuse that I have been "setting up" the system for her, but she's not buying it any more.
Well, Christian Satellite Service came to install it all today, but gave us quite a scare about there not being enough line of site before making the trip. Once the guy got here though he found a great opening on the balcony between two trees, and voila! Our lives were changed. The dude did suggest some great stations to watch preachers on before he dismissed. "Christian is not a name I tell people; it's a way of life," was his motto and life creed. I found this a bit confusing as he cursed and bitched about those "Damn Japs" that designed the tiny spaces on my VCR.
Already, we have started TiVoing some of our favorites like Monster Garage (me) and Trading Spaces (her).
I can't wait to see what TiVo starts suggesting for our tastes in shows.
By the way, are any other TiVoers out there a bit bothered by the fact that TiVo cannot be turned off or that it silently and without noticed must use a telephone line at night to "update the system."
Can you say Big Brother is Watching!
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December 25th, 2003
12:02 am - Merry Christmas!
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas day.
Hope Santa got you all just what you wanted.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
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December 23rd, 2003
11:43 pm - Sex in a Canoe No More!
Ok, now that I have your attention.
Just got back from a trip to Atlanta. Boy, its sure is good to be back. Getting out of even the outskirts of Atlanta tonight at 6 pm was dreadful. In my opinion, Atlanta should be the poster city for a mass transit system. And, don't even think of mentioning MARTA to me, you know that doesn't count.
Anyway, to the point, I sit here tonight drinking from a tall frosted glass of Warsteiner. After reading co_dimension4's recent bog about the Saucer, I must exhort the benefits of such an establishment.
You see, until recently, I considered Coors or Coors Light my favorite beer of choice. I now can say I understand how nuts this sounded to other beer drinkers. Joining the club and tasting various beers at the Saucer has shown me the light. I am now a truly converted Beer Drinker. I now realize the transgressions of my actions.
Boy, how silly I must have sounded when I scoffed at those who drank dark beer that light could find no passage through. I can hear myself saying things stupid things, and after my first Black and Tan more than a week ago,I still fell the lingering taste of such a divine nectar.
I can now agree with all of you out there that refer to drinking Coors Light to having sex in a canoe. It is fucking pretty close to water.
By the way, will someone please go back and make a comment on my "Prealgebra" Blog. I was so hoping to hear someone's elses take on the site!
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December 21st, 2003
01:41 pm - Blog on the Road
I am taking the now tradional trip to visit my wife's sister in Atlanta in the days prior to Christmas. We have made it the past couple for years, and hit the malls in the Atlanta area to almost all of our holiday shopping.
I enjoy the trip for several reasons, primarily because we get to visit my wife's sister, but also because it is always the first time in awhile for me to just relax.
The drive up was uneventful. I must say I enjoy the new toll road that diverts Atlanta traffic around I-85 away from Greenville traffic. I costs $1.50, but I don't mind paying for a great expanse of road that no one else seems to take. It is always kinda wierd to drive for about 30 minutes and not see hardly another vehicle. By the way, we used my wife's parents Buick for the drive, since the Jeep has been acting wierd. (The temp gauge jumps to red level and then back down again for seemingly no reason.)My next car will be a Buick! They drive so nice.
One note about driving on the highway I wish all drivers obeyed is that the left hand lane is for passing only! We got behind this Scmuck that acted as though the left hand lane was for his personal and private use only. Not that traffic was heavy, and he could not get right. He just stayed there. For about 30 minutes of driving. And, of course everytime I would try to pass him on the right, he would speed up to stay ahead. I hate that!!
As for Atlanta! Well, it always reminds me of why I like Columbia. We drove downtown to see a mall where my wife's sister works, and the traffic was ridiculous. Parking was non-existant, and a trip that would take maybe thirty minutes at home, became hours in Atlanta. (I must say, getting to 90 MPH and not fear getting a ticket is kinda cool! You see to keep with the flow that is what you have to do!)
As for the malls themselves, Well, they don't have anything special that we don't have, and it usually is a bit more expensive. I must say, we don't come here for the good deals!
I do enjoy all the great people watching I get to do in the malls though. Some definite differences from folks in Columbia. Everyone dresses so Metro-Casual I felt like a slob in my jeans and t-shirt. I followed a Goth group into a store, and enjoyed watching the boy with black lipstick, black trenchcoat, black laced corset, black jeans, and black shoes with lip, ear, nose, tongue, eyebrow, and who knows what else pierced buy a spring scented candle for his mom. Aww, even Goth's have parents!
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December 18th, 2003
09:48 pm - Making Prealgebra more fun!!
I've been working with my students this week, looking at a lot of different things dealing with algebra. We have looked at expressions, equations, variables, and some other issues dealing with learning about how to deal with algebra number sentences.
The most difficult thing for my kids is always using this stuff in real life situations or in problem solving type questions. What some folks refer to as "The Dreaded Word Problem"
As a math teacher, I just get so totally excited when I am able to get all my kids geeked about doing math.
Today, I ran across a great new website, and my kids all loved it. Now, the math was kinda hard, so we worked the problems out as a group. I was excited to even see my students solving problems using math I have not even thought about teaching them yet! They just worked at it logically, and the pieces fell into place.
This site combines a make believe science fiction world with problem solving questions. It engaged my students' creativity as well as their logical thinking.
Try it out for yourself and tell me what you think. I know it's basic for many of you, but tell me what you think.
Absurd Math has four different episodes published, and I think more are in development.
Absurd Math is an interactive mathematical problem solving game series. The player proceeds on missions in a strange world where the ultimate power consists of mathematical skill and knowledge. Many of the pages have hidden clues and areas. Anytime a player needs help, they may email our staff for assistance. We try to respond within two days. Teachers and parents, email us for answer keys.
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December 17th, 2003
09:32 pm - A Case of Mistaken Identity
Some of you have probably seen this already. I saw this on a Gamecockcentral.com
It could be worse (if this story is true...wow)
Posted by PC Cock (GCI) at 13:44:29 12/16/03
Read on even if your not a sports person, you'll love this. I think it's a fake though. Sounds like some folks are trying to make fun of Indiana! Funny story anyway
My opinion: more power to Jason "Parker" Smith.
( Purdue Signs Wrong Student )
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05:55 pm - Holiday Gift Help
I have this certain person on mine and teacherwoman's gift list who is a math/ logic games junkie. It's so hard to find one he doesn't have.
Myself, I don't know much about this genre.
Any bloggers out there with a suggestion? I would love to add to his collection.
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05:41 pm - Holiday Season School Life rant
This week marks one of the most difficult weeks for most elementary school teachers. With all the distractions of the holiday season, and a two week break from school coming up at the end of school this Friday, any hopes to actually teach anything of any real meaning are usually thrown out the door.
I, however, do not subscribe to this manner of teaching. I know this makes my life more difficult, but I just can't live with allowing my kids any "free" time at school. I believe school is a place for learning and teaching. I hate the way so many teachers at my school this week drag out all this touchy, feely holiday crafts, activities, and crap.
( Read on for more rants )
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