The Most Wonderful Time Of Year

     For those of you who know me, you know I have been a teacher for the past 40 plus years.  So it is at this time I thought I would say a few words about "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"  not the song about the winter holidays but the start of the school year.  In some states school has been in session since the beginning of August and in some areas even of my own state has been in session for a few weeks.  Our district starts September 1 this year and the last few days we teachers have been in meetings, prepping our rooms and going through in-services to help us be better at what we do.  Even at my time in my career I learn quit a bit this week.  Too many people think we should get rid of the veteran teacher as they are in a rut and do things in out-dated ways based on when they first started their career.  And, let young, new, energetic, up-to-date skilled teachers mold our childrens' minds. I, as one of those veteran teachers,  have to tell you, every teacher I know, and I know a lot of them, wants not only to teach, but to learn as well.  I do not know a teacher who is doesn't have the philosophy that we all need to be "life long learners".  It is too bad that the teaching profession and its' associations have been the scapegoats for poor fiscal policy, ineffective parenting, socio-economic issues and political rhetoric.  My profession requires a tremendous amount of preparation and schooling with rigorous standards to meet and yet we are blamed for all the ills of society and perceived as money grubbing ogres on the same level as Bernie Madoff.  That somehow Johnny can't read is only our fault. Are there bad teachers?  Just as there are bad stock brokers, bankers, plumbers, and any profession you can name.  Are there excellent teachers?  The answer to that is a resounding yes, most.  So, to my fellow teachers I wish them a happy new year, may the parents of your students participate in the educational process, may your Administrations be supportive and may your new students come to school eager to learn.  May you have an enjoyable, successful year at what you love to do.

Guilt and Jerry Seinfeld

     Ok I'm new at this blog stuff and I don't know the etiquette associated with it.  I have to admit that I feel guilty about not writing something.  Sort of like I don't have anything to say but feel an obligation to say something.  It reminds me of an old Seinfeld episode that Jerry and George Constanza pitch to a producer a show about nothing yet it described the show perfectly.  Now, I'm not really a Seinfeld fan, I have friends who have every episode on video tape(yes for you youngins we had square plastic boxes with plastic tabe that pre-dates DVDs) but it was hard for me to watch a show about nothing and see humor in that.  As I get older I guess I can appreciate that more.  I remember the shows characters that were my favorite, George, Newman and Kramer.  Mostly because they were characters that I knew in real life and maybe that was its' appeal.  So, I hope you enjoy what I have to say and I know that occassionally I will get more serious about politics and the rest of the human condition, but, for now I need to tell you that I will probably not write every day now that school is starting and yes I will feel guilty about that.  Not really.  How's that about a blog about nothing?  Maybe I am areally a Seinfeld fan after all.

Just Random

 Thank you all my loyal followers for input of my last blog.  I enjoyed the helpful comments.  Today was a good day.  Things went really well at work and I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I am lucky that I found a job that I GET go to every day and my thoughts go out to those who get up every morning and have to drag themselves to work or worse yet, have no job to go to.  I wish I could tell you that it will get better under the present political climate but I don't see any progress being made from any corner of the political spectrum.  I surely don't have the answers as some seem to have and I don't really blame anyone in particular as some seem to do because there is plenty of blame to go around.  But I do know one thing, and that is that we as a nation have faced worse problems than we face now(I know that is no consolation to the homeless, sick and out of work) and we have worked as a nation to solve those problems.  Even as we face the petty political infighting, the individuals who blame others for their own short sightedness and those who think they have all the answers, eventually we as Americans will help each other fix whatever is percieved as broken.  Normally I am an eternal pessimist,  but as a student of history and someone who has lived through a good portion of it, in this I am sure.

Getting old ain't for Sissies

My Dad was fond of saying thet getting old wasn't for sissies and that "it beats the alternative".  As I reach my retirement I now realize how true those words are.  I have had back trouble since I was in my 20s and even had back sugery 25 years ago.  Still, my back flares up occassionally and unfortunately it illicits sympathy from friends and colleagues.  Although nice to know how much they care and I really do appreciate it, it makes me feel like the old man I feel when these episodes occur.  I guess I need to be more gracious and accept that getting old is better than not and enjoy the occassional "aww, so sorry" and "I hope you are feeling better" with the compassion in which it is given and go on with it.  That's all I have to say now.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

     Seems everyone is complaining about there are no jobs out there.  I actually agree.  Why?  It is really simple.  Many jobs are done by computers and robotics.  We don't need as many factory workers anymore.  Sort of what happened to agriculture 2 centuries ago.  Private companies are out sourcing a large portion of their business over seas(50% of their profit is in the foriegn markets according to the CPO and IMF) where labor is cheaper because consumers want ever lower prices on goods.  The financial markets shelter their profits so they can avoid paying their share of taxes and people THINK that government is too big.  So we vote for those who want smaller government swelling the already large numbers of unemployed looking for work.  If you think the lines at the DMV are long now?  Wait until we make government even smaller.   We, you and me, get what we deserve when we vote for representatives who are disingenous and promise every aspect of society what it wants to hear and we believe them.  And by the way, the President cannot create jobs, he needs private industry to do that and the Congress.  No matter what he does Xerox, Hewlett-Packard, Time-Warner and other companies need to be loyal to America and employ Americans and not those who will work for a dollar a day in other countries.  But, then again do you want your stuff to triple in price?  Who is to blame now?

Spelling and typing

     Those of you  who read my posts will have to excuse my lack of ability to spell.  I will make every attempt to do it correctly.  I learned to type with 2 fingers and a thumb so I am slow and often hit the wrong key.  Sorry in advance.

The Beginning

     I started this blog because I felt the need to express myself other than screaming to no one or writing to no one and in the hopes someone sees the world the way I do.  I can't believe that I am the only one who sees this world as I do.  Someone has to be out there that might agree with me.  Also, I really am interested in finding out why there are others who don't see the world as I do and why.  I am not interested in screaming matches, profanity, name calling(although mild epithets can occassionally crop) and those who just refuse to acknowledge that there are many ways to look at issues.  So, if you are interested in a rational discussion I am willing to acknowledge and respect the ability to agree to disagree in all things expressed.  We can therefore carry on discussions henceforth once the ground rules have been established and we respect each others point of view.