The End of the Beginning of the End

by Jose on August 19, 2008

young stephen king vacation

Vacation time’s coming to a close, but I’m still hanging onto the idea that I’m on vacation. For better or worse, though, ’till something does us part, I’ll always be an educator. And this vacation time has done nothing but solidify my teacher mentality.

I knew I was a certified teacher when …

- I saw kids on the train fighting / not holding the bars / making too much noise / chewing their gum like they’re horses / annoying me and wanted to give them detention for it (haha, jokes)

- I explain things to people like I’m teaching them, even teachers.

- I can make a quick-n-dirty lesson plan out of the simple things like using a camera or drinking bubble tea.

- I explain to a prospective teacher the pros and cons of teaching using a Venn diagram in my mind.

- I can attach some songs on my playlist to a memory I have in my classroom.

- I walk around and look at a poster thinking, “I can really use that for my classroom.”

- I still read teacher blogs … on vacation!

- I wake up on the first few days of vacation ready to jump out of bed with a suit and tie when I realize I can sleep just a little longer.

- I identified myself by my profession than any race or ethnicity markers (whoa)

- I still enjoy the surprised looks when I tell people what I work for.

- I can’t go a Tuesday without blogging about education …

When did you know you were a teacher if you are one? Even those that aren’t, do you have any experiences like that?

jose, who doesn’t think his latest graphic novel purchases V for Vendetta and The Watchmen are appropriate for my students …

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What Will It Take?

by Jose on August 19, 2008

In Beijing, China, the International Olympics Committee told the Chinese government to ease up on their treatment of people. The Chinese government, in turn, invites protesters to register at their local police department and, when the Olympics come, to just stand in one of the designated protest areas and they can do as they please. As prominent protesters have disappeared into the secret confines of their prisons, no one’s shown up to these protests, despite the myriad “opportunities” to do so.

As I read between the lines in that New York Times article, I’m bothered by the idea that we’d actually have to ask the authorities whether or not we can protest against them without them seeking some retribution of some nature. And it’s not that I’m disenchanted; to the contrary, I’ve never had more hope for the future. But it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I’m sad about that portion.

“Inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist.” - George Carlin

Truer words were never spoken …

jose, who tries to turn his cynicism into action …

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