A first week for the book

Aaaaand the first week is done. Lets see... we had a student's water break, an all female brawl and someone took a crap on the head football coaches floor...at least they caught her (not a type-o). Wonder if they'll try and schedule around the full moon next year?

And So it Begins

Opening day: The first day teachers are required to be at work. A day where the ENTIRE district gathers to celebrate the opening of school. We sit in the newest school inthe district and listen for at least two hours maybe three to administrators and then some administrators and a few mor administrators tell us what a great year it's going to be. Meanwhile our classrooms sit without us in them doing what we really need to be doing...putting the finishing touches on the real opening day, the one with the students. I hate opening day and to echo one of my colleagues this wasted morning, "Any day we are at work without teenagers is a wasted day." Yep.

Advice for NewTeachers From Ms. C

Ms. C has passed this information on several different occasions. Since its first incarnation several of the edu-sphere have contributed. If you're a new, newish, or crusty old bat, this bit of advice is worth checking out.

Late to Dr. Horrible (embrace your inner geek)

Joss Whedon is soooo cool. I finally was able to watch Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog yesterday. I guess Whedon put this together during the writer's strike and it is making the rounds of the Whedon geekery. It centers around Neil Patrick Hariss(Dr. Horrible) and Nathan Fillion (Capt. Hammer) as they battle for the love of a woman and control of the world. There are three episodes totaling about 42 minutes combined. and you can watch them free at the web site or do the i-tunes thing (or any number of other viewing options). It's good wholesome geeky fun.

History Teacher says, HA!

marriedtothesea.com

UK Football coach does the right thing

I played organized sports for a long time. I played football in college, worked in a NCAA, D-1 athletic department and I have been a high school athletic director. Athletics have been a part of my life for a long time and probably will be for the rest of my life. through athletics I have learned life lessons, good and bad. Some of the best moments of my life are athletics related moments. I have also been given perks I didn't deserve that made my life easy at times when it should have been harder. I have seen jocks (including myself) get away with all sort of things simply because of the fact that they were a jock. There are few things that can repair a spoiled athlete's ego that is reinforced for years living in a jock culture. Mine was shattered through a series of events and decisions that lead me to the realization that my "life skills" were woefully underdeveloped because of privileges I was given that I took for granted. Athletics are valuable and teach things that no other activity can, but somewhere along the line we have allowed sports to dominate instead of enhance our culture. Our athletes are held to a different lower standard in society because of it.
When a coach does the right thing as The University of Kentucky's Rich Brooks has finally done, letting his heavily recruited, talented and misguided starting QB go after the abuse of privileges he was granted caught up with him it is an exceptional act. Brooks could have done what many (dare I say most) coaches would have done and found a way to make this issue go away for the sake of maybe winning a game or two. But he did not do that. He went against what would have been perfectly acceptable within athletic culture and dismissed a talented prospect. Hopefully this is the wake up for Curtis Pulley that will allow him to see the big picture. Bravo coach Brooks.