Education Wars: A New Hope

Okay so I had to follow up yesterday's post with a light note. That people I ask around here say it's "most likely" that I'll have a job next year. And I tell myself worrying doesn't help. And Amanda tells me that even if I did lose my job- whatever happens, happens for a reason, and we will of course be fine. My visions of being one of those families holding up "Please Help" signs fighting for a better freeway onramp to stand at, will never be reality.
And on an especially lighter note, I got a hand made card from a kid today, a boy most would call a "bad kid," who blew me away this morning by giving me a Thank You card and writing that I was his favorite teacher! It gives me hope that I really am making a difference in kids' lives- even the impossible ones. I love my job

To work or not to work - no question

So turns out the state of Oregon feels that Education is a 'take it or leave it' kind of thing. No biggie. We'll just build bigger prisons.
A couple weeks ago we voted as a union whether we'd prefer to
A. Take 5-8% pay cuts for the next 2 years
or
B. Lay off a bunch of teachers and have class sizes of 40+

I'm sorry to say that from what I hear, more teachers voted for B. Those teachers were definitely not in my position. As a first-year teacher, no matter how awesome I am at my job I am the first to go. Luckily I teach math. If I was a language arts teacher I'd kiss my non-homelessness goodbye. But I am certified to teach math. And 2 math teachers at my school are retiring this year. That leaves a speckle of hope in a sea of darkness...

This is a bad shituation. I am nervous and probably won't know if I'm employed next year until June. The stress of this is bigger than teaching 30 middle schools, which by the way if you are one of my administrators, I'm really good at!

And so I've considered applying to be student council rep. for my school. I would be good at it, it would pay a little, and most of all I think it would help ensure me a job next year! But on the downside I think there's a reason nobody does it 2 years in a row. It's a lot of extra time I'd be at school and away from my family. But right now I'm feeling desperate. Maybe I'll have a job next year. Maybe not. Would picking up student council really change anything. If it didn't change anything, I wouldn't want to do it for only one reason: My family. I want to spend as much time as possible with them!

Are you there?

Does anybody read this?

Break? Who needs a break?

Spring Break. A time for soaking in the sun after a long winter and celebrating the ringing in of a new season. Or in my broke-ass case, finding another form of work to soak up my morning, afternoon, and evening, and dream about at night.

Or so I thought. I recently wrote to my publisher and told her that I won't be able to work this spring break on countless math problems. No ma'am, you can't pay me to create math homework for hundreds of thousands of students across the country. My conscience is already dirty enough. Instead you can find me laying in the grass with my baby boy in my arms, wife caressing my leg, and dog licking my face. Peace off, ma'am.

So I guess I will take a real spring break this time around. If not for me then for Amanda who would have to deal with my insanity during the months to come, until summer break when I again, like clockwork, will no doubt find another job to fill up my days, nights, and dreams...

My band, like, totally rocks

As we wrestled over which singer would sing which harmony for our original song "Move," I realized that we, the Reggae Rockers, finally were climbing up to a new level. We are headed to the studio next weekend to record 7 hot new tracks and I've gotta say, I think they will be smashing.

We are on a fast train to the top. Our upcoming gigs include KBVR-TV's Locals Live, the Twilight Room in Portland, and the OSU Battle of the Bands. With the amount of focus we reggae enthusiasts have been pouring into the music, and with the intense Kombucha-driven energy at our practices, we just can't go wrong.

Lately, what I've been most passionate about is our cover of the Congos' song "Solid Foundation"- arranged and lead by Amanda. It's totally beautiful, full of energy and harmonies, and brings out our band's potential. It's not on the list of songs to record yet but I will push with all my might because I think it could turn out to be the best one.

This is what I've been dreaming about lately in between thoughts of my lovely wife and beautiful baby. I am so lucky to have them and all the other great things in my life!!!!!

P.S. I love you so much Amanda!

The hand you're dealt

Sanity is returning. I just told the textbook publisher, "it will be Saturday." It's late. I know. Deal with it. The worst thing that will happen is that she won't offer me the summer job I want and if that's the case, it wasn't meant to be.

Oh yeah, I have a real job I'm supposed to be doing now...

Work work work while I sing this song

I recently thought it would be a good idea to take on another project. I'm a full time first-year teacher. Lead guitar player/singer in an up and coming roots rock band, and have recently pioneered a new company, Lion Heart Kombucha , selling Kombucha tea and teaching classes on how to make it. "Why not do some textbook publishing on the side" I thought to myself, so I contacted a friend in New York and signed up to make 2 chapters worth of bonus material to supplement a new Algebra 2 textbook. Little did I know that 2 chapters means 12 sections, each section requiring 4 pages of problems. It takes me about 1 hour per page, so if my math is right (and it is), that means I need an extra 48 hours. Oh, and did I mention the deadline was yesterday and I only have 10 out of 48 pages done. (insert curse words here)