"We will ever love our alma mater!"

Today was the kick off of "Pack the Place" week. Designed to encourage school spirit, this event has a pep rally, dress-up days, games, contests, activities, and silliness. I hate these things, and I love them for their light hearted hokiness. Our students work very, very hard. It is good to be able to blow off some steam.

The pep rally today, I think, is my last pep rally. Think of 3000 people jammed into a gym that is slightly too small. Imagine noise, frenetic activity, and organized chaos. The seniors won the loudest class contest, the sophomores won the "fist bump" dance contest, even the freshmen won something--there was too much noise to tell what it was, however.

The school I went to never had such focused, massive events. (I think they were afraid to get that many kids together at that period in history--much too much unrest in the country. When I started to teach here, and saw my first pep rally, I was amazed. The cheerleaders, the pommers, the drag cheerleaders (thankfully that tradition has fallen by the wayside), the athletes--and and very serious traditions.

Of course the focus here (and not at my school) could explain why my high school has never won a state championship, but this school has won a jillion of them!

Student Organizations

Since my first year teaching I have been involved with student organizations. I believe strongly in them, and encourage students to participate.

I started working with our Business Club, then was involved with DECA (an association for marketing students), then Business Professionals of America, then my last paid sponsorship was Future Business Leaders of America. I really got to work with some great kids, but over time became very frustrated with the adults! A few years ago, I gave up FBLA, with the politics with the adults became too much.

However, about that time, a group of students came to me and asked if I would be their sponsor, because no one else in the school would. These were the students who were with the fledgling group at our school, the Gay-Straight Alliance. They said that they wanted to work to make our school a safer place, but the other teachers they asked were supportive, but afraid to have their name associated with such a group. (Hell, I had been here so long, I didn't care what people thought, so I said yes.)

We had a meeting of our GSA today. They are a super group of kids, the are hopeful and idealistic. They are going to change the world. I am glad I took the risk . . .

IPad and State of the Union

I am in the middle of a technology unit in my Intro to Business class right now. My students have been very curious about the buzz surrounding Apple's expected announcement of their latest contribution. It was so great, during my last class today to share the video clip of the announcement by Steve Jobs. I'm not sure that I'm ready to order, but it sure seems like an amazing piece of equipment! Looking back at the other end of my career, I remember learning to type in high school on a manual typewriter (a big white Olympia). When I started teaching, we had state of the art equipment, and I considered myself so lucky to work at a school that had IBM Selectric I's for the introductory classes and Selectric II's for the advanced students!

Tomorrow I will pause my regular lessons to show clips from President Obama's State of the Union speech. When I gave a preview of this today in class, two students gave me a great compliment--they got into an argument with each other over whether I was a Democrat or a Republican. While I have strong definite personal opinions, I like to think that I can help my students develop their own views and beliefs and be able to support them. In grad school, I remember my favorite Methods professor, Dr. Woolschalger, showing us how to do this--and she used the lesson from her teaching career, when she discussed Richard Nixon's "Checkers" speech in a high school class that she taught. I hope I do half as good as she did.

People Keep Asking . . .

People keep asking me how I feel about retiring. I'm not sure. I have really nice classes this year, so I will miss that. I decided a long time ago that I didn't want to into administration, and that was a really good decision. Didn't want to be department head, didn't want to be a dean, assistant principal, principal, or superintendant. (Or as Ralph Wiggum says, "Supernintendo.") The politics here has been interesting in recent years (ok always). Word on the street is that one of our adminsitrators is leaving to be a principal elsewhere. That school will be lucky. This individual has done much to turn around the atmosphere in what used to be a really toxic school. While not perfect, this individual always had the interests of students in mind. Which sadly, not all people in education have. The politics I won't miss. But I guess whatever I do next will have its share of intrigue. . .

Back to Work!

It was back to work today. As I had been out of school on Friday, it was tough focusing after being gone. (That is why I hate to take time off!)

I got a good report from my friend who subbed for me. She did leave an interesting summary of my classes. Period 1, she said was sleepy (to be expected). Period 2 was described as a group of individuals. Period 5 was described as competitive. (This is interesting because they are all very smart, but can be a handful, because they are so competitive--for my attention, for each other's attention, etc.) Period 7 was described as being very socialized, a correct observation. Period 10 she said was a nice group, who liked being in a small class. They are a sweet group of kids, and my smallest class--only 11. Shhh. Don't tell the administration!

After work, I went to the gym--not the school gym, but the health club that I started to go to in October. I decided that I needed to start to take care of myself. (I hadn't been in a gym since I left high school in 1970!) My personal trainer is a former paratrooper--he really made me work hard today. Felt good!

Business Professionals of America

Today I got to spend the day working with a different group of kids. Some of our students participate in the student organization, Business Professionals of America. Today was the area competition for schools in our county.

I volunteered to help judge the Entrepreneurship competition. It was really neat to read the student's papers and to see their presentations. (Though I hope my regular students were good to my sub, who is a good friend of mine.)

I have worked with business student organizations for many years, though I gave up sponsoring the clubs a few years ago. Not because of the students--they are great! It was the adults that were problematic! It is Friday--two days off! Yea!

From the Mouths of Babes

Today in one of my classes we were talking about the difference between goods and services--specifically how it is easier to maintain quality levels in products than it is in services.

I was using a food service example, describing one of the favorite cafeteria items in our school cafeteria (Taco Bake). After describing how it was made, one of my 14 year-old freshmen called out, "that sounds orgasmic!"

Laughingly, the only response that I could make, was "you are too young to know about that."

Day 2

Didn't hear from the "mad dad." I guess he realized that is wasn't just me. I kinda wish he did come in. There were some serious issues that I would have liked to discuss. The kid is going to have some tough times. . .

Classes went smoothly today. I'm going to like the groups this semester. (Fingers crossed!)

I was a little frustrated today. I volunteered for what I thought was an important committee. They told me that I was on it, but then dropped me. I guess "the man" doesn't value my opinion.

People keep asking me when I am going to count down the days. I'm not sure when. I'm not obsessive that way. I'm enjoying the flow.

First Day of the Last Semester!

The "mad dad" was a no show. Whew!

My classes went well. It looks like I have a good group of kids in my Marketing class! Also, whew! Sometimes I get a group of tough kids that have flunked other things, and the counselors don't know where to put them. Fortunately for me, the section is full! About 25 percent of the students are students that I have had in class before. That helps.

Advise and sign day went well. Many of my younger kids signed up for business classes for next year. There is hope . . .

Tomorrow is a "homeroom" to collect the registration materials. Also, the freshman class had a candy sale. I wonder if any of my group sold anything?

The Time

Just so you don't think that I am that good of a teacher, getting up so early to get to work--the time shown on the blog is California time, not Chicago time. It is really a little after 6 a.m. here, and time to hit the shower!

Here We Go!

Well, I am up and ready to go! First day of the new semester. I have one new class--Marketing--a semester class. I also have four sections of Introduction to Business--a year course. The Marketing class will be full--with 30 students--I have 30 desks in my room. The Intro classes are smaller, and getting smaller--several students made bad decisions during first semester, and did not earn passing grades. They won't be continuing.

In the Marketing class I will have a number of kids that I know already. I often get "repeat customers." They seem to like what I do and how I do it. Several caught me in the hall last week and reminded me that they were going to be in my class. On the other side, I have a meeting scheduled today with a dad whose child failed. He wants to discuss the way I graded his child's assignments. Ugh.

It is also "Advise and Sign" day at school. This si a part of the registration process for next year. We will check with our students to make sure they understand all the options in our discipline for classes for the upcoming year. I always have hated this time--it is sink or swim time for elective departments. It won't impact me directly, as I won't be there next year. However, I believe strongly in what I do, so I want my courses to continue. We'll see. We haven't done well in recent years.

Not Thinking About School

Today I am not thinking about school. Normally, on Sundays I would be going over in my head what I was going to do in class on Monday. (And, of course, grading any papers I had been avoiding.

Today, I am in good shape for the new semester. No papers to grade, all grades calculated, and my duplicating is done. I can hit the ground running on Tuesday. I have only one new class this semester, the other four stay the same. The new class is Marketing, my favorite class to teach.

Disaster in Haiti

I am having trouble finding the right words to explain how I feel about the horrific impact the recent earthquake had on Haiti. Given the scale of this disaster, it seems like any response cannot possibly be enough. I am impressed, however, with the students at our school. Even though we have been involved with final exams, and all the inward focusing that these exams bring, the students of our Citizen Club have organized a campaign to raise much needed funds. Young people often get a bad rap, but when the chips are down, I am often impressed. I'll keep you posted.

My Last Semester Teaching

I have just finished grading final exams, calculated and posted grades. I have finished my 65th semester (32 1/2 years) teaching at a large suburban high school near Chicago. I have one more semester to go.

Many colleagues have asked me how I feel, whether I am counting down the days. I'm not sure how I feel. I have joked about not knowing what I want to do "when I grow up." I haven't started counting--I don't know exactly how many there are yet. I love what I do, but time marches on, and the system tells me that this is the best time, financially, to go.

So I am starting this blog to help me look at the last semester of my last year at my school.

I started kindergarten the day after Labor Day in 1957, so with the exception of a year and a half that I worked in business, I have been part of the educational system for a heck of a long time.

We'll see how it goes.