What were they Thinking?

It is time to comment on the whole Penn State fiasco.  Let me start by saying there is a whole different mind-set in the over 70 crowd.  Remember these people did not grow up with Phil Donahue or Oprah. They had the opinion that if you didn't talk about anything, then it didn't really happen.  I know because as a child I experienced this.  There was no threat of Child Protective services upon brazen adults.  Families handled, or should I say, covered up all their dirty little secrets. My mother commented that one of the women from her sewing club knew Jerry Sandusky and how wonderful he was. No one wants to face the fact that sometimes the worst evil doers have a fantastic mask.  Those are the people you have to worry about the most.  They have interwoven a beautiful lie on the outside.  They pull in their prey and before anyone is aware they have set their trap.

The press is correct that this is all about money and saving the face of Penn State. But don't forget the old saying- children should be seen and not heard.  I suffered both physical and mental abuse as a child.  I would go to the office at school and lay down with a migraine headache.  When the secretary asked if I wanted to go home I said no - I'll go back to class.  I had a close family member that was molested by an older man next door.  She never told me about it until she was 30. She never told my older relatives. They probably wouldn't have elicited that angry-enough reaction.   I don't understand this phenomenon and I don't condone it.  It just is what it is.

I feel horrible for the little boys that had to suffer at the hands of this serial child abuser.  The worst thing for a child is not having someone to protect you, not being able to tell and be believed.  Hopefully this whole incident, along with the Catholic church scandals will bring more awareness to importance of protecting, believing and empowering our children.

Happy news- Gabby is improving!

Gabby Gifford before

Gabby - after the shooting

Wasn't it great to see the shear determination that Gabby exhibited during the films of her rehab?  We all needed to see that touching story.  She is really an inspiration.  I also wanted to give a shout out to the medical staff that helped her along the way. My father had four strokes before he passed away. The first stroke caused him total paralysis on his right side.  His therapists brought him all the way back to walking and speaking.  They pushed him hard and he had a positive outlook.  That was the secret to his success.  One of his physical therapists actually visited him at home just as a friend.  That was extreme dedication. I applaud the medical staff that helped Gabby regain her speech and her mobility.

You all know how I dislike guns.  Thank god we have someone that has fought back from a terrible tragedy.  I hope that some of the families of the victims can derive a ray of hope from Gabby's story.

Occupy Wallstreet and hold the Greece

I have to say that I wish I had the courage to join forces with the people that are protesting all around the country.  I think that it has brought the light to the fact that there is a terrible inequality among the lowly 99% of our population.  I have often said that it is very unfair that my father was able to manage a middle class family on one salary, while most of us have to have two incomes to live at the same level of comfort.  I also get annoyed with the folks that want to put the protesters down by calling them unemployed and slacker hippies. Lets face it - there are plenty of good hard-working people that have lost their jobs in the last couple of years.  They are angry because they have tried to find another job and they can't get a break.  I admire their tenacity.  I realize that some of the protesters haven't behaved well and probably need to be arrested.  The overall majority of people have been peaceful and have lived in very difficult conditions to make their point.  Also- when the police overreact and that is shown on the news- how does that make our country look in comparison to Egypt or Libya? 

I find it distressing that one country, namely Greece, could hold our financial testicles in their greedy little apathetic hands.  They have been on the edge of bankruptcy for several years and their leaders haven't really reacted quick enough.  They keep borrowing and not paying back their debts. Does that sound familiar? The difference is that their upper class isn't only 1%- their middle class has lived a pretty cushy lifestyle. Isn't it ironic that the ancient Greeks were among some worlds most  intelligent philosophers and today their government  is about to bring down the world's economy. 

Normal people are tired of taking the fall for all the rich assholes in the world.  The people that pay the highest tax percentages are not the rich. The banks get bailed out and then in one short year show record profits.  Do they pass that on by investing in more small businesses or hiring more employees? No- Bank(Skank) of America, is about the let go a record number of employees.  Our economy is coming back very slowly due to the banks failure to invest in new business.

The last thing I need to rant on about is - why do the same people that comment on the protesters and the liberal media continue to vote with the 1%?  Don't they get it?  They are getting screwed and they still enter the shower and continue to bend over and take it in the ass! I just don't get it.  Can anyone explain this to me?

What's with kids today?

I have taught for the past 30 years.  When I started teaching, the kids got in trouble for chewing gum and talking too much.  I still had lots of problems with students, mainly because I was so young and I had no idea what I was doing.  I taught an eighth grade  experimental science called ISCS.  The students worked at their own pace and went to "centers " to gather their lab equipment.  I had to share a room with a teacher that had been working for many years and her kids were absolutely quiet.  My students were very loud and obnoxious. She had a "talk" with me at least once a week about everything I was doing wrong.  I also was missing the key ingredient to every "center".  I asked for things like magnets, racetrack, cars, super balls and never got anywhere.  After about 2 months of this- I looked in the other teachers desk after hours and everything was there.  I pretty much went home crying everyday because I had no money to buy things I needed and no one would help me. 

The next year got better.  I started the year instead of replacing a teacher in the middle of the year.  I got to order my own equipment and I taught chemistry and biology.  My students were very sweet and I felt a lot better about my chosen career.  I think the worst incident I had was a student that got caught with firecrackers.

Today the students often are well-mannered.  About 40 - 60 % of all the students have had good home training. Some are hardcore. They are mean, rude, wear their pants sagging (if they have a Y chromosome and dress like a hooker if they have 2 X's.  They are missing the guidance of a strong parent.  Parents are very concerned with being their child's friend or they are too busy trying to make a living that they ignore their kids.  These students do not receive proper nutrition, they stay up late on the computer and they never bring home any homework.  The county mandates that no student should ever receive a zero. Retaking tests is also the norm. 

As far as behavior goes- you can't write anyone up unless they hurt someone.  When the students are rude and despondent- you had best grin and bare it or else you will be reprimanded for writing up too many students.

Students are different in general because they grow up much too quickly.  Some are completely oblivious to the actual purpose of an education.  They need their teachers to not only teach them but also provide the attention they are not receiving at home.  As a teacher, computers have cut a lot of the work that we used to do.  For example, I would sit for hours calculating averages. Don't worry- the administration has thought of many new little chores to keep us busy.  I came home worn out when I was 22 and 30 years later and I am still exhausted on a daily basis. I really enjoy my job most of the time.  I feel that I get through to a majority of my students and it is worth it being exhausted!

Teresa vs. Everyone Else

Well- the first part of the reunion of the Real Housewives of NJ aired on Sunday night and it was quite a show.  Jacqueline was a no show and a war is brewing against Caroline and Teresa. 

Now -I love all the housewives of NJ, (except for Danielle).  I am from NJ and some of the housewives go to my beach each summer.  I have always loved Teresa, Caroline and Jacqueline.  Dina was my favorite. The reason I love them is that they are REAL.  They aren't very bright, but they are all about their kids and their families. They have outrageous husbands and they have the largest houses I have ever seen. Their vocabulary reminds me of home.  Teresa has her cookbook with all kinds of ingredientses.  Youz guys are as Italian as the Olive garden!

Last season the big fight on the reunion show started with Danielle pointing out that Teresa didn' t recognize the birth of her nephew.  Coincidentally this season's opening episode started with a big fight at the christening party of Teresa's nephew.

Everyone is ganging up on Teresa, does she deserve it?  To some degree yes. But come on-it is

Teresa- this is what we love about her. She lets her children run amok in the grocery store. Her seven year old daughter walks the runway and tries to mend the relationships within the family. She spends wildly, even though she is bankrupt. She flips the dinner table and throws Andy Cohen around like a rag doll.

                                Caroline loves to be adored by everyone.  She shys away from situations that could be controversial.  She wasn't at the fashion show when the infamous hair pulling took place.  She did stand up for Teresa against Kim G.  I have no idea who to cheer for at this point. 

I wish that Teresa could realize how shallow she appears to be.

She is still one of my favorites and I think she has allowed the Bravo producers influence her to do certain crazy things.

Teresa- take an objective look at yourself- you don't come off too great this season. You appear to be jealous and insensitive.  we all know that you have money trouble and your husband is kind of a jerk. Now is the time to mend your friendships.

October is Bully Awareness month

I travel by several schools each day and they have this logo prominently displayed on their marquees.  Bullying is a real problem these days and there is no escape when the child gets home because they still get bullied on Face book.    I just found out that a 12 year old boy in our tiny neighborhood killed himself last week because he was being bullied at his middle school.  This is so heart-breaking. I didn't know him or his mother nor do I know all of the details.  This story never made the news.   I know that many bully-induced suicide cases have made the news lately- just think about how many never made the news.

When I was a kid I was bullied and it did a lot of psychological damage. I have low self esteem and I don't stick up for myself like I should. I do feel like I champion the little guys in the classroom.  I am much more sensitive to this issue in my classes,but let me tell you- it isn't always the students that are the bullies.  If the school system wants to stop bullying they need to start by practicing what they preach. The county office officials reign by fear.  There is fear if you speak out about issues.  The principals are afraid to stand up against the officials above them due to fear of transfer.  The same fear trickles down through the ranks. I know an administrator that was suspended for jacking up a student, sexually harassing teachers and students and he was transferred and promoted to principal.  What message does that send to the bullied students and teachers?

People who bully allow that power to replace something that is lacking in their lives. They revel in making someone feel lower than them. Isn't that what made the Nazi's so powerful?  As a parent- if you are the mom that gossips with your kids about others- you are part of the problem. Bullying isn't just physical- much of it is psychological.  Wake up everyone- let us stop picking on others to transfer the power to ourselves.  THAT IS WHAT BULLYING IS ALL ABOUT!

Modern Family

I think that Modern Family has been really funny this year.  Last year they were good-but not as funny as the first season.  The two episodes I have watched this year have been hilarious.  I love Manny. He is my favorite of the kids.  He is such a believable "little man". He has the same sort of personality of my daughter.  I love Gloria- she is such a hoot! Last week Manny said he wanted to be home schooled and she said in her over the top Colombian accent- do you want me to learn you some English?  Claire is appropriately neurotic.  Cam is so over the top gay. Lily is the cutest little girl.

The writers of this show are fabulous.  More importantly- the people that picked the cast got it just right. Last year there was a little too much interpersonal drama between the couples.  This year the chemistry seems just perfect.  If you haven't ever watched this show-give it a try.  I promise you will laugh out loud.  They deserve the Emmy's they have received.