Respect

How do you earn respect from people? Is it from respecting them first, being a bitch and scaring people into respecting you? Or could it be that in order to gain respect from others, you need to first respect yourself. I have always had a bit of a problem with my students taking me seriously. I am smiley and goof around in class and like the kids to have a good time. BUT I also want them to work hard and be focussed. Usually I can get this done, but with freshman it is really difficult to make that change. You are not allowed to openly dislike students as a teacher. Everyday you are supposed to enter the classroom and pretend that they haven't disrespected you the day before, talked underneath their breath about you, walked in 15 minutes late without an excuse or any remorse or haven't turned in their homework in ages. You are supposed to smile and them and encourage them and you know what? I am done. I cannot wait for next year to start so I can lay my foot down and show them who is boss. It is so hard to be a new teacher - you are trying so hard to find your footing and figure everything out and while that is happening - students are counting on your to ground them and they are constantly judging you and waiting,watching to see when and if you will make a mistake. Now, insert privileged, bratty, entitled kids and multiply that by 100. It makes it hard to want to work hard and create amazing programs when no one appreciates it or takes it seriously. I miss public school. I miss being a rock for kids who have no one. I miss being able to guide lost souls in their search for themselves and their purpose. It just doesn't happen like that here. Sorry - I know that this isn't witty or snarky, but I felt like venting. Summer vacation is right around the corner - I have less than two weeks left with my seniors - it all seems so fast.

On another note, I got a call from my newest jdate friend who affectionately called me "psycho girl" on my voice mail. I may call him back this evening before Maj and see what he wants, but I don't want to be the one to ask him out. I want him to see that I am more than a crazy bad girl. I guess, I want a little respect.

I'll be back with the funny...promise

Na-na

The Boot

Even when we do the right thing, there is always room left over for some bad behavior. It is not that I (or my roommate for that matter) am a bad girl, it is just that there are better things to do in life than to comply with every DMV related order. It is with this in mind that I tell you the following tale. I was on a jdate last Sunday and had a great time, although it started out rather strangely. I was asked for ID and I pulled out my NYS license. I joked that I was still illegal and that I needed to switch my plates as well. My date then informed me that I had better get an attorney before I go to the DMV because he had a friend in my sitch once who almost went to jail. We joked about it, but I had a feeling that he was thinking I had a screw loose somewhere (which I do.) The rest of the date went well (I thought) we laughed at each other's jokes for two hours and he ordered Buffalo style chicken fingers (they were gross) in my honor and at the end of the date I said "You probably think I'm crazy" and he said "Yeah, but hot.) So that was positive....he sends me a response email to my thank you note I sent and joked that I was going to be in Prison soon, but it was OK because I had a great smile. I had actually convinced myself before I got his email that I blew it with this guy because of my DMV record and my lack of ability to follow the rules like I was supposed to. Then this morning I was heading into the shower when I heard the front door open. I got nervous because my roommate had already left and the phantom roommate wouldn't come in the morning - who could it be? I peeked my head out of the bathroom with a tentative "hello?" It was Mona - my roommate. "My car's been booted." Now she calls everything bad booty so I thought her car died or something so I asked her again "My car was booted - I owed a bunch of tickets and they booted my car!" She then went on to tell me how she waited too long last year to get her registration renewed and she got a letter that she was going to be arrested and had to pay $1600!! "That sucks" I replied, but truth be told, as I headed into the shower I smiled to myself because here was another very intelligent, together woman who has shunned conformity and neglected to play by the DMV's rules. She (who gets free oil changes and snacks at 7-11 cause she's hot) pouted and said "The DMV hates me!" So now it is time for me to pay the piper and go down to the DMV and get my life sorted. I am just glad I have my tax rebates to help me pay or else I might be put in the clink. I was really hoping to spend my georgie porgie money on some fabulous new accessories and maybe a vocal mike and an electric guitar or a trip to Philly this summer. Nope. Looks like my stimulus package is going right back into the governments hands. Does anyone think that the fees imposed by our government for parking violations and registrations are a bit ridiculous????

OK - I am off to change my clothes and go hike Runyan - I love having a few extra hours to myself on Fridays.

More tomorrow - Na-na