Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

Mercifully, this school year has come to a close. I stopped writing about it because of how atrocious the parents and children had become - well, one particular parent and child. It all started with an email I received from a mother who basically said that I was picking on her son and taking the side of (and I quote) all the "colored boys. I think she was calling me a racist, but we share the same race.



Her son was one of those problem students - I could never catch him doing anything, but he was always the one getting the finger pointed at him. He was sneaky and mean. He was a bad seed. And with that email, I figured out how and why.



Our favorite custodian had to speak to badseed at lunch shortly thereafter and all hell broke loose. Our favorite custodian is African-American.



His mother then sent a KRAZY email to my favorite superintendent. (I'm all about emailing the superintendent - just keep my name out of it.) With that, local administrators leapt into action. There was a meeting with the parents and me and the guidance counselor, and the principals. I kept notes because that was the only way I could keep quiet. These parents (and their child) were angry not only over some clashes that this student instigated with students of other races, but they launched into a diatribe over standards which required that we teach the origins of slavery, the Civil War (we apparently teach it biased, down here in the South), the civil rights movement. They criticized our music teacher and her program of "biased" music. They went on and on until they finally, finally, ran out of steam.

I can't convey the venom they released. Their hateful diatribe would have been funny if it hadn't been their honest feelings.

We had to implement a plan to make certain that this student was "having a good day." Thumbs up/thumbs down. Seriously. "Honey, are you feeling all right today? Are any of the big, bad "minority" students that you have incited picking on you?" Silver lining: one day, I heard the music teacher blasting some country tunes in her room. Of course, it was for our special problem child.

I had a crappy year. Dealing with this kid and then the disaster that was springtime summer school was horrible.

Someone wanted to know if we were sad to see our class leave. I've never been happier to see a group of kids hit the road.

The Last Day of Vacation

Sundays are never, for me anyway, any kind of a vacation day.

It has to do with the death march of choir and Sunday School and the awful hour at which they occur. And the fact that LB's parents always lunch with us after church.

We do not get home from said obligations until after 2PM. While I shouldn't complain about honoring the Lord, I would like it to occur at a reasonable hour like my Catholic brethren. I walked into the Starbucks to grab a quick cup of coffee before starting my Sunday vigil. One of my friends was there with his family - already finished with Mass and enjoying some coffee, looking forward to the day. I was more than envious.

Today, however, is more than an average Sunday. In addition to being the last day of Christmas vacation for me it is also the evening of the Mistletoe Ball. Seniors are going to the Christmas formal tonight. You would think this wouldn't have much to do with me - but how wrong would you be? In addition to having a daughter getting ready for her last Christmas formal, I also have to go to the annual Picture Party this evening and mingle for an entire hour (AN HOUR) with my camera, ready to take pictures of any adorable moment my oldest daughter might be engaged in.

She has asked Brown Bear to come along with her camera in case Lawyer Boy and I can't handle it.

So, yesterday was a marathon in readying myself for school on Monday. Not ready at all. Won't be ready today and won't be ready tomorrow. We were told that report cards had to go home on the 8th three days before Christmas vacation. Unexpected and ridiculous in my district because elementary report cards are done by hand.

Yes, you read that correctly! In the 21st century, I am doing report cards by hand. Without a computer program to average grades provided by the county. I bought into a service, but teachers who don't opt to do this average grades on a calculator.

Ninety days, people. I'm looking for a new job. Any suggestions?

Two Down, 188 To Go (Unless the Governor Has His Way with Us)

Cupcake update: Here's the icing on the cake. While class sizes are allowed to go to an all-time high of 29 in elementary classrooms (and I've had 28 in a trailer), for some inexplicable reason, the rising 5th graders have lost some 19 students. Right now, we have 54 registered 5th graders. Our principal has already pulled one of our team members - my best friend - and left the rest of us scrambling on how to departmentalize with the three of us. While I might say that all hell's done broke loose, that would be an understatement. Because I envision two scenarios: first, fewer students come than anticipated. That leaves another teacher out in the cold and I'm hoping it's not me. But I think I am covered in that respect (what with my time in the county and the building). It is the second scenario that I am concerned about: the influx of fifth graders which we all know is entirely possible. If we get more kids than we can handle, what's going to happen? I personally think everyone jumped the gun on this one.

So, in addition to being completely freaked out about BrownBear - don't let this calm demeanor fool you-this school year is off to a completely sucky start. We moved into the building this year, but, as I said, I wasn't going to go off half cocked and work for free, so I did nothing - and the principal wouldn't let us in the building because the custodians were waxing floors and shampooing carpets. That is why I am up so damned early today -- I've got a crap load to finish before Meet and Greet tomorrow and they've scheduled meetings today -- who runs this district but a bunch of morons? -- so I am off to shower and get a head start.

While Cupcake and John Deere Mom dance about and enjoy their vacations during these crazy hot days of August, I have already spent the past two days in pre-planning. Nearly twelve hour days, because I didn't go and do one doggoned thing during the summer. My days of working for the government for free are over.

The State Board of Education voted unanimously to do away with the regulation that teachers work 190 days during the school year. Basically, they said that we only need to work 183. That gives the local school boards the power to furlough us for seven days; they even said that the bus drivers and cafeteria workers could be furloughed. They were going to furlough them when the impact on students wouldn't be felt. Feel free to look around and be confused. I know I was when I heard that tidbit.

(Just a little gossip about our State Superintendent of Education: Kathy Cox, that bright bulb who won $1 million on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, filed for bankruptcy along with her husband not more than 2 months after winning. According to bankruptcy law, she was insolvent when she won the money and her creditors had the right to go after it. She transferred the money back to Fox TV and then went on Atlanta local news to talk about how bad her creditors were - coming after money that really belongs to the poor deaf and blind children of Georgia. Poor Kathy Cox - if she had only had a real attorney who knew the law, she wouldn't have filed for bankruptcy so soon after winning that cash. And if she isn't careful, she's going to lose that job that keeps her in a little over $100,000 per year.)

So, that's how smart our State Superintendent really is. Agreeing to furlough teachers who do the dirty work for a governor and legislature who didn't do their jobs in the first place.

Going back to school was good for me because BrownBear has been gone now since Saturday. I haven't heard anything - and the word is no news is good news. I do check weather.com everyday just to pretend like I know something about what's going on with her. LawyerBoy is on a business trip and Prep is at cheercamp, getting ready for her senior year(?!).

So, now, it's a shower, some leftovers and bed for me. To do it all again tomorrow - including a cheermom meeting and choir. You can bet I'm thrilled.

Welcome to My Personal Hell

Tonight is the Holly Ball. Seems like we just had one. Hormonal sixteen and seventeen year olds get together for the opening of the Christmas season with a big fancy ball.

At 5:15, I have to be dragged into the "picture party." If you think Brad and Angie face an onslaught of paparazzi with flashing camera lights, you have seen nothing until 18 girls with 18 dates showup at the biggest house in Buckhead with 2 parents apiece, each armed with the biggest, fanciest cameras known to modern photography.

The photographic record of this event is more substantial than any other orchestrated event in modern history.

Remember, people, this isn't even prom. This is the Holly Ball.

And my sworn duty is to take as many pictures of the lovely and charming Prep (my Prep, with her date, without her date, with her friends, without her friends, with her father, by the Christmas tree, with the cheerleaders... well, you get the idea. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a picture with me. ) to be posted later on some social networking page for all to view, including all the colleges she is applying to next year.

I get to socialize tonight, too. What a lovely way to end Thanksgiving holiday. And to think, I don't have to do it again until April when we have prom to look forward to.

Roll Tide

While I would like to wax poetically about the election, I choose not to. Y'all get yourselves a copy of the Constitution. And hang on.

I shall wax poetically about.... college football. Did you see that Georgia/Florida football game Saturday? I spent some of my happiest days in college watching that game at the Clay's Farm, drinking beer, eating barbecue and celebrating KA Founder's Day. And then Texas/Texas Tech? And Georgia Tech/Florida State? And now Alabama is ranked number 1.

I shall also wax poetically about how happy I am to be rid of Daylight Savings Time. I get to go to school in the sunshine and I get to eat dinner in the dark. When the girls were really little and couldn't tell time, I used to put them to bed when it got dark. I was a bad mother, but, at the time, it was good parenting. It helped me keep my sanity.

I'm just happy that I have already voted. I only waited in line one hour and twenty minutes. With what I am facing tomorrow with a teacher work day, I am just happy to have already done my civic duty. You do yours.

Punch Me in the Head

BrownBear became a woman today. Full-fledged.

You have no idea. None.