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January, 2010:

State of the Hopeful Union

Jan 31st, 2010
by Lily.
6 comments

My friend said to me, “I missed  the President’s speech. What’d he say? Give me hope.”

Ok.

He talked a lot about jobs.

She said, “Jobs? Give me hope about schools!”

White House Photo

I reminded her that he gave us a down-payment on his promise to make education a priority by not only including jobs protection in the first stimulus package a year ago, but actually earmarking some of those jobs fund to protect school jobs - 300,000 teachers, school secretaries and custodians didn’t get pink slips because of those federal dollars that went right to schools.

She said, “Oh yeah. But…”

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Tiny Bubbles

Jan 24th, 2010
by Lily.
10 comments

Nostalgia is a powerful and often faulty lens. It can distort and makes the view seem at times softer and at times harsher than, in fact, it ever was.

I’ve been indulging myself in nostalgia these days as it occurs to me that my first 4th graders turn forty this year. Coincidentally, I turn thirty-nine. Go figure.

I have all their pictures hanging on the wall. They are gorgeous ten-year olds and it is quite impossible that they have pot bellies and graying temples and children in college. They will always be ten.

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Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan 18th, 2010
by Lily.
1 comment

Back those many years ago, our school district decided not to close for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Instead, the board encouraged schools to incorporate appropriate activities into the school day.

Photo by Norm Lono

I was put in charge of our school MLK observance.

During a faculty meeting, I ran down some suggestions I had for speakers, videos, book lists, etc.

I was on a roll with grade-appropriate ways for my elementary school, located in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, to help our students understand the importance of this man and the movement he lead in bringing the United States out of segregation and closer to its vision, that all of us are equal under the civil law and under the moral principles of humanity.

And I was ticking off ideas until one of our teachers innocently raised his hand, genuinely confused, and said, “Excuse me, Lily. I don’t get why we’re doing this. We don’t have any black students here.”

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Did You Do It On Purpose?

Jan 12th, 2010
by Lily.
3 comments

Yesterday I was on a distinguished panel. The title of the conference was on the banner above our heads: A Penny Saved – How School Districts Can Tighten Their Belts and Serve Kids Better.

I know when I’m being set up.

But I also know when I’ve been given an opportunity. I’m a fairly noisy teacher, and I don’t get asked to formal things like this often (at least I don’t get asked twice.) Just as well. I find that distinguished people are very polite even when they disagree with you. This audience was very polite and listened quietly, taking notes. Something that can be painfully unnerving to a 6th grade teacher.

The forum sponsors sent me research papers in advance that dealt with lists of ways school districts could save pennies like turning down the thermostats or firing teachers or charging families bigger fees for sports or music or AP classes.

I was supposed to react to their suggestions and offer my own about how we could “tighten our belts” and “serve kids better.”

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