I recently returned home from the Illinois Raising Student Achievement Conference in St. Charles, Illinois. The school where I am employed as a special education facilitator, was honored by being asked to present to other educators how our school redeemed itself and got off of the academic warning list.
While there I attended a workshop that one of the keynote speakers was conducting. He held a questions and answers session with the focus being why did we as educators go into the profession. His parents are both in education so he knows it was not for fame, glory, or money. He wanted to hear from us, the teachers, administrators, and other educators so he could share the information with other groups when he travels across the world.
There were the gushy stories. The stories that made us smile and reflect, or bring a tear into our eye. Everyone had a story to tell. My hand was in the air for a short time, but I was not called upon to share. Most of the stories were about seeing the light bulb turn on for their students or becuase a teacher had inspired them to go into the profession. I wanted to share some things that I was reflecting upon after the session. We can always discuss the positive things that brought us all to the world of education but here are some things I did not sign up for when becoming an educator.
1. Children calling staff filthy words.
2. Out of control parents screaming and yelling profanity at staff.
3. Children who are so angry due to factors in their lives that they swear at me or become so outraged they toss a chair, head butt a staff member, or tell another student they want to kill them.
4. Parents not sending their student to school becuase snow was in the forecast.
5. Students skipping school to have sex parties, and drinking parties.
6. Watching very pregnant middle school students walking through the building.
I could list severl more "things I did not sign up for", but I think you catch my drift. I wish the insanity would end. Maybe I will see it with new leadership in the White House. Maybe students and parents will learn to value the education system in the United States. We are fortunate to have many wonderful parents, students, and professionals in the field. Maybe one day.
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The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs. You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success. If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help. We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign. In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now: http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
RIYADH, May 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday to renew his appeal to help tame record oil prices and shore up Arab support for his efforts to contain Iran's growing influence. Since Bush's last visit in January, oil prices have jumped nearly $30 to around $126 a barrel, adding to U.S. recession fears and boosting political pressure on the White House in a year when voters will pick Bush's successor. For his part, King Abdullah will be looking for reassurances on Bush's commitment to push a $1.4 billion U.S. arms sale through an opposition-led U.S. Congress.
One of the more thoughtful, less emotional posters to an Obama Campaign EMail list service today suggested Hillary is behaving like a terrorist. My response was, " I do not think it wise or fair to draw a parallel between Hillary and terrorists. I will say, having proof she is now blatantly resorting to playing the race card as we are hearing with her own voice this morning... she has lost all political capital she had to become the nominee or decide a splinter of what goes into the Democratic platform this year.
My previous O-Blog posting addressed Senator Clinton falsely taking credit for her small (and now shrinking) victory in indiana early today. It is now estimated that one of every ten - 10% - of her tallies in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were generated by cross-over Republicans. She has apparently forgotten those were sparked by followers of Rush Limbaugh. His Operation Chaos seeks to deliver the nomination to Hillary, only so John McCain will face a weaker opponent in November. Today I launch a campaign to stop that corruption of the American election.
Senator Clinton...
I am saddened you have neither the wisdom nor decency to be as honorable as your opponent. While you will undoubtedly come up with some new metrics to justify staying in the campaign, I think you are ignoring the other metrics you SHOULD consider... and graciously end this waste of focus and other resources for a campaign that can not succeed. Senator Obama is far too much the refined gentleman to bluntly confront you with reality. I am not.
As many of you know by now, Senator Obama has been given a GLOWING endorsement by the Charlotte Observer: Time for a Change. Barack might not cheer for the powerful criticism launched at his opponent by the newspaper. But I will, giving everyone yet another reason to be glad he is running for President instead of me. Also unlike Barack, I am tempted to ship a copy of the North Carolina newspaper perpsective to the Indianapolis Star, which lukewarmly backed Senator Cinton.
Did any of you catch the interview with Michelle and Barack on the Today show? They were so easy going and honest. Honesty! Something we have not had in a long time. They laughed. They held hands. They honored each other as a couple. They will be so wonderful in the White House.
Meredith asked some tough questions. They each answered from the heart. Open and honest. Never trying to skirt the issue. WOW! They made me so proud to be a part of this campaign. And when asked if Barack can live with losing he eloquently answered that this campaign 15 months ago was something others said could never happen. Look how far we have come! To quote Barack, "Look at what we have accomplished."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsmFDYyK4U
check out the lies of hillary clinton! also check out the Clinton Chronicles
The following are the lyrics to the song that Pink and the Indigo Girls sing about Bush. I wonder if Bush has ever heard this song and what his reaction to the lyrics would be. We cannot afford to have any more republican years. Barack has to be the winner to rebuild the damage done by 8 years of Bush. Barack is the only one who can move this country forward and FAST. Just look what he has done in a short time.
I ask that you read these words and share them with others. In fact, download the song from iTunes!
Recently there has been a steady stream of messages on the Florida For Obama email list, expressing exhasperation with the performance of the American Media, more frequently these days just labeled MSM (for Mainstream Media.) One post after the Pennsylvania Primary lead to a long epistle flowing from my fingers.
I reluctantly agree my former colleagues of the craft deserve our anger, more so than the Chillary Crew. However, I remain saddened over the opportunistic intensity with which the practitioners of old style political shenanigans are making use [spell that a-b-u-s-e] of the various public communication channels.
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