Food for thought...

Last night Matt and I watched Waiting for Superman, a documentary by Davis Guggenheim...wow, heavy stuff! Davis takes an in depth look at the state of public education and the affect it is having on our children.  As a mom and a teacher, I found Guggenheim's message to be both powerful and unsettling!  Education reform is nothing new, a fact that is pointed out many times throughout this film.  Yet in spite of the valiant efforts of so many, very little has changed.    Our reading and math proficiency rates are low, and the high school drop out rates are staggering, especially in lower socioeconomic areas.  So, what gives?

The film begs the question, for me at least, what can be done?  What systemic changes need to take place to bring about positive outcomes?  What about vouchers...schools of choice...private schools?  What about teachers who don't, or can't teach?

I have to be honest here~so much of this film resonated with me.  I have seen first hand the difference good teaching makes.  I work with some master teachers who strive on a daily basis to improve the lives of our learners.  I have also worked with teachers who lack the skill, talent, and desire to be great.  And great is what it takes.

What Guggenheim posits is that wherever you find good education, you will find good teachers...and that bad education is a result of bad teachers!  For some crazy reason that defies all logic (in my opinion), bad teachers are untouchable.  Bad teachers are protected.  In fact, in NYC 600 'bad' teachers are paid to go to 'work' (they sit in a room for 8 hours because they cannot be trusted with our children) and collect their salary, which equals approximately $100 MILLION each year!  Are you kidding me!!!???

I wish I had the answer.  I don't.  But I know we cannot stop searching for a better way.  We just can't! What we are doing is not working...

Food for thought...(and I would love to know your thoughts~please share via comments or email)!

~Cab Lover

The sun will come out tomorrow...

I wasn't going to blog tonight because I'm feeling frustrated and beaten, and I really don't want this blog to become a downer for anyone.  But, alas, I am here.  This is another short week with President's day on Monday and last Friday as a comp day.  Short weeks are good, I guess.  This one though has felt like an eternity!  I was greeted on Tuesday with two meetings.  One was great, at least in the sense that I came out with my head (and my dignity) intact.  The other one, not so much.  I won't go into details in an effort to protect the innocent (and even the not-so-innocent),  but it was not a fun time.  So really, for the past few days I have been doing a lot of reflecting.  Here is what I came up with:

• I am good wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend
• I am a good teacher (classroom, special education, and Reading Recovery)
• My actions and motives are pure
• I do what I believe to be best for all children
• I am a lifelong learner and strive to improve myself in all that I do
• I am becoming a pretty darn good photographer
• I make mistakes
• I say things I shouldn't
• I apologize when I should
• I pray
• I have the most amazing kids!
• I have an AWESOME husband!
• I can be too proud
• I can be too emotional
• Sometimes I see only black and white (right and wrong), and I know this can be a bad thing
• I'm a good person
• I love life
• I am compassionate, sometimes to a fault
• I'm a giver and nurturer
• I love to teach
• I love to teach
• I love to teach...

(and, on occasion, I drink wine; tonight it's Coppola Rosso, 2009)

~Cab Lover

This is the best day ever!

My Amazing Kids (Josh, Kiki, Jess, Miah & Jo)

I'm a believer in miracles~and one happened at our house last night.  We managed to get all five of our kids home!  Under the same roof.  For ALMOST 24 whole hours! But wait...it gets better.  We even got them to cooperate for a few family portraits!  Miracle.  We enjoyed Matt's divine homemade Lasagna, salad, homemade Baguette, wine, and my to-die-for chocolate cake.  We feasted upon the table Jo so creatively decorated with linens, Christmas lights and bowls of fresh-cut flowers.  It was heaven.

So, that was last night.  This morning was just as sweet (in spite of the fact that it began at 4:00 a.m with the knocking of an off-balance, overloaded, wash machine full our college son's entire wardrobe)!

When Matt and I made our way to the living room we were greeted by empty pop cans, blankets, and dishes caked with half-eaten who-knows-what. One by one the 'kids' made their way from their beds and joined the living.  Yep.  I miss this.  The chaos. The competition.  The struggle to get a word in edgewise.  The house was abuzz and I was content.

I sipped coffee with Matt and Jess (who managed to sneak away from her new husband for a night) while our oldest son, Josh (22) made breakfast (he makes killer eggs).  Jeremiah was in the shower, and Jo and Kiki were still working on opening their eyes!

Just as I was settling into our humming house, the older 'kids' began to stir.  Josh had to work.  Miah was eager to get back to his friends, and Jess was anxious to make her way home to Laramie, Wy.  The bliss was ending...and much, much too soon.  In a few short hours it was just the four of us again.  Jo and Kiki decided to play the Wii.  Matt and I went on a three mile walk in the beautiful sunshine.

The house is relatively quiet again.  I will miss the kids.  It is so different being the parent of adult 'children'.  It's hard, but kinda nice too.  I know Josh is successfully navigating his way in this big, tough world.  Jess is happily married and looking forward to Grad school.  Miah is loving college life.  And the girls...they are doing a great job being 16.  Matt and I are so happy and learning to adjust to our not-empty but oh-so-close nest.

Life is good.  All is right in the world (at least our little corner of it).  Today was the best day ever!

(Sitting on the front porch with Matty, sipping Robert Mondavi Cabernet, 2007)

~Cab Lover