I really want to be a teacher!

Actually, I do . . . and always have. I've done some. Guitar, drums, photography, and video production. All either privately, at a tech school, and at MPS. I've always enjoyed teaching. I've been hesitant to go after certification simply because of the state of our society today. But, who knows?

Anyway, between the bennies, pension, and summers off, there's now another possible reason to try and become a teacher:

Schools eye four-day week to cut fuel costs

The entire article is here.

I think it's interesting that one solution is just to eliminate busing all together. To me, it's one of those parental responsibilities. I understand every situation is different, but if one decides they have to live way out in the country then they'd better be able to cart their kids to school. Harsh? I know.

Also, there's no mention of better conservation in the buildings. Maybe it's been done to its extent, but is shutting down a full day a week the ONLY answer?

Interestingly, the end of the article reports better attendance and improved performance by the students. That's a plus, of course. But, are they on par with the rest of the districts?

Of course, for the teachers . . . THIS IS GOLDEN! No mention of pay or benefit cuts. Oh no. I'm sure everything is the same. Same pay for less work. Nice.

I wanna be a teacher!

8 year olds plot to kill teacher

This is startling. ABout 9 boys and girls in a Georgia Elementary School plotted to kill a teacher after that teacher disciplined one of the students. Officials confiscated a handful of items including a knife, handcuffs, and duct tape from the students. The article is here.

Now, these are special education students. Still, you wonder where they got the idea in their heads to come up with this plot. It's a serious question. I'm not blaming the parents, race, class, TV, movies, o their conditions . . . I really would like to know. These kids are 8 and 9 years old!

From the article:

Four mothers of other third-grade students at Center Elementary called for the immediate expulsion of the suspected plotters.

Stacy Carter and Deana Hiott both cited school system policy stating that any student who brings "anything reasonably considered to be a weapon" is to be expelled for at least the remainder of the school year.

"We don't want our children around them," Carter told the Times-Union. "The one with the knife could have stabbed my child or someone else's child at lunch or out on the playground."

"This is an isolated incident, an aberration. ... We have good kids," Center Principal Angie Coleman told the newspaper.

This is a tough situation. You don't want to over react. Yet, as a parent with an 8 year old daughter, I don't know that I would want these kids near my daughter either. What do you do with these kids?

Teacher Residency

Teachers would no longer have to live in Milwaukee under bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Teachers in the Milwaukee Public Schools would no longer have to live within the district under a bill that passed the state Assembly.
The bill would have to pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Jim Doyle before it would become law. But that appears unlikely given that the legislative session ends on Thursday.
The Milwaukee residency requirement has been fought by those who argue it keeps away good teachers who may not want to live in the district.
The state teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, also supports removing the prohibition, arguing it places an unfair burden on teachers.
The bill, passed Tuesday on a 62-35 vote, would take effect July 1, 2009.

I think this is a good thing and long over due. I understand the desire to have teachers live in the city of Milwaukee, particularly for voting reasons, but I feel we're at a point where we need to relax this rule as it seems to be hurting more than helping. My daughter's school lost a good teacher due to this rule and there have been other cases in the news recently.

I'm wondering, though, what is this "unfair burden" the article talks about. Living in Milwaukee? Should we assume once this is enacted teachers will flock out of the city? If so, doesn't that tell everyone something(s) about Milwaukee?

I'm also curious how this will affect school board elections should there be even a modest move by teachers.

CIty living

A science teacher at Custer High School is being fired for, of all things, not living in Milwaukee. Like most city jobs, there is a requirement to live in the city. He did not. As such . . . bye, bye.

There are two sides to this. On the one side, the rule exists and teachers know about it. Disregard the rule and I think one should expect to be fired. It's that simple. I know of another case of this happening. It didn't make the news and I'm not about to say who or where it occurred. But it was a flagrant disregard for the residency requirement. To a point of being stupid.

I understand the residency rule. You work as a city employee, I think it's good to live i the city. It gives you a perspective of the city you may not have if you lived somewhere else. But, is it really necessary? After all, teachers aren't government representatives, or policemen or women, they are not responsible for making decisions that affect a community . . . why make them live here? Also, we have a severe shortage of teachers and a lack of quality teachers. Perhaps now is a good time to revisit the residency requirement.

Now, there is a reason the union wouldn't want this . . . voter base. Having all their minions in one place where they can be controlled is best for . . . the union. Nevermind what's best for the kids.