Educational Orgasm.

That's the only way I can explain the field trip I took my modified Am. Lit kids on today.

We went to see a stage production of Of Mice and Men which we read earlier in the semester. Overall, the kids loved the book, but LOVED the play even more. I've had some issues with this class - the boy who skipped and went to the ag-shop and got hurt - yup, he's in this class.

Generally speaking these kids are the "freaks and geeks" of my school. Most of them have failed one or more English class somewhere along they way, are too lazy to take regular Am. Lit or are special education students. Most of them hate (HATE) to read either because they are lazy or just plain can't read well. Because of this they are rowdy, obnoxious, don't turn in their work on time (or at all) and are a big pain in my ass most of the time.

But that's why when one of them says something like "you told us that we'd all see a bit of ourselves in Huck and I wasn't so sure. But now, I see that was right - there is a little bit of Huck in each of us" I get all sappy and tell them I've got goosebumps. They think I'm nuts, but believe it or not, those moments are coming more and more often as the semester goes on.

However, when I had a sub on Wednesday (because I had to spend 3rd and 4th hour having a meeting with all of hte other English 10 teachers about how we're going to get the kids to pass the absurd state standard tests), I was embarrased and irate when I returned to my classroom and bumbed into the sub. I was angry because I know this sub well and she told me, verbatim, "that 4th hour is a shitty class." I request her every chance I get because she knows what she's doing, is tough, and is a retired English teacher. She can take a lot of crap; that's why I request her. I've never had a bad sub report before, period. And I've had a lot of subs with Mock Trials always being held during school plus quite a few sick days.

I had the "I'm very disappointed in you and now I don't really know if I want to take you on the field trip" talk with them yesterday. I threatened that if even one of them stepped one pinky toe over the line at that play that I would not hesitate to march each and every one of them out of the theatre, while the play was still going on, get back on the bus, and head straight back to school. I was convinced that there would be issues. I was so sure. But they proved me utterly, completely, and totally wrong.

It started as I counted before the bus left. They were so quiet! I commented about the lack of jabbering, hollering, etc. and they told me that they didn't want to get in trouble. I chuckled and made my way to the front of the bus to settle in for the 45 minute ride up to St. Paul.

I've had quite a few bus rides in my few years of teaching with coaching both speech and mock trial, and I know how kids are on the bus, even the 'good kids'. But my kids today, they were so amazingly good! Unfortunately, I had been worried about traffic when I'd scheduled the bus, but there was none at all, so we arrived in the city about an hour early. What to do? This is where things could get dangerous in the misbehavior department: bored kids.

So we stopped at a BK for breakfast. They were so civilized, both my EA (who I brought as a chaperone) and I had a great time with the kids. Many donned BK crowns and chatted respectfully with the patrons. They got my EA coffee, and when she said she needed sugar, suddenly packets of sugar appeared on the table.

Once we got to the theatre things didn't get any worse - in fact they got better! I actually ran into a friend who I went to college with who also teaches English, and as we chatted my kids were of course convinced that I'd had an affair with him. They teased me and it was quite funny. My group of boys who are most at home under a car sat quietly at the other end of the theatre from me, and every time I glanced in their direction they smiled and waved at me. My heart was welling up with pride.

At intermission, the boy who has given me the most headaches in class (the one who disappered into the shop and got his hand cut) actually commented that there were quite a few disrespectful kids at the play from other schools. He even said that he knew how to behave because his good teacher knew how to control her kids. Sigh...

At McDonald's on the way home I exclaimed that I'd forgotten to grab come ketchup, and within seconds 20 packets appeard in front of me. The kids gobbled their food and came and sat with my EA and me while we finished our food. It was clear that they'd had an amazing time.

Finally, as we got off the bus they all said thank you to us and the bus driver. I couldn't believe what an amazing day we'd had. They all had great things to say about the actors, the production, and the trip. Many of these kids have never been to a play before, and may never get the chance again.

The thing that stuck out in my mind the most is the fact that my students from Somolia, who have escaped war in their country to come to the US for a chance at an education and a new life, and who had never been to a play before, had grins on their faces from ear to ear to match those of my other students - they had a common experience that I hope will stay with them for a long time to come. I know I'll remember today as one of the best I've had as a teacher yet. It's just too bad all days can't be like this!

The past week has been insanely busy. I haven't really thought about it much, but I've been arriving home at 7pm every night. The tree has been up since Saturday but it's undecorated. The dishes need to be done, our room is a mess, the bathroom needs to be cleaned, and I have no idea what I'm going to wear tomorrow. But, at school, I'm nearly caught up on grading, my to-do list is constantly getting shorter, and Mock Trial is in full swing.

It's been a bit of a struggle again this year with the beginning of the Mock Trial season - the problem I'm having is that I have 8-10 too many kids on the team. This is a good problem to have, but if I'd just registered for 3 teams for regions to begin with I wouldn't have such an issue - and I'd then have a 3/12 chance at sending a team to state versus the 2/12 chance I currently have. Also, the thought of cutting kids right before regions is making me sick. Already, this Saturday I had two kids crying because they either didn't get a spot on one of the two teams for the first invite or they were demoted to the B team because they have missed too many practices. I can't handle the crying! Just man up and get your rears to practice and you won't have any issues.

The video club recieved the grant today from Student Council so now we're set to finally purchase equipment, our editing program (Sony Vegas) and other assorted stuff like mics, etc. I'm wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into, but also stoked when I look at what the kids have already done with just their equipment at home and a less than high-end editing program.

Check out the preview we showed at the pepfest at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVwstcziLus. There is another video that was shown this Monday in advisement, but they haven't posted it yet at youtube. I've got some highly talented students involved in this who are bound to teach me a thing or two (or a million) about editing and film.

I've had a lot of questions about the organization and if it is mostly video broadcasting or film oriented, and the best answer I have is that it will involve a bit of both. This is all new to school, to me, to the students - so it is going to be what we make of it. I am committed to providing a quality experience based on First Amendment rights and a journalistic experience, but I'm also willing to let the projects be based largely in an artistic mode. It will be interesting and I get the feeling that none of us will be able to predict where this will take us in the long run.

We are going to test out our production schedule on a project for the area chamber of commerce and Explore Minnesota - there is a contest out there asking MN schools to create videos that capture a list of favorite things/places in the state. Our local chamber has asked us to produce a video for them and has even offered to give us some funding to do some travel if ncessary. As cool as this opportunity is, I have no idea how this guy even heard about our organization starting up. We've done no advertising outside of the school and we've had one official 'pre-production' planning meeting. I fear this will get out of my hands and I won't have time to keep it all in check. But damn it, I'm going to do my very best because how cool will it be to be a part of something that can produce videos like the one on youtube? And, if that is what was put together just to advertise, as a preview, what is to come, can you imagine what these kids are capable of with more resources and time? That's enough to keep me going, even without pay for the time being.

Well, no one has said boo about the student accusations as of late. I'm willing to move on, and as far as I know, so is the student. Good.

Mock Trial as started, and I think we're past the craziest parts - assigning roles, collecting money and signed slips, schedules, etc. The only problem now is that I have too many students and only so many slots to fill two teams for regions. I should have registered for one more team, but our school has always had two, never three. Looks like I'll be doing some cutting later in the season. The good news is that I can bring three teams to all of the invites and then decide who I'll need to cut down to two teams. But I'm not excited about that in the least.

I'm home sick today with what I'm assuming is the beginning of a sinus infection. I ran to school, made sub plans (most times it's easier to just go to school sick than to make sub plans) at 6:30am, came home, and proceeded to sleep until noon. You can't tell me I didn't need that.

Now I'm biding my time until I'll need to jump in the shower and head back to school for a 2:45 video club meeting. I couldn't cancel that. The flyers have been up for 2 weeks! It always seems like when I am out sick I need to run back to school for some meeting that I can't cancel. I guess I'm just that committed!

In other news we went to an auction last weekend (before T-giving) and totally scored on a bunch of old art prints, vintage advertising items, a two straight-back caned seat chairs, and an amazing cane-seat rocker. We ruled that auction, plus it was at a VFW about 45 minutes away and we had cheese curds, which we usually only get during fair season in the summer. It was a blast. Oh, and we also got 10 old wooden fruit crates with the cool adverts on the ends for $1! I *heart* auctions. If I could pick another occupation it might be "Auction Commentator." There are so many characters at these events, the auctioneers are always a hoot, and we find the most amazing deals. At the one we went to about a month ago I scored a signed turquoise and sterling cuff bracelet and from what I've seen it is likely worth upwards of $200-300 based on the artist's other pieces. Plus, it's a fun way to spend a non-school related weekend.

It's been a really tough week. There have been accusations made against me by a student, which I can't really discuss much here, but let's just say that according to said student I:

• made fun of the student for lack of skills
• wrote mean things about him on the board
• never helped him
• am an a** and need to be fired

The list goes on. If you don't know me or have not read this blog before, none of these things could be farther from the truth, and they really hurt. This student was suspended by an adminstrator for making some statements about me in writing. I had nothing to do with the suspension, besides providing the administrator with the writing because that's what you do when comments like that are made, especially on paper with the kid's name signed at the top.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that this student has been left behind since elementary school in our district, although it seems like he has had a large part of not being able to read: he refuses the services continually offered to him in my class. I can't force anyone to learn or to get help with reading, but I tried for a while, and for that, I am apparently an ass. And that is OK, but when you and your parents begin to make completely false accusations about me and my career, even going so far as to attack the level of investment and care I have for my students, is where things get emotional for me. The other issue is that this is not a reading class. It is an elective, and it was never the right class for him, but that wasn't clear until it was too late because I didn't know him, although my co-teacher did and never made any moves.

This is my team-taught class, a class I don't get totally to myself. The other teacher and I have quite different teaching styles, and most days it feels like he plays good cop while I am forced to play bad cop. I play bad cop because it's the only way I can get the kids to find success, but the kids don't seem to want it and other teacher does not make much of an effort to help bring it out of the kids. This is not an issue when I am alone with my kids in my own classroom. I make that clear from the get-go: if you have not found much academic success before, and you are willing, this is the place where it will happen.

I also get that this will probably happen again. I get that I shouldn't take it personally, but it's hard not to. I admit to getting emotional about this, but not in front of my students or co-workers, just in front of my best friend at school, a fellow English teacher. She was right about my being most comfortable around her, so comfortable that I could let my guard down and turn on the waterworks, which I hate. It makes me feel weak and powerless, but as soon as those kids walk into my room I remember why I'm there and that I am good at what I do and that I care so much, it's OK to cry.

Man, so much drama over the past few weeks. Our levy didn't pass, so that means I might not have a job next year. I think I should weather the storm this time, but maybe not again next year. I'm getting the resume ready and asking for letters nonetheless. Better to be ready to jump if something good comes up. I don't necessarily mind leaving, not that I WANT to, but the issue is that we've gone and bought a house. There are other places we could have gone last year, including Forest Lake or back to Bemidji, but we chose to stay here. That's what gets me - we finally decide to settle down and now we might be screwed for it.

Other drama: big shakeup in my department. There was a swap between two people, with one being sent to an undesirable and illogical place, while another gets what (as it appears to some) she wanted. It's weird, and it has brought someone down to my plaza who I don't quite know what to do with.

Long story, but still sort of crazy to have someone who you wrote off (for a number of reasons, not the least of which is snubbing me, and others, in favor of those with more $ and power) working in close proximity to you after not really speaking for 6+ months. It's just weird.

There have been ups and downs with the team-taught class. We're ironing out the details of our teaching style differences (I'm apparently far more type A than I'd ever imagined, especially in comparison to someone who is so highly abstract/random...which I always thought I was...). We've basically given up on those who don't care about the class, which is evidenced by their lack of work being turned in, bad attitude, disruptive behavior - need I go on? It's funny that I don't really have these major of issues in my own classes. I think the inconsistency between our different styles is responsible for some of the issues, but honestly, these kids just don't give a shit about their grades in our class, let alone if they will walk at graduation or not.

I don't get it - passing is so ridiculously easy - you just have to show up and do some of, if not all of the work. You don't even need to do it well. You can do it half-assed, or even less than in some cases, but if you do NOTHING, I cannot help you. Even when you lie to your parents about me and my class, so that when I call them to see if I can get them to help set their kid straight (shouldn't it be the other way around???) they yell at me because, according to their kid, I am not doing one or even possibly all of the following:

• not modifying enough or at all (even though I modify the shit out of most everything and even do so when THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS LEGALLY IN PLACE!)
• telling them their grades frequently enough,
• giving too much homework (when in truth I technically don't give any - they have TIME IN CLASS!), etc., etc., etc.

If any parent happens to be reading this - do not always take your child's word for everything that happens at school, if you have a question - call/e-mail the teacher and ASK, make sure your kid is doing their work in school - if they are not, take something away!

Sorry for the rant. This is just an iota of what I've got inside right now, but you know what? I still love my f-ing job.

Mock Trial has begun: I have far too many freshman, although they appear motivated and bright, if not annoying. We'll have to whip them into shape - a nice haircut and a suit jacket does wonders on pubescent boys who love science and debate.

The video club has recieved initial funding - enough to buy us a sweet Sony 40g camcorder, some accessories and our editing program. The 'preview' showed at the pepfest, and it seemed to have gone over very well. We just need to have our meeting scheduled and our advertisements go out in the form of flyers, announcements, and another video during advisement and we should be golden to begin holding meetings, which should prove to be interesting. We're going to work up some type of constitution, mission statement, offices, etc. I shall be the "Executive Producer." Isn't that cute? My boys are so excited, and I'm excited for them. I just hope that we can be somewhat organized in this venture so I can remain sane, what with Mock Trial absences coming up, and a new semester just around the corner.

As Borat would say, "Wa-wa-wooie!"

Here's to hoping Thanksgiving comes quickly!