I'm terrible at blogging. I'm not even going to make excuses, by this time, you should know that I've just been busy..with school.
Speaking of, check out the Wolf Task Force that a couple of my students started. They think they're so funny. I kind of think it's funny too, although I think trapping is weird, and am especially bothered by trapping wolves. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that there are a lot of things in life that I'm just never going to understand. At any rate, the wolves of Prince of Wales Island are being brought to justice by the high schoolers.
So it's been a surprise to no one, except me, that living and teaching in an incredibly conservative state is hard for somebody from WA. I've been thinking a lot lately about what the future is going to hold for Miss Em (me). As we all know, I'm technically done with my teaching program in June, and by no means am obligated to teach in Alaska. Yes, if everything goes as planned, I should have a Professional Teaching Certificate in June.
It was this time last year that I was informed that I probably would not have a job next year and that I should start looking for a new job. There has been no suggestion that this will happen to me this year, but really nobody knows, because the bullshit and bureaucracy that working for the state entails. I do know this, that if I do leave here, I will miss it. I work at a really awesome school, with great kids. I will miss them. And sometimes when I dream about living in a place more tolerant, I'm quickly reminded how lackadaisical teaching in rural Alaska can be. This is not suggest it's easy, I have to believe that it's actually harder. Let me give you an example from last week:
To celebrate the end of the semester and the end of a unit, in my geography class we had an "Oceania" party, which basically just consisted of eating Australian food, watching Flight of the Concords, and listening to music from Downunder. Oh yeah, an also in honor of the Maoi people of New Zealand we gave each other henna warrior tattoos (henna is not from New Zealand but I didn't think real tattoos were feasible). Any who, half way through this party where we are dancing, eating food and getting tattooed once my students who is getting a "tramp stamp" says, "My mom is going to kill me." And for the first time since I hatched this plan, I was like, shit, maybe I should have sent a note home or something, you know, before I let their children apply 3 week tattoos to various parts of their body.
As of yet, I haven't heard of any reprecussions, and I don't really expect to. I use this as an example of how cool my students are and how chill my school is, I don't even think the administration noticed that I was having a party until after school when I literally had like all of the high school in my classroom wanting tattoos. The point is that things are more relaxed here then they are other places and I think that would be an adjustment for me or not, I don't know.
Also, I can't imagine finding a place more entertaining to live.
Well, off to plan for second semester!
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." ~ MLK Jr
Speaking of, check out the Wolf Task Force that a couple of my students started. They think they're so funny. I kind of think it's funny too, although I think trapping is weird, and am especially bothered by trapping wolves. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that there are a lot of things in life that I'm just never going to understand. At any rate, the wolves of Prince of Wales Island are being brought to justice by the high schoolers.
So it's been a surprise to no one, except me, that living and teaching in an incredibly conservative state is hard for somebody from WA. I've been thinking a lot lately about what the future is going to hold for Miss Em (me). As we all know, I'm technically done with my teaching program in June, and by no means am obligated to teach in Alaska. Yes, if everything goes as planned, I should have a Professional Teaching Certificate in June.
It was this time last year that I was informed that I probably would not have a job next year and that I should start looking for a new job. There has been no suggestion that this will happen to me this year, but really nobody knows, because the bullshit and bureaucracy that working for the state entails. I do know this, that if I do leave here, I will miss it. I work at a really awesome school, with great kids. I will miss them. And sometimes when I dream about living in a place more tolerant, I'm quickly reminded how lackadaisical teaching in rural Alaska can be. This is not suggest it's easy, I have to believe that it's actually harder. Let me give you an example from last week:
To celebrate the end of the semester and the end of a unit, in my geography class we had an "Oceania" party, which basically just consisted of eating Australian food, watching Flight of the Concords, and listening to music from Downunder. Oh yeah, an also in honor of the Maoi people of New Zealand we gave each other henna warrior tattoos (henna is not from New Zealand but I didn't think real tattoos were feasible). Any who, half way through this party where we are dancing, eating food and getting tattooed once my students who is getting a "tramp stamp" says, "My mom is going to kill me." And for the first time since I hatched this plan, I was like, shit, maybe I should have sent a note home or something, you know, before I let their children apply 3 week tattoos to various parts of their body.
As of yet, I haven't heard of any reprecussions, and I don't really expect to. I use this as an example of how cool my students are and how chill my school is, I don't even think the administration noticed that I was having a party until after school when I literally had like all of the high school in my classroom wanting tattoos. The point is that things are more relaxed here then they are other places and I think that would be an adjustment for me or not, I don't know.
Also, I can't imagine finding a place more entertaining to live.
Well, off to plan for second semester!
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." ~ MLK Jr
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