The Return of the Posts

This blog has been rather quiet for some time. I am hoping to actually start posting things here again. I've finally found a platform I may enjoy using. Sitting down to write has not been a habit I have been able to maintain as I would like.

Hopefully, I'll see some of you around here.

Till then, enjoy this cat in a bucket.

 

Interesting Take on our Connectedness Addiction

Sometimes, I am jealous of people like the writer of this post. I do remember the time before cell phones and constantly connected life. But, it is too late for me. I am hopelessly hooked to being plugged in. Ah well, back to the bits.

http://www.theawl.com/2011/03/my-life-without-a-cell-phone-an-amazing-tale-of...

 

TAKS!!

TAKS ELA tomorrow! So it begins again. God help us

Educator Pay

Are you sick of highly paid teachers? Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit! We can get that for less than minimum wage. That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours). Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations. LET'S SEE.... That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries). What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year. Wait a minute -- there's something wrong here! There sure is! The average teacher's salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!! Make a teacher smile; repost this to show appreciation for all educators.

New York Times Opinion Page on Texas Ed. Issues

This opinion piece is pretty interesting. It cuts to the heart of the education issue in Texas and the mess we have gotten ourselves into.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/opinion/17gailcollins.html

 

Back in Lubbock

Back after a busy and informative trip to TCEA. A lot of great technology tools and ideas for teachers.

Back in Lubbock

Back after a busy and informative trip to TCEA. A lot of great technology tools and ideas for teachers.