In Memoriam

Memorial Day.

I'm not old (or eloquent) enough to fully encompass all that this day means without sounding ridiculous, so I'll tread lightly.

In history class, it didn't take me long to realize that the study of war is the cornerstone of the subject. All of the other aspects of the study (cultural, demographic, technological, etc.) hinged on wars and the outcome thereof. Cultural progress is only possible when a nation's citizens aren't constantly worried about being shot at or bombed.

I seriously doubt that an Iraqi poetry reading would be horribly successful or well-attended.

We owe the soldiers who fought in American wars everything we have today. Everything. Our homes, our cars, our paychecks- even our lives and families.

When the Russians invaded Germany toward the end of WWII, they inflicted the largest known instance of mass rape ever recorded. Another scenario, a few lost battles here and there- and that could have happened here.

Take it back a bit- what if those farmers had not decided to stand their ground at Lexington and Concord? What if they had chosen to go home to their families instead of fight for the idea of freedom? What if, at Valley Forge, they had grown weary of seeing their neighbors sell supplies to the British and called it a day?

I repeat it in the hopes that repetition will ensure what the weak power of my words cannot- we owe our soldiers everything.

Everything.

Ad Behavior

I believe I've posted on this in the past, but I don't care- I hate pop-ups.

Over the past few weeks, my computer has been losing a death struggle with companies pretending to give away free iPods and Viagra prescriptions. The second I connected to the Internet, roughly thirty Windows would bombard the screen, overburdening the modem and making anything I wanted to do next to impossible. Although it's not really an excuse, this is partly the reason why I haven't been blogging lately- going online was an exercise in frustration and futility, which is precisely what blogging is supposed to help relieve.

Last night I headed to the local Wal-Mart and purchased Norton's Internet Security 2005. It took a while to load and update it, but now that I have, the computer is working perfectly. It located about 19 viruses and sent them to virus hell, which I imagine is kinda like the lay-a-way line at Kmart.

It only cost around $55, and now I have, for all intents and purposes, a brand new computer. I strongly recommend it.

Stick A Fork In Me...

I'm just about done.

Tomorrow is the final day of exams, but since I have fifth period planning and my seniors in sixth left a few days early, I have nothing to do. I'll sit around and play Minesweeper (my latest obsession) and count down the hours until I'm free for the weekend. Then I have Monday off for Memorial Day before returning for two post-planning days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

For those who don't know, post-planning days are one of the biggest jokes of the education world. Basically, it's a time when teachers get to act like real world employees (go out to lunch, take a five-minute break, go to the bathroom whenever necessary instead of waiting for our bladders to burst like an overripe grapefruit, e.g.) and gossip like old hens about the past year's events. I can see them now, heading to the nearest shiny minivan while cackling and pondering their possible menu options.

They sicken me.

I still don't have that Shawshank Redemption arms-outstretched-in-the-falling-rain feeling yet, but I think that's because I still have to show up for work for three days. The hardest part is over, however- now all that's left is the bitter dross at the bottom of the barrel.

Those who have been praying for my safe departure can now move on to bigger worries- I'm gonna be just fine.

Note: This isn't the end of blogging. On the contrary, the upcoming vacation should afford me ample time to blog about anything and everything. Also, I am excited about cataloguing the experiences of a first-year law student. Everything I find on the internet makes the whole situation seem so incredibly mysterious. Hopefully I can shed some light on the issue. Maybe once I graduate, I can offer free legal advice.

Just when I thought I'd seen it all...

My students generally bring food into the classroom. I used to try and fight it, but I quickly gave up. Since the school has roughly twenty Coke machines, multiple snack machines, and sells chicken biscuits in the morning to make money, I have a sinking suspicion that food in the classroom isn't really that big of a deal.

Normally it doesn't bother me. I don't care if someone wants to sip a beverage or eat a little as they learn- as long as they're learning.

Last week, however, one of my students in first period walked in with nothing less than a plate full of ravioli. Ravioli. The kind that comes out of a can. Now mind you, this is taking place at 8:40 in the morning, which is not when the thought of pasta in a heavy red sauce really appeals to me.

I started to say something to her, and then stopped.

Because I realized something. Her mom has to know she did this. She had a plate and a fork, for cryin' out loud! Chances are, her mom gave it to her on purpose. What parent sends their child to school with a can of ravioli to eat for breakfast? Secondly, how am I supposed to convince her that this in unacceptable when apparently her family thinks otherwise? If I was her, there's no way I'd accept some goofy white man's opinion over that of her mother. No way. So I kept my mouth shut and watched in amazement (and a little bit of horror) as she sat there, stuffing piece after piece into her mouth.

I need a long vacation.

The Final Countdown

12 days. That's it. And if you count my court date (and the 3 days of chaos that are final exams), it's really closer to 8.

My wife and I both put our two-week notices in at Sylvan. They were surprised, but they took it well.

I'll try to post more later- I just wanted to assure my three regular visitors that I hadn't given up on this venture completely. Life has just been too hectic lately to do much with it.

Subpoena

Apparently my legal education is getting off to a quick start.

A few weeks ago a student of mine allegedly mentioned to a few people that he was going to kill me and everyone else in the room. I didn't personally hear it, but allegedly he confessed to the statement later.

The administrative hearing was today, and it was decided that it would be best if the student was placed in the district's alternative school. I had to come forward and read my statement (they even turned on a tape recorder and made me "swear to tell the truth...")

Case closed, right? Wrong.

A police officer approached me today and handed me a slip of paper. Before I even knew it, I had been subpoenaed. Apparently the DA is gonna see if there's enough evidence to constitute a "clear and viable threat". So now I have to show up at a prearrest hearing for the student.

Why, oh why can't I end my teaching career like a normal person?

Sigh.

Twenty Days in May- Hooray!

It's almost over- I can sense the energy that always accompanies the last few weeks of school bouncing off the walls. The students are more rambunctious, but their actions are tantamount to the final burst of a dying sun. I can't wait for it to be over.

A storm blew through yesterday that dropped the most extraordinary blooms all over my little yard. I'll try to get a picture of them up later if possible. Some were in pristine condition; others were so badly damaged one would be hard pressed to find them in the freshly cut grass. As I compared them, a thought struck me- it's not the beauty of the bloom that's important, but the quality of the fruit it produces.

In that spirit, let me say this- I hope that the process of teaching, while bruising my ideals, forces from me a quality product; namely, to fight for honesty and fairness wherever me and my copy of Black's Law Dictionary decide to roam.