After 3 days of seminars, several hours of paperwork, a few free meals and a lively presentation (brain-washing) from the Washington Teachers Union (DC that is)....I'm officially....kind of....an employee of DC Public Schools. And by kind of...I mean all new teachers are pretty much hanging out in this unknown gray-area of life (we have quickly found out that, this level of information is DCPS's official operating zone!) But the good news is that we have been promised to be payed on time! (Wait...you mean you don't usually pay people on time?)...I think it may coincide with the day they have me sign and date a triplicate sheet for the 1000th time.
These are among the many reasons that people from DC are surprised I chose DCPS to begin my illustrious teaching career (and by illustrious, I mean: like every great band, the first album is always the greatest...think about it...no seriously!) I have talked to people all week who are here through Teach for America or a similar Teaching Fellows program, all of them have had a crash course about the school system through summer school. They caught on quick that this was going to be a tough school year administratively. At lunch today, someone said to me: "this will make me glad to spend time with students!" And though she said it as a joke, I think she was right, as long as I get to teach math and get to know students, then I'm a pretty happy guy...er...satisfied geek, however you see it! Through every thing I heard over the last 3 days, it snapped me out of a daze whenever I heard someone mention the need to focus on our students. I learned a lot about the student population and standards and practices, but I'll probably forget about it if it doesn't apply to how I can help students!
Thinking back to the "moments" I had on the highway in the middle of nowhere, doubting if I could actually make it out here, I am so glad that I forced myself to do it. Picking up everything and going, left me no option to bail out (that and Dad eventually had to fly out of Baltimore). If I would have tried to ease into the decision and test the waters, I would have wasted so much money flying out to look at a cities like DC, Chicago and Philly, just to be initially intimidated by a large city and crappy school buildings (not to mention, more black kids than I've ever seen in my life). And though there are a lot of people so far away, they don't become strangers...just friends in different area codes, and like I promised...I'll come back (as long as they have an investment account for my travel expenses!)
In closing, I would like to thank you for bearing with the side comments and over use of ellipses. I have been holding in cynical comments all week, and this is the only way I know how grammatically share those feelings (I'm pretty sure blogs don't have to be grammatically correct anyways!) This weekend will probably be a concerted effort to figure out city life, and maybe get lost on the metro. I might update you on that, but definitely an update next week (with pics) of my classroom (when I finally get to see it) Happy Weekend!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Can't sleep!
Well probably because you haven't even tried yet! But I really can't so I figured I'd give you a little insight on what it takes to be a teacher. Today was the first day of new teacher training! I learned that: the District of Columbia acts as a state and a district level governing system for its schools; I still don't know what the heck I'm supposed to be teaching kids starting in a week in a half, and the teacher lunch room works pretty much the same way as every other cafeteria you've ever experienced (don't worry I found the cool kids table!)
But, in all seriousness...today started early, went long...and at the end I was left with free gifts from the teacher's union and a copy of the Washington Post that I stole! I think much of the activities today were gesturing and loving attempts at convincing new teachers that they would hate their first year of teaching no matter what they try to do about it. I think it was said best the 50th time when someone said: "this will be the hardest year of your life!" I kinda knew that was the case, but I was trying to be optimistic...then I just became cynical. I met a few lighthearted new teachers who shared that sentiment, so we joked and then talked about what was going to keep us sane (for me it will be finally accumulating something other than student loans...now it will just be lots of interest on those loans).
So, I'm heading into two more days of this...but I'm not down-hearted (because there is still free food) and tomorrow we're having a few more intriguing seminars on school culture and kids in DC. In case you didn't know...that's why I was here, but they thought it was important to start with rules and lesson planning and district standards. I have a feeling that they are putting off talking about the student population so they don't scare the new whiteys from outta town...but thats what I have to look forward to all year!
Just in case you were wondering: I'm not nervous, I have no idea what I'm going to teach, I still haven't seen my classroom or a textbook, but at least I have a place to sleep at a strangers house! I met this guy Alex, who just bought a house with his wife (he is also a new DC teacher). They didn't have anything to put in one of their new rooms...so I offered to dump all my crap in it and sleep on the floor. They politely accepted my offer and now I'm the under-welcomed-over-stayed guest! Actually the offer went the other way, and they seem to be just fine with it. But I'm hoping I can't shift around to some other connections so they don't really grow to hate me! I'll write more later...when its not affecting the diminishing 5 and a half hours of sleep I'm about to get! Good night,
Jake <><
But, in all seriousness...today started early, went long...and at the end I was left with free gifts from the teacher's union and a copy of the Washington Post that I stole! I think much of the activities today were gesturing and loving attempts at convincing new teachers that they would hate their first year of teaching no matter what they try to do about it. I think it was said best the 50th time when someone said: "this will be the hardest year of your life!" I kinda knew that was the case, but I was trying to be optimistic...then I just became cynical. I met a few lighthearted new teachers who shared that sentiment, so we joked and then talked about what was going to keep us sane (for me it will be finally accumulating something other than student loans...now it will just be lots of interest on those loans).
So, I'm heading into two more days of this...but I'm not down-hearted (because there is still free food) and tomorrow we're having a few more intriguing seminars on school culture and kids in DC. In case you didn't know...that's why I was here, but they thought it was important to start with rules and lesson planning and district standards. I have a feeling that they are putting off talking about the student population so they don't scare the new whiteys from outta town...but thats what I have to look forward to all year!
Just in case you were wondering: I'm not nervous, I have no idea what I'm going to teach, I still haven't seen my classroom or a textbook, but at least I have a place to sleep at a strangers house! I met this guy Alex, who just bought a house with his wife (he is also a new DC teacher). They didn't have anything to put in one of their new rooms...so I offered to dump all my crap in it and sleep on the floor. They politely accepted my offer and now I'm the under-welcomed-over-stayed guest! Actually the offer went the other way, and they seem to be just fine with it. But I'm hoping I can't shift around to some other connections so they don't really grow to hate me! I'll write more later...when its not affecting the diminishing 5 and a half hours of sleep I'm about to get! Good night,
Jake <><
Monday, August 13, 2007
Manic Monday
Today is my last day in D.C. - at least for this week anyway. D.C. is such a cool city that I know I will be back soon. (Not to mention that I'm gonna hate not seeing Jake all the time, so I'll have to come back soon - and often!
My flight leaves at 9:00 PM tonight and I get back into Eugene around 2:00 AM - if I'm lucky. And, of course, I'll be reporting to work bright and early tomorrow morning!
As I write this, Jake has been at the D.C. school district offices for about 2 1/2 hours. He text messaged me a bit ago saying, "Make yourself comfortable, this is gonna be a while." He's signing his contract, getting fingerprinted and a bunch of other stuff.
After he is done, we'll finalize his housing situation. He has connected with three folks through Craigslist (or as Shawn Crawford likes to call it - Wayne's World). These three have been rooming together for a while and are looking for a fourth to move into a three story townhouse on September 1st. We met them on Saturday and Jake really hit it off with them - and vice versa. All three of them work on "The Hill." One as a lobbyist, one as a staffer for Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey and the other as a Supreme Court policeman. (it seems every branch of the government - and most of the individual agencies - all have their own police force.)
Jake's apartment will be pretty dang cool - assuming everything works out. Here's a link to the townhouse Jake will be living in. Pictures 7-9 are shots of his apartment.
The problem (although we're not too worried about it) is what to do between now and September 1st. There are several options but none have quite come together. It's not as scary as it might sound, but it would take me another few hundred paragraphs to explain it all. So, trust me on this one - it'll work out.
This is probalby my last post. I'll relenquish the reigns to Jake from this point on. It is going to be fun to see all that happens in his life over these next few years. I'm WAAAAYYYYY excited for him. And even a little jealous. And very proud as well. He's a great man, a great teacher - and a dang great son. Have fun Dude!
Dad
My flight leaves at 9:00 PM tonight and I get back into Eugene around 2:00 AM - if I'm lucky. And, of course, I'll be reporting to work bright and early tomorrow morning!
As I write this, Jake has been at the D.C. school district offices for about 2 1/2 hours. He text messaged me a bit ago saying, "Make yourself comfortable, this is gonna be a while." He's signing his contract, getting fingerprinted and a bunch of other stuff.
After he is done, we'll finalize his housing situation. He has connected with three folks through Craigslist (or as Shawn Crawford likes to call it - Wayne's World). These three have been rooming together for a while and are looking for a fourth to move into a three story townhouse on September 1st. We met them on Saturday and Jake really hit it off with them - and vice versa. All three of them work on "The Hill." One as a lobbyist, one as a staffer for Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey and the other as a Supreme Court policeman. (it seems every branch of the government - and most of the individual agencies - all have their own police force.)
Jake's apartment will be pretty dang cool - assuming everything works out. Here's a link to the townhouse Jake will be living in. Pictures 7-9 are shots of his apartment.
The problem (although we're not too worried about it) is what to do between now and September 1st. There are several options but none have quite come together. It's not as scary as it might sound, but it would take me another few hundred paragraphs to explain it all. So, trust me on this one - it'll work out.
This is probalby my last post. I'll relenquish the reigns to Jake from this point on. It is going to be fun to see all that happens in his life over these next few years. I'm WAAAAYYYYY excited for him. And even a little jealous. And very proud as well. He's a great man, a great teacher - and a dang great son. Have fun Dude!
Dad
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