The dumbing down of our education system

I went to a training today on how to add rigor to an AP course. It was a total yawner, but it got me out of the classroom for a day. I know that sounds terrible, but once in a great while, I like to be able to leave my loving heathens in the care of a capable grown-up and converse with all adults for a day. Anyway, this woman putting on the training is from DC and has a PhD in who-knows-what. She had some okay ideas, I guess. What really got me, though, was when she started talking about "intervention plans" for kids who weren't quite up to par. I have no problem with giving kids extra help when they need it. However, here are her ideas, in a nutshell:

1. If a child has a low average, failed a test, didn't turn in an assignment, etc., have a "red flag" and conference with that student (you know, during that mythical extra time that every teachers has).
2. Come up with some plan to help prop kiddo up, whether it be retest, corrections, etc.
3. If a kid doesn't turn in a homework assignment, conference with him or her and allow that student to turn in the assignment at a later date. Here's the kicker: GIVE THE KID FULL CREDIT!
4. If the kid still doesn't turn in the assignment(s) by the summative assessment (aka test), no longer accept the assignment. However, don't give the kid a zero; give the kid a 50. WHAT?!?!?!??!?!

It was at #4 when she lost me and every other teacher at my table. Are you f-ing kidding??? So if I choose to not show up to work, or not bother to teach, do I get 50% of my paycheck? I was appalled. And you know what? This is the direction in which my district is trying to go! We have some lovelies in upper administration who eat this BS up, and are planning to try to force us to implement it. Kids are already entitled and lazy. We want to teach them responsibility by rewarding them for not taking responsibility for their laziness? I think not!

The scare

Being a woman sucks sometimes! Once a year, we have to visit our special doctor and endure being invaded and poked to check for problems only endured by our gender. After that quick visit, we usually don't have to even think about it for another 364 days. We don't expect "that" call. For the past month and a half, I've been in a constant state of apprehension. I got the news that my pap smear came back "abnormal" and I tested positive for HPV. My first reaction was "I'm going to kill Matt!" It can stay dormant, though, for years, so I quickly recanted my threat. Evidently 8 in 10 women will have some form of HPV in their lives, and while this made me feel a little better, it still isn't a diagnosis I wanted.

I went in for yet another invasion last week, and this time the doctor looked at my cells. She saw a spot or two that concerned her, so she removed tissue from my cervix to send in for biopsy. Ouch! I can'I've waited for 8 long days, and finally received the results today. I have no pre-cancerous cells!!! Relieved doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling. While I know pre-cancerous doesn't mean cancer, and even if it did develop into cancer, cervical cancer is extremely treatable, it's scary nonetheless. All I have been able to think about is my children. I can't fathom not seeing them grow up. They are my world, and I can't leave this world without seeing them develop into mature, beautiful adults with families of their own. Silly, huh, to worry myself so much? Oh, well, I feel so very fortunate at this point. St. Patty has spread some of his luck my way. :-)

Be careful what you wish for!

On my blog yesterday, I asked the universal powers for one more day added to the weekend. So what did I get? One more day added to my weekend. Unfortunately, that additional day is courtesy of Maya getting sick again. So my brown-eyed girl feels icky and I have to use yet another sick day. I have literally worked one full week since we came back from Christmas break, between district holidays, doctor's appointments, and snow days. My goal was to build up a nice stash of personal days. It looks like that won't be happening anytime over the next, what, 18 years? And why is it that it's always the mommy who has to stay home when the kid gets sick? I actually wouldn't mind so much if Matt could just transfer some of his personal days to me. I love that idea. I wish I could make that happen. Hey, powers-that-be, can I get a little help with that request?