...

like many other slags in america, i'm watching a.i.   all i know is that Julliard had better move on to the Top 24... she's a singer.  she can sing anything!

Brrrrrrrrrrr

I know its winter & I know I live in the Northeast... what I don't understand is WHY the weather insists on being so cold.

Teacher, Teacher, Write Me a Blog...

so, there seems to be a big hullabaloo about a teacher in the Philly burbs, who wrote a little blog entry last year, at report card time.

Cached Link: Natalie's Handbasket

first of all, as the parent of a middle school child in the NYC Public School system, and a graduate of the NYC Public School system, i must say that this blog entry cracked me up. i probably even guffawed at parts!

secondly - BRAVO to this teacher! because you know what - she's probably right.  i have several family & friends that work in public school education (varying grades K-12) and the gripes they share are pretty similar.  of course, i only know this because they share their anecdotes over dinner & not over the internet. 

thirdly - her entry is more about parenting than the children.  lord knows i can absolutely see some of  her ideas for canned comments in my kid's future... IF I DON'T DO MY JOB AS A PARENT.  my generation (& the one directly prior) of parents are so wrapped up in coddling their kids.  we spend so much time insisting they are all so unique and special.  guess what - 95% of them are average & mediocre & lazy in smarts and personality.  and they're happy like that. that's just the way it is. 

i'll even give full disclosure here & say that i am no different.  i know what my kid is capable of (because he proves it... sometimes) & i know what kind of work he puts out (because i see it... most of the time) and often i think the twain shall never meet. the difference is (and here is where I get all Tiger Mother on my kid's ass), it is MY JOB AS A PARENT to show him how wide open the world's opportunities can be for him... if only he learns to apply some simple principles to his young academic life.

listen, when it comes to education, we all have responsibilities.  while the teachers must do their jobs with the tools (heh) they're given, so must the parents & the students.  Teaching & learning doesn't end at 3pm... unless you go to CB East apparently.

A poem from the boy...

I love to have the final say;
It gets me in trouble too.
When I don't stop blabbering,
You still know I love you!

We have a different point of view
When discussing wrong from right.
Needless to say that when I'm cold
You let me crawl in bed at night!

It's obvious you love me,
You tell me every day
But even when I'm "mean to you,"
You love me anyway.

Did you know you're like an angel?
Always watching over me...
When I walk across the street,
My protection is all you see!

All in all, you love me,
And I love you in exchange.
You're my mother; I'm your son.
Surely that will never change!

Happy Valentine's Day Mommy!  I love you so much!