Posts by GrreatTeacher

I just want to say that that photo on the beach is beautiful. The waves in the background, the slightly sea-sprayed couple, the implied motion, the interaction. It's just a gorgeous, gorgeous moment caught on camera.

I hope you have that one framed and sitting on the nightstand.

20

Hourly vs Salary which is better?

by hoser in

jw
friends

i am hourly.

what are the pros and cons of hourly or salary?.

GrreatTeacher

Yeah, keyser, low-level management is often not worth it.

Possibly middle-management could be worth it, but you usually have to first have experience as low-level management to qualify.

20

Hourly vs Salary which is better?

by hoser in

jw
friends

i am hourly.

what are the pros and cons of hourly or salary?.

GrreatTeacher

Ha ha! That's funny. Teachers hear the craziest things.

The parent of one of my students called the principal to complain her child was being bullied in my class. The principal got all of the relevant details and also asked to also speak to the student.

Principal: So, you've been bullied?

Student: Yes.

P: When did this happen?

S: Today

P: And, who bullied you?

S: Jason

Principal: Really?!

S: Oh, yes!

P: Well that's funny because Jason has been absent for the last 3 days!

20

Hourly vs Salary which is better?

by hoser in

jw
friends

i am hourly.

what are the pros and cons of hourly or salary?.

GrreatTeacher

I am a teacher. I am officially required to be in school 35 hours a week. My pay is bargained for hourly, but my contract requires me to sign an overtime pay waiver.

The effect is that our official school start and ending times add up to more than the 35 hours of the contract. Also, I work 11 hour days to get everything done, including grading papers, writing lesson plans, copying papers, administrative paperwork, creating a document trail for EVERYTHING, modifying assignments for students with IEPs (special ed students,) attending meetings for those students, attending faculty training meetings, collaborative planning meetings, special ed referral meetings, storing and readying science materials and equipment for class, and maintaining the physical classroom space. And, if I need to find a substitute to access any of my personal days for doctor appointments, there is a lengthy process of leaving sub plans which have to be in excruciating detail and likely involve a total new creation of lesson plans because a sub cannot handle science experiments.

So I get everything done from my "35 hour" per week job in 55 hours. I can't even randomly call in sick because of the excruciating 'getting a substitute' process. Today is Saturday and I just spent hours grading labs, which in "time-saving" process must now be entered into the online gradebook. Tomorrow I am pacing the curriculum so I get through the mandatory concepts before the quarterly science assessments. Then, they throw in parent conference days which are, bewilderingly, before report cards, so I will have to prepare grades and narrative comments for each of my students. Then, 4 report cards each year (also with narrative comments), and 4 manatory sets of interim reports.

We are public employees, and as such, are not allowed to go on strike. We would never have to. All we'd have to do is work the actual 35 hours per week of our contract. Public education would fall apart at the seams.

77

Inappropriate Behavior

by rebelfighter in

jw
friends

now i know i am getting older or of the older generation.

i have had a very strange day with a lot of strange dealings with people with strange behavior today but this one incident was just over the top.

so i came out of a store in a busy shopping center.

GrreatTeacher

Why is no one else skeeved out by the fact that this guy apparently came out from a workout at the gym and put his nasty, sweaty body directly into a business suit?

I would hate to be stuck in the cubicle next to him for the rest of the day!

26

The bOrg Cult Tactics

by pale.emperor in

i'm wondering if the borg actually studied mind control and coercion tactics deliberately or wether they just evolved over time through trial and error.

from reading steve hassans books, studying hypnosis and methods psychopaths use it all seems very complex.

like it would never occur to me to do a, b and c in the right order at the right time in order to get control of someone or control their lives.. for example, repetition of words (the word "loyalty" was a big one in the last convention), using loaded language, encouraging people not to trust their own thoughts, restricting their information, demonising those who leave etc.

GrreatTeacher

Well, Charlie Russell was a salesman first. He owned very successful clothing stores. Then, a religious publishing house.

I think the trick was getting his salesforce to not realize that they were actually salesmen. That's the beginning of doublethink and manipulation, IMHO.

15

My thoughts on our online community.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i will start this o.p by a review of the mental conditioni i find many former or current witnesses at when they join the board :-.

1. broken relationships.. 2. lonliness/ depression.

3. guilt / shame .

GrreatTeacher

The Rebel, your thoughtful post speaks to the value of being a good listener.

Your thoughts, feelings and personal experiences are a great way to start sharing and healing.

Contentious debates are another thing entirely, and those who listen carefully and extensively before weighing in are going to get the best reception and will be able to help move the debate forward.

It's not like chess; thinking several moves ahead prevents you from listening and responding to the actual thoughts behind the comments. This can only happen when you slow down, listen closely, and truly understand the other person's point.

Which is exactly why drinking and posting is a recipe for disaster. Drinking loosens inhibitions. And, it takes effort to inhibit an impulsive, emotional response.

Methinks you are a wise man. :)