I honestly miss my students at BCHS. I hope that they have learned as much as I have learned about being in a high school.

I am officially now a licensed teacher. Its a scary thought. I can teach students now and do not need someone hovering over my back with an evaulation form and a reflection assignment. Im not stopping at my T-4, but I am getting my T-5 masters level certificate.

Its hard to try and get a job especially if you are a social science content person, but I will just suck it up and deal with it. I am ready to have my own classroom and rock the free world….so to speak.

I spent the last week up in Atlanta with Amanda. I visited her classroom during their “Winter Celebration.” That was an experience. Imagine 18  seven year olds giving you the look when you enter the classroom and hearing them say “Psst, thats Ms. Frith’s Boy.” Getting questions like “Are you gonna be Mr. Frith when you get married?” “How many kids are you gonna have?” “Can I be in your wedding?” The interrogation by first graders was an interesting experience. I enjoyed especially watching Amanda in action. She is a real cool teacher. Im just not saying that cause shes my fiance, but she is really good at what she does. It was also good to go inside a school for a couple of hours. When I was at BCHS, it felt like a second home for me. My classroom (the computer cart) felt like a place where I could be myself and be a teacher.

What is up with the weather. 30 degrees on Monday 60 on Tuesday 70 Today…..gosh…

As the time has progressed towards the election, people are getting more heated about who they support. McCain or Obama. What are the issues… yada yada yada.

I have had some students who said if they could vote (they arent 18) they would vote for this person and that person. I heard one student said he wouldnt vote for Obama because his economic policies are not solid. I had then one student who then heard that say “Stop saying your not going to vote for Obama, thats being racist.” Huh? How does the economic policies of one man make another person racist? Where is the connection? Racism is definately being played in this election. I had a student asked who I would vote for and I said, I would tend to lean towards McCain cause Obama wants us to join Europe in the post-modern socialism. Am I a racist cause I favor another candidate and because he is white over another cause hes black? I think not. I wouldn’t care if Obama was green with pink spots, I would not vote for him. I wanted to snap back at the student about making outlandish statements about another persons opinion.

I had to bite my tongue.

My teacher reccommended that it is best if you not give your opinion because by parents that could be percieved as trying to force ideas and bias upon a student. It is ok to play the devils advocate though which I would with any Obama supporter. I am having to bite my tongue on issues that I am really interested in and wondering why some are still even issues.

I had discussion with my teacher on why abortion is still an issue. 30 years since Roe v. Wade and we still try to bring this issue into play. Now I am not diluting the topic at hand because yes it is an important issue because it is a life. I had a theroy that the media tries to keep this issue in play because by using the abortion issue, you can separate the wheat from the chaff if you will on moderate republicans and fundamentalist ones. Same with the Democrats too.

A student in class asked me what I thought about abortion. At the same time, the teacher walked in and I was relieved because we did have to move on, but I try not to give my two cents because I could be percieved as a biased teacher favoring some issues over others instead of trying to be “fair and balanced” which in all honesty, can never take place because as humans we are natually bias. We choose things over others because they fit our needs and ideals. That was the biggest problem with racism and segregation in America. Segregation forced people to lower their biased ideas and accept the reality that the law protects all equally.

As for my personal stance on the issue, its a unique opinion.

Am I for late-term or partial-birth abortion? No.

Do I believe that as a male, I have some assertive rights over women, and what they do with their bodies? No.

Do I believe that you have options for your unborn child if you cannot or have no desire to support them. Yes. Adoption is a wonderful gift to those couples who cannot concieve a child naturally.

Do I believe that women who were raped or victims of incest should have to endure the labor of childbirth to bear a child that resembles their attacker? No. Heres the caveat: I believe that if it is late-term, then its your fault for not aborting the child early on. You then should have the child for two reasons, It has a heartbeat and is almost born. Second, You were foolish in waiting till the last minute to decide this. Abortion at this stage is going to be as painful as childbirth, so you mind as well give birth. And I know some parents who would adopt your child. I am one of those parents.

Do I believe in a Federal Amendment Ban on Abortions? No. I am more Libertarian by nature, and I feel that states should decide their own personal stance on abortion. States can decide to ban abortion or permit it. There are always loopholes. In Ireland, abortion is illegal due to the presence of the Catholic faith in the government. There is an organization that takes a young mother off the coast of Ireland into international waters and performs the abortion since there is no international maritime law on off-shore abortions. If mothers in my state wanted to do this since Georgia would most likely vote for a ban, they could have a loophole like so. Thats the beauty of state governments. If you do not like your own state governments statues on issues, you can go across the line and have procedures like this done. Its like buying fireworks in South Carolina when they are illegal in Georgia.

But cant talk about this in Public Schools…cause if I were to give my opinion in this matter, I would probably be grilled by parents….The education system at its finest….thats a whole other post for another time.

I am really enjoying my student teaching time at Bryan County High. I was iffy about coming to a small school, but there are some major benefits of the school. I get more one-on-one time with my students and I get to grade less work and focus on lessons more. I am enjoying seeing my students get the material and I have already a laundry list of stories that remind me why I love teaching so much.

I am twenty-three years old. It feels weird to come home from work and your bones already start hurting from being on your feet all day, running from point a to b. Moving around the classroom talking incessantly. Waking up after nine I feel like my day has already been wasted. Nine-thirty is an appropriate bedtime for me.

This time last fall, I was staying up late, getting up late to go to work, taking online classes with little responsibility and assignments. I partied like a rock star (as much as a graduate student could).

This time around, I am up early and asleep early. When I go to Atlanta to visit Amanda, I am usually tired by 10 because of being up since 5:45, teaching, and driving four hours to Atlanta. I dont go to many parties (if not any) since I have started graduate school. I am focused on getting out and part of me never wants to return. I find myself getting on to students for sleeping in class and dress code violations, saying ridiculous things in class such as “Didn’t Bill Clinton get impeached for having…” Yeah, your stopping right there.

I feel more like a grown up. I am still trying to get used to people calling me Mr. Taylor cause it sounds weird. The kids call me Mr. T cause they think its cool I guess. I try not to laugh when kids try to get me to say “fertile turtle” 3 times fast. (Still dont understand that one).

In nine months and five days, I will be not only responsible for myself, but for another human being. Its an interesting concept that I will be in the care of another person on June 20th. I am not scared of the fact that I am going to be marrying Amanda next summer and the next chapter of my life will begin as a husband, first-year teacher, and a bright eyed idealist teacher willing to tackle the classroom head on. I have already adopted maxims for my classroom. Ones such as “Keep Chopping Wood”, “Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail”, “The Quickest Way to Success is through Hard Work,” and “Struggling is part of the learning process of becoming a stronger individual.”

So as the seasons change, I am reminded once again why this is my favorite season. The times, the colors, the air all change, many things change, many things stay the same. I am just pleased to be a part of it all.

I just need to start actively praying for this process. I hate job searching because it is very time consuming and you rely on so many variables for the process. So I am hoping that it goes smoothly and I get what God wants me to get which is inevitably what I should be happy with. So just pray for me and this process that it is what God wants.

Anyway,

One of my favorite songs on the CD is “Cemeteries of London” It has a very unique European feel. Sounds like a Spanish Flamenco dance beating through your head. Anyway, I was listening to the song today as I drove in to work and the lyrics of the song hit me in a way that  related to my current state of affairs. I have for the last year or so since I departed Georgia College felt disconnected from many things. I thrusted myself into a new environment of Statesboro while was nice at times not very warming. I felt more professional in my studies and I continually quoted the phrase “A Scholar is Made Alone” that John Adams once said to his unruly child.

But the song “Cemeteries of London” had lyrics such as

Through the dark streets they go searching to see God in their own way…

God is in the houses and God is in my head… and all the cemeteries in London…
I see God come in my garden, but I don’t know what he said,
For my heart it wasn’t open…
Not open…

I have really thought about the fact that I have not been open with God as much lately. I have had really no desire to seek out a new church due to laziness and other things. There are days I don’t even really feel God’s presence, but then again, I dont truly seek it out. If you dont passionately seek something, then you dont want to find it. God has come to visit me (I think) and I havent been open to seeking his counsel much less even desiring the time to listen to him. Sadly, there are days I feel like I should burn eternally for not seeking him out as much as I should and questioning even his very presence sometimes.

Cemeteries for me are a place of deep contemplation. I find that my current state of emotions are elevated sometimes when I visit those who are no longer living among us. I like to stroll though cemeteries and read the headstones, admire the statues, and take pictures. However, I find myself in a cemetery that feels cold and dreary. It has no place for casual strollers to stop and admire the persons laid to rest. This cemetery is more in the mind rather than an actual one. I hope that I can walk out of the cemetery and much less find that God is leading me out rather than walking blind.

People Change. Attitudes Change. Life Changes. Love Changes.

Georgia State Road 96 growing up was a dirty and dusty old country road growing up traveling to Aunt Karen’s house in Alabama in the back of my dad’s Ford truck. I always knew I was getting close to Columbus when the road would magically turn into a four lane highway. I knew we were in Alabama when we crossed over the Chattahoochee and stopped at the McDonalds on Summerville Road in Phenix City.

Not the case anymore.

Like many things, time changes the very memories we were once familiar with. State Road 96 is no longer a one lane highway that crossed the plains of west Georgia and went through towns such as Reynolds, Butler, Geneva, and Box Springs. The new 96 flies right past them and zips onto Columbus. Its the end of a memorable childhood memories. Sometimes, we would stop at fruit vendors on the side of the road and get some tomatoes and other sundries on the long trip.

HWY 96 could be an symbol for how our lives have changed in the last 20 years. People consume information voracioulsy and bypass things that slow them down and continue on trying to get to their destination in life as quickly and efficiently as they can.

Many people pass on the idea of true love because it forces them to slow down. People especially boys are in such a hurry to get into the pants of their partner and girls’ minds are going so fast their mind cant catchup with their hearts.

Love when it truly exists causes people to slow down and examine their lives under a new lens. Love examines all things in ones life and causes people to think, do, and change their lives. My life has changed immensely after meeting Amanda and I know in my heart it has made me a better person. I was so obsessed with going here, getting out of the ordinary, and establishing my own life away from the distractions I grew to loathe. Love however, has made me enjoy some of those things more, but has given me a more holistic purpose in the greater scheme of things. Now I am not saying that I need a woman to make my life complete, I am saying that love of a woman helps you to look through the different microscopes of life. However, when life much like the seasons change, one must adapt or perish. It is as brutally honest as it comes.

If one cannot change or refuses to, one will become obsolete.

 People forget that today on this day 63 years ago over 100,000 men would die in the greatest invasion in modern history. Yes thats right I am talking about Operation Overlord. But many Americans forgot that this single event has changed the course of our and the history of the world. When the allied forces rushed up the shores of Fortress Europa, many of them boys, did not know the type of fight much less that event that they would be apart of. As I careened the drive by media websites, there was not one singular mention of the fact that 63 years ago, boys at the age of as early as 17 would die for the rights we as spoiled Americans enjoy today. 

Why have we forgotten the fact that history is the greatest agent of change in the modern world. History is a living breathing organism. Its art in progress. Its a love that grows. Or the destructor of nations.  I heard a professor once say that History and its events are not about obscure facts, dates, or times, its about life. Its about cause and effect. Its about life and death. It is triumphant and tragic. It is alive in all of us. 

Over 100,000 men died on the shores of France for spoiled Americans now and then. The least we can do is show them a small amount of gratitude for the job they did. 

I dont care if you appreciate history or not. This day like the other important days in American history should be kept close to our hearts and minds as we treasure our American values and cherish those by honoring those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice on that ordinary day in June 1944…

Gas Prices, Slumping Economy, “Global Warming,” and cows relieveing themselves has prompted people to “go green” cause its the “cool thing” to do…

First of all, in my honest opinion, I think global warming is an inflated idea. This past March was the second coolest March in recorded history according to NOAA. The North Pole ice shelf is at its highest levels since th 1970s and the polar bear numbers are rising.

I dont trust OwlGore to tell me about my carbon footprint. Lets talk about his. Several major homes, a fossil fueled jet, several cars, and many other things. He buys these “carbon credits” to offset the difference. Well, where does one buy these “carbon credits” you say. Who do they go to. The thing is that these carbon credits are a con to get people to feel guilty.

OwlGore is not a scientist…hes a politician that uses his clout to throw around his ideas about human advanced global warming. I do not think humans are the sole cause to global warming.

In 1814, several volcanic eruptions caused the year 1814 to be named “the year without a summer” due to the vast amounts of volcanic ash thrown into the atmosphere that caused the sun’s rays to penetrate less onto the surface of the earth.

Our earth expereiences global warming and cooling trends. In the last several years, the temperature of the earth has risen .64 degrees. thats alot…..

The earth is much like a body. It has periods of fluctuation and never remains constant.

So when all these people say, go buy a 7 dollar light bulb and feel less guilty about contributing to environmental disaster. I say no thank you. And what about those who cant afford these 7 dollar light bulbs? Do we as taxpayers pay their environmental tab. NO! WE are taxed enough and no offense, I bet your folks are real nice people and all, but they have no right to take any more of my money.

I love to watch HGTV cause they are hardcore green. Now dont get me wrong, if you can recycle waste water from your shower or sink to water your plants. Great. Thats called being thrifty. Use solar panels to power your homes? Awesome. But dont make people feel guilty when they cant afford it.

They say green is the new black. To go green is to be “cool” I say that if you desire to go green, go for it, just dont make those of us who arent sucked into temporary trends feel like we arent good enough to save the planet.

I think this whole green environmentalism “save the world by trying to quell cows into farting less and producing more methane in the atmosphere” idea will be like those gaucho pants girls were so into a while back. They are one and done.

I do like the environment, its the cult of politics and trend setting that are bunk.

iPod…Check

Final Exam Textbook and Materials…Check

Pen and Paper…Check

As I fumbled around aimlessly to get myself together, I breathed a sigh of relief as I made my way up to COE to take my professional block final. All 15 weeks culminated into one meaningless test. A test worth 10 percent of my grade that I got to use my textbook on was in my opinion, not honestly worth it. I had jumped through all your hoops and you want me to jump through one more?

As I walked towards the COE from my apartment, I was reminded of where I was a year ago. A year ago I was taking my last undergraduate final during this time. Once again, another pointless exam. There was a fog in the air. A good sign. Much like dolphins leading on the bow of a ship, the fog allowed me to mentally prepare for the exam. My mind wandering aimlessly to the sound of Dave Matthews and “Don’t Drink the Water,” I made my way up to the COE. I was doing this same thing 15 weeks ago. The first time I did this, I was filled with excitement and anxiety. As I walked up for the final time, I found myself dragging along trying to get used to the fact that I don’t have to wake up at 5:20 for a while.

As I settled in for the final, our teachers handed out our units. I had cried, sweat, and shed blood over this thing called a unit plan. It looked so innocent. With its white binder and creative pictures saying, “I am a fun unit to teach and will help students learn.” If only my students knew how much I slaved over this thing. As I got ready for the final, I got in the zone ready to finally put my professional block to bed.

When I walked out of the COE, I felt liberated. 1 year of graduate school in the books. 30 weeks of absolute insanity as I navigate through the field known as education. I may not be a captain, but I sure as heck not a greenhorn.

I returned an education book that I used more as a paper weight rather than for its intended use. I have learned that in the past year, I can make 10 bucks go a long way. I have learned to definitely save money (not just for my use of course).  I decided to make one final walk from Paulson Stadium to my apartment. I made the traditional “end of the year” phone call to mom signaling the end for now.

As I look back on this year, I have learned a lot about myself and my disposition for teaching in the “government schools” of America. I have grown to be an advocate of public schools. While they are no where near perfection, I have grown to become interested in how America educates its future.

So as I ride off into the sunset, I move back home to Savannah for the final year of school to save even more money and time since I have to resign from my assistantship at the museum.

This summer is going to be pretty awesome. I have never liked the season, but I enjoy the company I keep during the summer.

to deal with heartbreak

to deal with frustration

to deal with animosity

to play referee 

to play parent 8 hours out of the day

to neglect their own children and families at the sake of their students 

to come home and cry because students dont understand their actions can hurt

There is so much negativity about schools nowadays. Everytime you pick up a newspaper, you hear about students in the schools doing this, doing that, got caught with this, said that. Teachers have to deal with those instances on a daily basis and the people on the outside looking in have no idea what they endure. However, the media always portrays the negative, rarely the positive. The last positive story I heard about a school was in August when a student performed the heimlech maneuver on his choking teacher. However, we have heard stories of students making bombs, bringing weapons to school, failing the high stakes tests, and other things. Never, these schools are doing good and whatnot. 

Before the CRCT was administered in Chatham County, the Savannah Morning News put out an article in their paper about the CRCT and the students and teachers that must abide by it. The teacher’s jobs are at stake and students cant pass onto the next grade if they do not perform well on the test. This was put out the day the first CRCT test was administered. A great way to go into it as a teacher and feel that your job is at stake. Good feelings. Your job and livelihood depends on a stupid test that is supposed to measure student performance when it just measures students anxiety levels and their ability to standardize test 

You also hear stories of a student in SC who is being charged on a WMD felony. WMD? I didnt know that was a standard charge in SC? But once again we cover those stories voraciously but forget the stories about students doing good. We hear of a mother and her daughter beating up the girls teacher over a grade. A Grade? you have got to be kidding me. I love that now teachers are having life insurance policies because the workplace is becoming a hazard. Does the public school system want to recruit new teachers? Do they not think prospective teachers do their homework on the cities and counties they may serve in? Im not a fool. I read the paper and I hear about teachers getting crap about minor things. Boy go ahead and sign me up for that job. Id love it! I love getting paid virtually nothing to do everything such as be a parent, policemen, referee, counselor, and on top of that, perform tons of paperwork…

Teachers need to be paid more. Cause they do it all and get nothing