Monthly Archives: February 2012

>Pocket Change or a Living Wage

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>Living Wage: a salary or wages sufficient for paying basic expenses such as rent or mortgage, food, utilities, transportation, and the like.

Pocket change: small amounts of money brought in to supplement a wage; not enough to be a living or a second job, but enough to help buy extras.
Second job: supplements a main job in an attempt to bring total income up into the range of a living wage.
Dear So-called Governor Walker;
When you consider job-related legislation, please keep in mind the differences between the three defined above. In order to keep citizens in Wisconsin and discourage them from moving away, people need to earn a living, not just work. It seems you’ve grown out of touch with the people who actually pay bills regularly. Maybe those speaking engagements (out of state, raising big bucks from PACs and wealthy donors) are giving you the wrong impression: the impression that anyone and everyone has bucks to spare. To tell you the truth, most of us everyday citizens are grasping tightly every cent.
So Gov. Walker, next time your entourage passes a yard sale, remember that the people there may really need the money to buy groceries. When you see a second-hand bookstore, consider that a struggling worker may have sold a stack of books to put a few gallons of gas in the car. Do you see the family cleaning closets and preparing clothing for a consignment store? They may be doing more than de-cluttering; they might be bringing in the cash to buy a workplace wardrobe for someone who hasn’t yet received a paycheck. And if that paycheck isn’t a living wage, well, can you really take credit for job creation in our state? No, I don’t think so.
My ramblings could move yet to the need for an educated workforce, but I know you don’t understand that, either. Maybe if you’d taken the time to actually graduate from college, finish that degree, you could better understand the dedication and motivation it takes to accomplish a goal. A positive goal, that is: a goal that betters the individual and all those around him.
In closing, Governor, if you really want Wisconsin to remain a great state, think outside the box — your isolated, security-protected box. Make yourself aware that the living wage is an essential part of living, and a quality education is essential to get there.
Sincerely,
Daisy
Did you notice I made my points without blowing my cover as a public school teacher? Clever, eh?

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>Governor Walker, the frogs, and the hot water

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Do you know the one about the frog who escaped drowning? Two frogs accidentally hopping into a bucket full of cream. One gave up hope, sank, and drowned. The other kept kicking and kicking his legs, determined to escape and survive. Eventually his actions churned the cream into butter. The frog used the solid butter as a launching pad and hopped out of the bucket.
In another frog fable, two frogs fell into tubs of water. The first frog fell into hot water. She reacted immediately to the scalding water and jumped out. The other frog fell into comfortably warm water. She settled in, enjoying the temperature. Gradually, however, the water became hotter and hotter. The temperature went up slowly, though, degree by degree, so the frog didn’t notice until it was too late: she was about to boil to death.
The second story was related in All the President’s Men. Woodward and Bernstein, the journalists who investigated the Watergate scandals, said they’d felt like the second frog. With each story from each new source they peeled back one more layer, raised the heat one more degree. They actually became scared: what if this investigation reached the White House? What would that do to the country? But they were in too far to stop; the temperature kept rising.
Now there’s Walkergate, the investigation into illegal campaigning while on company time. That “company” is, notably, both public and taxpayer funded: the Milwaukee County Executive’s office under Scott Walker. In Watergate, the question became one of integrity: what did Nixon know and when did he know it? That question has already come up for now-Governor Walker.
Nixon had tapes, recorded conversations between himself and other high-ranking staffers. He or a staffer physically erased some of the more incriminating recording before the conversations could be made public.
Walker has an electronic trail as well, but one that is harder to erase. His emails, date stamped and word-for-word quotable, are grounds for discussion and investigation. These email conversations might, if the investigation continues to heat up, be grounds for dismissal – or even arrest.

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>Super Bowl Monday, Monday

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>The last time the Patriots met the Giants in the Big Game, I wrote a post the next day. I pulled it up during halftime (sorry, Madonna fans) and reminisced a little.

My excuse for Starbucks went something like this: I’d sure like to get a New York Times to see their sports coverage, so I might as well buy one where I can get good coffee.
I’ve been walking to school more often, but school isn’t far from the downtown Starbucks. I could still do this.
I didn’t see much of Peyton Manning. Last time these two teams met, Peyton was in a box (with camera on his every move) to watch his little brother. This time they’re in his team’s home stadium, but Peyton isn’t there. His injury, potentially career-ending, is a factor, I’m sure. But not cheer on the brother?

What’s it like to be Mom Manning in a household with that much testosterone? Or is she just kind of like Wisconsin women, who know football and cheer as loudly as the men? If her older boys, Cooper and Peyton, are home with her watching the game, I hope they brought the beer.
Last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl, the Patriots had gotten into some trouble earlier in the season for stealing signals by taking video of their opponents. They should have just stuck to Eating the Opponents like we do. We ate both last night, with a New York dish (Chicken Riggies) recommended by one of the reporters covering the Bowl for NY, and our standard New England clam chowder.
Last time I wondered if Belichek was in a hurry to leave the field thinking, “Oh, well, now I can wash that filthy sweatshirt I’ve been wearing superstitiously all season. Might as well get at it right away.” My students recently read and discussed a story about superstitions. I can’t believe I didn’t bring up Bill Belichek’s ratty sweatshirt on the sidelines. Does he ever wash that thing? No, don’t answer that.
There were a lot of flags this year. Super Bowl being the best of the best in the NFL, I didn’t expect to see so many errors. Tom Brady, a safety? Twelve men on the field or in the huddle? By the time a team arrives at the Big Bowl, this kind of penalty ought to be over and done with.
Last time I also predicted that the Giants and Packers would meet again. They did meet in the postseason this year, with an outcome that was sad for those of us around Lambeau Field. Eli, we may meet again. But look out; next time the Packers are bringing their defense.

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>Chuck goes to the Super Bowl – sort of

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Chuck is working in Indianapolis this week. Nope, the Packers didn’t get there. He’s working, though, anyway. The Cliff Notes version is this: the owners of the station needed a satellite truck and an engineer to run it, and “his” was closest to Indy. There it is, folks, the little one on the left.

Here’s the view from the truck. That’s one big parking lot full of TV trucks. Do people tailgate party in Indianapolis? Just wondering.

Here’s the view from – his window and balcony. Folks, all the hotels were booked up by the time Chuck was assigned to the job, so he and his working partner are renting a nearby studio apartment. How near? Take a close look. Introducing their “pet” squirrel, a small furry creature that shows up every morning begging for food.

I’m a bit more concerned about the shop across the street. Chuck might just decide to go browsing for something to bring home.

I guess I wouldn’t mind – as long as he remembers that anything with two wheels is really for me, the loving wife, the only one in the house with a motorcycle drivers’ license.

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>My bio – profile – whatever

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>I enjoy blogging. Writing is a natural form of expression for me. So why, when I have to write about myself, is it so difficult? I had to create an author bio for an upcoming piece on my employer’s corporate blog. Aside from searching for pictures (I’m usually behind the camera), the biggest challenges was — writing.

After an hour, an hour at my desk in which I stared at the screen, shook myself out of my trance to loan out a math book, and took one phone call, I came up with this. I’m not sure I like it. Maybe it’s fine. Maybe it stinks.
I’ll use my real name, of course. Daisy is my bloggy pseudonym and my plurk-twitter persona. I teach, write, and vote (with picture ID, of course) under my real name. Okay, I admit it, I changed a few identifying details for this post, too.
Daisy

Elementary Teacher, grade 5

Middle School Teacher, grade 6 Language Arts and Math

Interests include: music, organic gardening, green living, advocacy for disabilities, playing Trivia games

Daisy graduated from Lovely University, a small liberal arts school in Wisconsin, with a Bachelor of Music degree. She returned to school at University of Wisconsin – GB to earn her elementary teaching license and followed up with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Creative Arts U.

Daisy, better known as Mrs. Teacher, enjoys bringing the arts into her teaching whenever possible. Due to a progressive hearing loss, she no longer teaches music or judges festivals. Teaching at a virtual school offers the opportunity to continue applying her teaching skills and experience while taking advantage of her own personal geekiness. (Letting her personal geek shine? I don’t know. I wanted to keep it light.)

Why she is Passionate about Virtual Schooling

One of Daisy’s favorite aspects of virtual teaching is getting to know parents and students through regular communication. This partnership of learning coaches (usually parents) with teachers provides a uniquely strong support network for students.

Connections Academy continues to evolve as education and technology grow and develop. Daisy enjoys continually learning new ways of mixing technology with the personal touch to help her students reach their greatest potential.


So there you have it, audience. Readers, suggestions?

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Letters to our "Leaders"

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Dear President Lincoln,

You told us that “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I know you meant the nation’s splitting into two, Union and Confederate, fighting brother against brother. Unfortunately, your statement would be apt today in my home state – Wisconsin.
Dear State Senator Ellis,
Do you remember your offhand, spontaneous, condescending statement from last Monday night? No, not the one making all the media where you called a local high school a “sewer”. I’m talking about when you told my friend and professional colleague that if she didn’t like teaching, she should get another job. She informed you in no uncertain terms that we, the dozens of teachers in attendance, love teaching. We hate what you’ve done to teachers.
Dear Soon-to-be-Former Governor Walker,
We love our jobs; we hate how you treat our profession. We used to be public employees, dedicating to educating today’s children, tomorrow’s workforce. Under your rule (reign? You seem to feel all-powerful and kingly), we’ve been changed from public servants to public enemies.
Dear voters;
Bring photo ID to the polls, and be prepared for long lines. Your vote counts! Let’s get this state back to its progressive tradition. Let’s elect leaders who lead by example, not by force.
Let’s elect legislators who lead not by dividing, but by uniting.

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