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#Post#: 6186--------------------------------------------------
4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Jack Date: June 4, 2018, 3:38 am
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Because I'm only a part-timer, I'm able to get out of a lot of
teacher in-service (not that BCA actually had 'a lot' of it).
There were a couple of times this past year when I did have to
go in for some type of meeting, but some of it didn't apply to
me, while more of it I was able to do at other times.
Today is an exception to that.
First of all, I have to close down my classroom - making sure
I've removed any of my personal property from it. Then I have
to make sure all my student files are caught up. Has it
occurred to you that, in many ways, I'm a special ed teacher?
This year, over 90% of my students had some type of learning
disability or diagnosis. Though many of the students diagnoses
are relatively mild, they are still enough to render the boys as
special needs, which requires extra notations, both on how we
met accommodations for them (a '504 plan' I believe is the
technical term), as well as notes for future teachers. I've
mostly kept up to date on those, and I've snuck a little time
this weekend to do more, but I still want to review them before
closing the files for the summer.
Then I'm supposed to have a couple of meetings. Since I'm not
an actual English teacher, the department head wants to meet
with me for a bit so we can discuss what I have to work into my
classes, and so she can suggest a few sources for me before I
start writing lesson plans for next year. Then Mr. P and Mr. C
and the lady-principals and I have a meeting with a couple of
other teachers about something.
#Post#: 6188--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Zyngaru Date: June 4, 2018, 6:45 am
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Yes, I noticed that you were a "Special Ed Teacher." That was
one of the reasons why I didn't really understand why the
English Head got involved. Special Ed runs under separate
rules. There are things you have to do and things you cannot do
when teaching Special Ed kids, that is different from a regular
English class.
Now that next term you are going to be teaching advanced
classes, I can see the English Head getting more involved with
what you are teaching and how you are teaching it.
The last meeting you mentioned with Mr. P. Mr. C. the other
Principals, with just a couple other teachers. I wonder if it
is going to be another meeting about discipline. I still think
that Mr. P. is trying to find a way to put you into a Vice
Principal role. Even if it is just honorary. Yep, I see a Dean
of Boys role for you next term. You seem to be performing that
role already. So I am interested in hearing what you share
about that meeting.
#Post#: 6193--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Jack Date: June 4, 2018, 4:35 pm
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[quote author=Zyngaru link=topic=609.msg6188#msg6188
date=1528112704]
Yes, I noticed that you were a "Special Ed Teacher." That was
one of the reasons why I didn't really understand why the
English Head got involved. Special Ed runs under separate
rules. There are things you have to do and things you cannot do
when teaching Special Ed kids, that is different from a regular
English class.
[/quote]
Remember that this is a private school. While they still chose
to operate on many of the rules that apply to public schools
things are a bit different. As far as I know, all the boys with
ADHD and related diagnoses are mainstreamed into regular classes
at BCA. In my case, I only say it was special education,
because basically the entire class shared the diagnosis.
[hr]
I walked away from the last day of school with a ton of
homework.
I mentioned before that BCA has had a student body growth of
something like 33% in the last few years (from 600 to 800
students). Because BCA is willing to take in discipline
problems from other schools, the higher the grade, the larger
the number of students. I want to say this years graduating
senior class was 96 students. While one class out of 12 should
be about 8 1/3%, that means the senior class was actually 12% of
the student body. I found out today that next fall, there will
be more new students starting than basically since the school
opened. A number of those students are boys who've been
diagnosed with ADHD. Because of that, BCA is looking to hire 7
(more, I think) new teachers - 2 for secondary (middle and high
school) who can hopefully teach multiple subjects, 4 males who
can teach either upper elementary or lower secondary (both are
needed), and someone to teach third grade.
They again offered me a full-time position, asking me to take
either the new principal's position or to take a class of sixth
grade boys.
I declined. I might change my mind later (doubt it), and I
might regret it (probably), but I didn't think about it (much).
They had expected that, and I don't think they minded too much,
since they've already built my ADHD and advanced lit classes
into their schedule.
They did have a back up for me.
The three principles (Mr. P and the two lady principals) have
been interviewing for the new principal position. Each
principal has two main spheres - discipline for a certain group
and something else. Considering how things stand right now,
they are going to hire a man to deal with the male elementary
students (probably - leaving 7th grade and up to Mr. P most of
the time), but he's also going to be responsible for setting our
special needs goals and standards, with a focus on ADHD and
related diagnoses.
The thing is, after sorting through the initial applications,
they still had 12 possibilities. When contacted for interviews,
10 of them were still interested. The 3 principals did those
interviews and eliminated 4 more, but they couldn't decide on
the other six. They want to send two or three to the trustees
for a final interview. Since they want me to continue helping
out in the office as I'm available (if it's still needed with
the new person), and because of my experience as a businessman,
they've asked me to do an interview with those six, using me to
break the current logjam. The trustees will then make the final
choice.
They have also asked me to review some courses on ADHD
education. They want to update the in-service class that all
their teachers have to take about ADHD, and they also want
something more intense for the boys 4th - 9th teachers. I had
actually already planned to do something like that this summer,
so it's not a huge imposition.
Finally, the reason I met with the English Department head today
is that she wants my feedback on the general curriculum, with
the intent of making all classes more 'boy friendly', especially
the grades that are gender segregated.
So I just wanna know - if summer's starting, why do I have such
a big pile of homework?
#Post#: 6195--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Zyngaru Date: June 4, 2018, 5:00 pm
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[quote author=Jack link=topic=609.msg6193#msg6193
date=1528148146]
So I just wanna know - if summer's starting, why do I have such
a big pile of homework?
[/quote]
It's called summer school. You've been a bad, bad boy.
#Post#: 6199--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: jackson Date: June 4, 2018, 10:27 pm
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Please reconsider, I think you'd be great for the position Jack
and good for the school!
#Post#: 6202--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: db105 Date: June 5, 2018, 2:03 am
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[quote author=jackson link=topic=609.msg6199#msg6199
date=1528169255]
Please reconsider, I think you'd be great for the position Jack
and good for the school!
[/quote]
He only has 24 hours a day, Jackson. I already don't know how he
manages, with the large family, the businesses and the teaching
job.
#Post#: 6209--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Jack Date: June 5, 2018, 3:57 am
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[quote author=db105 link=topic=609.msg6202#msg6202
date=1528182205]
[quote author=jackson link=topic=609.msg6199#msg6199
date=1528169255]
Please reconsider, I think you'd be great for the position Jack
and good for the school!
[/quote]
He only has 24 hours a day, Jackson. I already don't know how he
manages, with the large family, the businesses and the teaching
job.
[/quote]
DB's exactly right.
I had the chance to be a vice-principal when I was teaching the
first time. I doubt I would have been considered for the job at
that point (I was barely 28 and I didn't have the normal
qualifications). Our VP had cancer, and there were days he just
couldn't make it to work at times. There were two of us that
covered most of what he missed, and there were good parts and
bad parts to it. Any chance I did have of getting the job, I
put aside because I was ready to move to the comic store full
time.
I am at a different point in my life now, and BCA is very
different from Kearns. It is more tempting now than it was back
then. On the other hand, my life is full right now. My brother
Jason handles most of my businesses - supervising the managers
who supervise the day to day operations. Likewise, I can depend
on Jason and Daniel to make sure the comic stores are running.
Still, I do take a hands on approach to opening the new
businesses (like I have with the jump house and the
Continental), and I do try to spend at least a few minutes with
each boy each day, and teaching does require attention to both
what we're doing and to the boys.
Taking the VP job just isn't an option for me right now, because
it would mean I didn't have time available to handle anything
else that came up. More importantly, that's basically the only
quiet time I ever get - time for me to nap or read or spank Troy
or hang out with Garrett, and it's that quiet time that lets me
handle everything else.
So yeah, while I do think I'd do the job, and while I think I'd
really enjoy it - and not just for the chance to have different
boys lowering their pants to be paddled and to watch ticked off
dads bearing their sons bottoms for me - there's just no way
it's going to happen with my life like it is right now.
[hr]
On the other hand, I did review the applications/files on the
other candidates. I'm certainly glad I didn't have anything to
do with hiring Mr. Witte or Mr. Warren, because two of the
applicants are younger, pretty darned cute guys.
#Post#: 6212--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Zyngaru Date: June 5, 2018, 8:38 am
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[quote author=Jack link=topic=609.msg6209#msg6209
date=1528189056]
On the other hand, I did review the applications/files on the
other candidates. I'm certainly glad I didn't have anything to
do with hiring Mr. Witte or Mr. Warren, because two of the
applicants are younger, pretty darned cute guys.
[/quote]
Well Jack! Just be sure you let both of them understand that
you have an open door policy and if/when they feel they have
went out of bounds, you will be their for them to spank them
back into proper form. Say it jokingly of course, but with
enough truism for them to think about it when the time comes.
Everyone messes up and so will they. ;D ;D ;D
You could be the Principal to the staff. Not much paperwork but
could be fun. :o :o :o
#Post#: 6257--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Jack Date: June 7, 2018, 3:15 pm
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I have finished the six interviews I was asked to do.
By the way, I did these interviews by Skype.
My favorite was a young man (actually 27, looked generic 20s)
who... matriculated (?) with his masters this spring. He's been
teaching five years now in southern Louisiana. He likes the
city, but hates the heat and humidity. He's from the Shreveport
area, and he was looking for a job somewhere closer to the
latitude he's used to (further away from the Gulf).
The thing I like about him is that he specifically stated that
he supports corporal punishment. He feels it's as important to
set and enforce limits with consequences as it is to set goals
and rewards. Too often, I see people start talking about
discipline, and all they ever offer is advice on what to do when
a kid is well-behaved.
I talked to him probably twice as long as I did any of the
others, probably because he was willing to talk. He's the
oldest of five kids, and his closest sibling is a sister about
three years younger than he is. He doesn't remember his parents
living together very much, but his mom re-married when he was 7.
His next (half) brother is 8 years younger than he is. He was
ADHD growing up (still has a few symptoms, but says he's learned
to compensate for them and isn't on any meds), but both his
younger adopted/half brothers had it worse than he did. His
step-dad was a strong believer in the carrot and stick approach,
and he feels it did a lot to help him, and he helped raise the
younger two boys. His final and youngest sibling (actually an
adopted cousin, I think he said) was thought to be severely ADHD
for a while, thought they finally decided he had ASD (I think it
would have once been called Asperger's Syndrome).
Anyway, I liked him on a personal level (not just because he's
just on the handsome side of cute), I liked what he had to say
about discipline and goals, and I liked some of his ideas for a
classroom with a large percentage of ADHD students, as well as
for mainstreaming ADHD students into regular classrooms. My
problem is that he has no experience as a vice-principal, so I
just wasn't able to recommend him. However, I know BCA is
looking for new teachers, especially with the background and
education he has, so I've recommended they hire him, even if
they have to offer a bit more to get him here.
Of the other five people I interviewed, there were two of them I
gave negative reviews, and by that, I mean I ranked them 7 and 8
out of six.
Let me remind you that I still consider myself an Evangelical
Christian. However, while that's what this guy claimed to be,
the feeling I got from him is that he's actual a modern
Pharisee. I try not to comdemn people for their political
reviews, unless those views are simply abhorrent to my belief
system. There was just something about this guy - the way he
phrased a few things - that made me think he's rigid and not
interested in hearing anyone else's views, and I didn't feel
like he'd be a good fit.
The other guy I rated badly was kind of the opposite problem.
For someone who was applying for something that's basically a
discipline position in a school that not only uses, but strongly
supports, corporal punishment, this guy seemed proud of the fact
that he currently works at a school where it's not employed.
While I think that can be acceptable, it certainly doessn't make
him the right person for this job.
My top choice ended up being my last interview. I wasn't able
to talk to him until today for very good reason - he took his
kids to an amusement park, then the San Antonio Zoo, then a
water park, and today was his first day back.
He and his family are from the Dallas area, and he and his wife
both have family around here. His wife is a registered nurse,
so it's not too hard for her to find a job. They decided that
he should start looking in this area, and we are the second
school to contact him since he did.
They have three kids - all boys, 13, 11, and 10. He introduced
them over Skype (good looking boys). When they had left him
alone, he explained that the two younger boys receive spankings
for most things except the very minor. While the older boy is
still subject to corporal punishment, they also use a mix of
other methods with him - mainly restriction and short
groundings. I told him how BCA handles CP, especially for boys
sent to the office, and he liked the idea that he wouldn't have
to judge how hard to hit a boy with just two swats, over the
seat of his pants. He wants to make an impression, but nothing
too serious. He even used the phrase 'a padding should hurt,
but it shouldn't harm,' which is very much as I've phrased it.
So, i attached the files to an e-mail and sent copies with my
notes to all three current principals as well as the head
trustee. It'll be interesting to see what happens now.
#Post#: 6260--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 June 2018 - Last Day
By: Zyngaru Date: June 7, 2018, 4:42 pm
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The first young man you talked about from Shreveport, La.
seemed nice from what you said. I do wonder if he knows how hot
it gets in Texas. Yes, probably less humidity than the swamps
of Shreveport, but heat. I know they say, well it's a dry heat.
That is true, but it is still HOT!
The last man you discussed. I am assuming his boys would go to
BCA since their dad would be working there if he gets the job.
He might want to talk to his 13 year old son, about BCA and it's
paddling rule, because he might not get it at home anymore, but
at school, if he messes up, he would be. So he would need to be
prepared for that eventuality.
I first wrote this as an assumption, but instead I'll put it as
a question. Would these boys get paddled by their dad at school
when needed, or would someone else do it, since he is their dad.
Namely, you?
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