This past week has probably been one of the worst weeks I’ve had as a teacher. I worked 17 hours on Monday, had my observation/evaluation on Tuesday, and was punched in the face on Friday. I don’t even want to go into it any farther because I know the kids from my school occasionally read this site. L.P. always checks this site. If you’re there L.P. make sure you make a comment. Remember what I taught you about web safety! Don’t say anything you’ll regret. Anyways Saturday was super neat. This is what I did last Saturday:
That was a most rewarding experience. I’m too tired and lazy from the week to blog more.
4 Comments
at 7:48 pm - 23rd May 2007 Permalink
Jayson, I coudn’t see it’s “Darfur” written on the sign. I had to click on the little photo on the homepage to see the “Darfur” tag.
at 1:19 pm - 8th June 2007 Permalink
I’ve gotten to the point where, when I see SAVE D_R__R, my mind automatically jumps to SAVE DARFUR. That’s a testament to the “success” of the SAVE DARFUR slogan, I guess.
TRUTH: I’ve expended exactly zero energy in the search for info about what’s happening in Darfur.
TRUTH: I’m not even sure what Darfur is.
BEST GUESS: Darfur is an African country.
TRUTH: I’m not sure what’s happening in Darfur.
BEST GUESS: It’s a place where genocide is happening. Thousands of people are dying there every week, and it’s absurd, and the USA could be doing “so much more” but “chooses not to.” What’s happening in Darfur is so massive and hellish that not even Oprah, operating solo, can make a dent. This is a problem bigger than Oprah. Which means it’s a giant effing problem. And the USA could do so much more but is not!!!
TRUTH: I could do something for Darfur.
BUT: What am I supposed to do, really?
ME GOING THERE IN PERSON: helps nobody. Bad idea. Going to Darfur in person not only massively upsets the course of my daily life, it forces the people of Darfur to suddenly have to deal with my presence. Oh great. Here’s Brian Neal McMullen, aka mcMüller of crudefutures.typepad.com. What the hell are we supposed to do with this guy?
ME ADOPTING A DARFUR BABY: is a pretty egotistical notion. Even war-surrounded babies have parents. But what about orphans? Is a Darfur orphan better off in Park Slope, Brooklyn than he is in Darfur? Maybe. Would I be a good enough dad? With some hard work, I am confident that I could be a competent father for any child, including an orphan from Darfur or from somewhere else.
ME SENDING MONEY TO DARFUR: Darfur is one of seventeen million places that needs between $25 and $500 from me, annually. Like Mengele, we all must select.
at 2:13 pm - 8th June 2007 Permalink
In a world full of misery, is eating an ice cream cone unconscionable? Am I required to put down the ice cream cone and pick up a shovel, or a hammer, or a checkbook? I don’t think so. Not all the time, anyway.
I believe that a sad man in Darfur wants me to eat ice cream cones — all the cones I want. Because wouldn’t he want that for himself? Six ice cream cones a summer, if they were available at a reasonable price? Wouldn’t he buy and eat them, and enjoy them, amid the tragedy?
I believe that people who “live in misery” are capable of a full range of emotions. A prisoner can laugh and love as well as a free man. But that doesn’t mean he should be a prisoner. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t insinuate myself in the situation. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t dollop a tasty scoop of Brian McMullen’s Help on the Darfur situation.
I believe that most people in Darfur would rather not be me. I believe they’d rather not live where I live. I believe they’d rather not live how I live. I believe they’d rather be themselves. And they’d rather live where they live. And they’d rather I didn’t assume that their troubles are so huge while my troubles are so small.
I believe there are tragedies in my life that, if articulated a certain way, would make schoolchildren want to give me money. A great writer could make anybody sound like the saddest case in the world. A great writer, if so inclined, could have hundreds of schoolchildren giving a dollar each, every month, to anybody.
Does a man in Darfur want me to think about him? Does he want me to assume stuff about him? Does he want my help? Does he want help from anybody? Is he mad at me? Does he envy me? Does he feel sorry for me? Does he want me to mind my own business? Does he wish we were friends?
What would you say if you received a telegram from a man in Darfur that says, “I feel sorry for you. Here is $20.”
I’m not saying you shouldn’t give money to (massive non-profit organizations that claim to aim to) help Darfur. I’m really not.
What I am saying is this: everything I’ve said above.
(It’s okay to think aloud.)
at 9:21 am - 26th July 2007 Permalink
Are you a teacher what did you do to get punched? How do you survive on a teacher’s pay?
interested - australia
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