Ministry of Silly Hats

Ministry of Silly Hats, originally uploaded by Blog-Sothoth.

Cha had a party last Saturday for some of the artists she works with in the public school system, and they brought some of their youngins over.

Then Cha brought out the silly hat box.

Misc

Man, I am loving this spring. Lots of rain, cool days, and wind. I know many think it's a drag, but I work in a building with no AC. I'll take this weather until the second week of June.

Barely half of my students are coming to school on any given day. They don't come if it rains, they don't come if it's sunny, they are done with 8th grade--except for those who will be back in 8th grade next year. I am done with this year also. Can't get up much enthusiasm any more. Lukie writes the lessons, I deliver 'em. Rinse and repeat.

Not doing much here of late--I apologize. But coming down the pike are my thoughts on: about 8 books, the 2nd season of BSG, and my first year as a Balto City teacher.

Right now, however, I'm off to meet Silenus for Resurrection Ales at the Brewer's Art. He's back in town from NYC, clerking in the judicial system down here. I'm going to give him some names to watch out for.

Rock!

Move Like Seamus has a new line-up and a new set-list and we are playing our first gig at Mick O'Shea's June 6th. Originally we were scheduled to play the 6th and 7th, but a mysterious double-booking happened and we are only playing Friday that weekend. You need to be there. For $3 you get 3 hours of bash-your-mouth rockin' Celtic tunes, rock anthem covers, and originals. If you can't make the June show mark your calendars for July 11th and/or July 12th.

I for one am terribly excited--having been a fan of the band for many a moon I now find myself on the other side of the music stands. I must say these cats can play.

[Photo by Danielle-Marie Tompkins]

8 days a week

One of my favorite students--the kid who always asked about my clothes, who often tried to twist my nipple, who said funny charming things--has been kicked out of school for dealing drugs on the premises. I've seen him dealing in the halls before, and have seen the cops in the building see him dealing in the halls and ignore him doing so.

But last week there were students getting high in a classroom and that apparently crossed a line regarded as beyond the pale even at Booker T. So W. MC is out the building and will be home-schooled by his father, who cares not a lick about his son joining a gang and assisting at beat-downs and dealing drugs to other middle-schoolers.

15 instructional days left.

Tweety takes charge

I have trashed Chris Matthews here in the past. He's one of the reasons I can't watch political "coverage" any more. But he actually goes after a wingnut here, criticizing his lack of historical knowledge and at one point shouting "this is pathetic"! He compares the guest's vacuity to that of White House spokesperson Dana Perino, who didn't know anything about the Cuban Missile Crisis. He almost acts like a journalist.

#29

These are the kind of stories that are so well-wrought I find myself a couple days later wondering if the characters are OK: How is Amit doing? I hope Rahul pulls through. I love the little details Lahiri packs in, details careless readers might miss, details which resonate. I often read carelessly these days, but Lahiri slows me down, makes me pay attention. I love her sinuous sentences, and found myself starting a long story at 11:30pm, thinking, "I'll get 10 pages in before sleep," only to still be up at 1 more than 100 pages later. Her writing makes me de-Lahiri-iously happy.

Day 169

Haven't kept up with the school day postings of late. In fact, haven't really been doing much here at the 'blog for a few weeks. Too busy winding down from the accelerated Master's, etc.

Today Lukie got banged in the eyepiece by a sixth grader while trying to break up a fight. She's fine, but aggravated. Normally Lukie wouldn't press charges on a child for such an attack, especially given that the girl was trying to punch around Lukie to hit her opponent, but because of the state of things at Booker T. she's going to write up every detail and go ahead and press charges. We have to get everything down on paper every day and make sure the City knows exactly what's happening in these schools.

Last week when I left on Thursday a 7th grader was attacking a uniformed police officer out front. The officer got knocked on her back before a colleague started spraying mace and there was a crowd of middle schoolers hacking and crying.

Students from a different school were beating two of our students with a four by four board outside. The board had a baseball bat handle lathed into its end for easy gripping. Usually these fights break up after the intervention of adults, but this one kept going. The kids with the board attempted to follow their quarry into the building.

Gang activity, mob fights, and unruly disrespectful behavior still reign at Booker T. The principal has taken to standing in the hall with a bullhorn at the end of the day, but I never see him when kids are actually in the building.

The things I've seen this year!

They offered me a job for next year, but too late. I already signed my contract to head a few blocks east and teach over by MICA in a much calmer middle school. I will miss my time at Booker T. I will never forget it.

Netflixed

According to this film, if Elizabeth I hadn't gone ages without an orgasm, Spain would have easily conquered England as expected. Because she's got a big wood on for Clive Owen which goes unreciprocated, however, the Virgin Queen sends forth a howling wind from her empty womb to punish the invaders.

Needless to say, I didn't like it much, though Elizabeth: The Golden Age has its moments, and some wicked cool costumes.