From a vendor I work with upon reminding him of the original quote for a service “Needed a young princess to remind an old King…”
*Barfs.
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Daily Archives: March 5, 2009
Not a fan of Black History Month
Wait, that’s not right. Not a fan of SEPTA’s Black History Month ad campaign. Come on guys. Instead of spending money on posters, why don’t you take those funds and do something really worthwhile. Like, um, I don’t know. Spruce up the Broad Street Line stations??? Whoops, nm. I guess they’re okay now?
I hate kids
I really do. Anyone who’s taught them for as long as I have will agree. Little children can be the devil. Especially when you’re a new teacher who thinks being “nice” will work. It doesn’t.
Which is why I was surprised at the students I’m working with this semester. I’d long given up trying to “change the world one child at a time.” And having expended myself as an instructor in so many ways with heartbreaking results left me quite the cynic this year. In fact, I swore I wouldn’t put myself through the pain again.
And here I am. Slogging away through algebra with football players whose knowledge base seems to shrink every day. Trying to stress the importance of daily reading to parents whose main priority is to ensure their weekly mani/pedi isn’t neglected. Making flashcards and buying stickers to try to entice the little buggers to learn. But still a bit arrogant in that I’m sure nothing will change.
Ahhh. And then just when you think you’re safe, they start working your way into your heart.
Now that I’m almost done working with the kids, I’ve noticed some have become visibly tense at the though of not receiving tutoring any longer. One asked me what he was supposed to do about college admissions without my help. (No worries, I assured him I’ll still be around.) The football player invited me (in all seriousness and with the best of intent) to see him off to the junior prom in his cream-colored tuxedo along with his family and friends. My first grader started hugging me. And they all started learning things.
It’s really strange. I think I’m falling for them.
I got audited
A couple weeks ago. By the state.
You see, the Philadelphia School District allows parents to apply for private tutoring for their child. They contract with companies. And pay quite a lot for the privilege. The company I work for is paid $50 an hour for each kid they tutor. (It’s no secret. All the parents have to sign documentation that lets them know that.) That ends up being $2000 per child a year. I’m guessing that’s not going to be part of next year’s 10-20-30% budget reductions.
Anyways. So I was audited. By the state. Three former principals came down the libraries and checked us all out. To make sure tutors were actually where we said we were, actually teaching, etc. It was a bit nerve-wracking. But my kids make me look good. Most of them are first-graders anyway, so their cuteness compensates for more than you’d imagine.
After they left, however, one of the librarians pulled me aside. “We’re in a recession,” she said. “Why does it take three people to inspect tutors working for the city?”
I agreed. I’d chatted with the state folks quite a bit after, and they’d mentioned their flight down from Harrisburg and the School District rep that chauffeured them around. Why does it take three people to inspect? I can see two, to perhaps avoid bias, but three?
At the same time, I have to wonder how the School District is coping with cuts that appear to have forced them to cut down on hiring substitutes. I’d considered working as a sub a few days a week during the summer. I have all the necessary paperwork. It’s a no-brainer. But after checking out their site, I realized the application was nowhere to be found. I called their office and the lady on the phone told me they were no longer hiring substitute teachers.
They do hire substitute ASSISTANT teachers, but one doesn’t need a college degree for that.
When I called my closest elementary school, Thurgood Marshall, where I had past experience volunteering, I informed them of the district’s new hiring procedures. “What!” came a credulous voice on the phone, “We need substitutes every day!”
Good to know our kids are learning.
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