What's The Point?

See I don't understand why "The System" changes itself for the purpose of changing - I don't mind change - Oh, sure at first I may balk and cry a bit, but that is just human nature...for the most part I am all for change. I move furniture as much as most people change their clothes. I like to view the same space from different perspectives. In my classroom I like to move my desk around. If the mojo in the room is getting negative, sometimes a little Feng Shui (is that how it is spelled) well, changing the furniture around makes a big difference. It brings a fresh perspective to the situation - and sometimes when we view a problem in a different light the solution is evident. What was once obscured becomes obvious. Changing the position of my bed gives me a new room. Sure, I know it is the same room and I am only moving things not really changing them - However, in my mind changing the arrangement of furniture changes how I see the room so the room becomes "new" for me. It's not like we can move every three months - though I do believe my family moved almost that often when I was a young'un. One time I tried to drive down every street we lived on in Malone, but I forgot or I got lost, or maybe it just became a boring endeavor - Aldona Mae thinks she has moved 43 times in 43 years - it wasn't quite that much, but it was a lot. Aldona Mae's exemplary packing skills are a result of her organizational abilities not practice making perfect. I don't necessarily enjoy change everywhere - I don't like new shoes. New shoes are not comfortable - I do not like to get my hair cut - no sireeeeee - getting my hair cut is not change I like - Changing the color of my hair, that's cool (yes, with the exception of the oompa loompa red I had this past spring, that was pretty awful) When the seasons change, that is nice - Even here in So Cal, there is a noticeable change of the seasons, and it is nice. Now fall is around. It is colder and the leaves do change colors and fall to the ground. Do you think fall earned its name from the falling leaves? I wonder how the seasons were named. Spring because things spring up - I don't know the etymology (is that the right word) for summer - is it Greek for hot and winter Latin for cold - However, if you think about it - Some areas have no noticeable change in temperature from summer to winter so they would not name summer because it was hotter than winter - In the desert there are no trees, so do they have fall? Shucks, this has opened a whole new line of thinking...my mind can meander to such places - how funny. The change which prompted my original thought is the one LAUSD has made in the report card system. The previous system worked just fine. Though somewhat time intensive, it served it's purpose - What came before the one before that I don't remember - but the last system was just fine - Now they have changed the system of reporting grades. I don't like this change. The first reason I don't like the change is because I am not able to find the link to log on to the system so I can enter my grades - and they are due tomorrow. A system which is so convoluted it prevents me from even getting into it - well, I figure that is not a great system. The previous system had a link, you logged on, you entered your grades, you entered some numbers which would translate to words in the comment section, you printed out the report, you turned it in, someone signed it, and that was that - Well, actually after your report was signed you were given one copy of report cards for use during parent conferences - there was a flaw there because you need two copies of the report cards, one for the parent and one for the cum. Since we are not allowed to use the copy machine, making another copy was a chore - When they made one copy to give us, why wouldn't they just press 2? How much harder would that be? That is another issue - yet, a place where change would be a good idea. Now we have a new system and I cannot find the link to sign into it and I can't do my report cards and they are due tomorrow - did I mention they are due tomorrow? No, I did not put it off until the last minute. I have been trying to figure it out for a week now. Sometimes I am like a man lost on a road trip - I won't stop and ask for directions. Tomorrow I will have to ask for directions - eeeeee, I don't like that. First, it will give the appearance of having put off the assignment until the last minute (which is not the case). Second, I don't even know who to ask. I reckon a fellow teacher is my best bet. If I had my phone list I could call someone tonight and maybe they could tell me where to go - to go to sign on Eileen, not where to go as in "Bite Me!" That is a funny expression you have there - you use the expression as a voice of displeasure towards someone else, yet if you think about it - should someone actually follow through and "bite you" you would be the one in pain. You might rethink using that expression, unless of course there is a side of you I do not want to know about who is into the whole biting thing - get that picture out of my head - quick! Think about saying F you to someone - is that an invitation? Some might take it as such - what would one do if the invitation was accepted? Maybe we should not say that anymore. I don't like the F word anyway - just something about that word, it bothers me...I reckon I am just a prude - I read somewhere it is best to say "Thank-you" when trying to express displeasure - that seems odd - but you should try it - like if someone is being rude or ranting and you just say "Thank-you." Out of habit they respond your welcome and everyone leaves happy. I do that. Sometimes someone is going on and on and on about some inane thing - then when they pause for a breath I say; "Thank-you." Most of the time they say; "Your welcome." Then they smile and walk away. I wonder if they wonder why they are saying your welcome and if the subsequent wondering causes them to forget what it was they were ranting about in the first place.Or maybe they feel good about themselves because they said your welcome which would indicate they did something nice and they feel good about doing something nice - I don't know who thought of it but I recommend trying it - just for kicks - you know what else you should do? Which would be more difficult for those living in cold climates on slippery roads - when you get the chance though - roll your window down and turn the radio up and drive a few miles above the posted speed limit and sing really loud - I don't have electric windows or I would roll down all of my windows - I just roll down the driver's window and the wind blows my hair all about (which doesn't even matter to me) It is invigorating, really it is. Even if it is cold, just crank the heat and let the fresh air circulate through your brain - I like that. It is fun! Shucks, I have to figure out this whole report card system - they changed a perfectly functioning system and now I can't use the new and improved system - that makes no sense. Tie up sneakers were just fine, then they made slip ons and then those Velcro strap sneakers - those Velcro strap sneakers really make me mad! Do we need to lower our expectations any lower? Are parents so pressed for time they cannot teach their children to tie their shoes. Learning to tie your shoes is a wonderful accomplishment. As a toddler, that first time you tie your own shoes - that is a big milestone - I remember how proud I was. Now kids pull the Velcro strap, Whoopee! Let's have a party, Lisa pulled a Velcro strap. Please sneakers with shoe laces worked just fine for a gazillion years, leave it alone! When LAUSD lost federal funding because they had too many teachers working on Emergency Permits they changed the name of the permit - Changing the name of the document will not make the classroom teacher any more qualified to teach - that cracks me up. Lower the bar hoping to fool people into believing you have raised the bar - probably sad really because it works. "Oh these teachers are working on intern credentials not emergency credentials so they are really much better teachers." Intern sounds more intelligent than emergency so the federal government said OK. Everyone was happy. How silly isn't it? How can they cut off unemployment benefits23 days before Christmas? That is wrong! Perhaps they could have waited just one more month. Cut off the benefits in January - at least allow people the holiday season before they become homeless. I'm just saying wouldn't that have been a more thoughtful thing to do? Ah, no one listens to me.
Probably best, especially on nights like tonight when I am unable to complete my report cards due to the new system - Oh, and June - what's up for Monday? Your Pats going to beat up my poor little Jets? Yeah, your right they probably will. Somehow the Jets have been winning but they have been playing for crap - I don't know how they have arrived at a 9 -2 record - smoke and mirrors. Alright, I gotta go figure out how to use this new and improved system.