Teaching healthy skepticism about teaching

I thought this was a satirical piece when I started reading it, but it's a true account of the system in place to provide "time-out" for incompetent teachers. Unfortunately, time-out can last for years while arduous trial proceedings drag on, and teachers get paid for every penny of their time. It does tie into the larger debate about tenure/how to evaluate quality in teachers, but it may make you wish you didn't know that things were run this way.

For more on issues in education that don't have an easy answer, this is a New York Times discussion from a few weeks ago. One commentator refers to the "charade" of higher education, while others laud education schools, or discuss TFA and teacher evaluation. A lot is covered, because there is a lot to cover. However, my lukewarm experience in grad school, combined with what many have termed my "zero tolerance policy on BS," leads me to applaud this writer's take on education degrees (made even more telling by the fact that he himself is a professor of education):

"A master’s degree in most subfields in education...adds little or nothing to students’ knowledge or practical skills...if you ask graduating master’s students [as opposed to undergrads] who have managed to escape indoctrination (because they are fortunately endowed with a wide streak of skepticism), they will tell you that they learned nothing new. Yes, many teachers with master’s degrees in education are more skilled teachers. But this is not because they got a master’s degree. They went for a master’s degree because they are intelligent, were already skilled teachers (self-taught), and had the gumption to go back to school."

For more on accidental indoctrination into silly things, as well as a good representation of what an ed class can feel like:

TGIF

In celebration of Friday, here are some thoughts on what we (or some of us) used to do on Friday nights. I was thrilled to recently discover that a friend (who will remain nameless unless he wishes to identify himself) shared my same 90s television-watching pattern. I don't think I have ever had someone bring up the show Perfect Strangers; in fact, I wouldn't have been surprised if it turned out to be something I dreamed up.

The premise, from imdb.com: "A high strung and cynical man's life is never the same when his naive but good-natured cousin comes to America to live with him." Naive + good-natured almost always leads to my favorite happening: wacky hijincks.




I can't actually watch this clip again, because it makes me sad that this is how I spent my childhood. Not only is everything about it 80's-fabulous, it could very well be something made up by Family Guy (a la "Gumbel to Gumbel"). I'm pretty sure all the episodes are on YouTube, if anyone wants to do an in-depth analysis of Balki as the "othered" foreigner in U.S. culture, or just if you're super-bored. For other shows with a hip opening theme, all of which may secretly be the same show, check out Step by Step, Family Matters, Family Ties, and Full House.

Pupusas, please!

Last week I had the chance to stuff my face at local Caribbean restaurant Cazón Tropical. Cazón is a type of shark, not a variation on "casa," as I mistakenly told people for a long time. Life hint: learn another language, or just tell people you know one, and they'll believe anything you say. Anyway, we were there in time to catch the U.S. vs. Mexico soccer match. In case you're wondering, the closed-captioning is right on the money, as they do take the time to write out "GOOOOOOOOOOOL!" for as many lines as necessary. In addition to the excitement of the game, the food, was great. Here is an appetizer of 3 bean-and-cheese pupusas (more on pupusas below) along with horchata, a rice/milk/cinammon/really good drink.






Pupusas are pretty hard to describe to someone who hasn't had one, especially since the dough, cheese and beans make it like a lot of other things that you could get at similar restaurant. Ideally they are crispy on the outside and soft and cheesy on the inside. Here is a helpful video, though I warn you that it's all easier said (and watched) than done.

The Working World

Weird fetishists unite! I've always been put off by people in large character costumes (they can see you but you can't see them!) but I didn't think they had it this bad. I briefly worked as a Crash Test Dummy at the Mum Festival*, and I never had such a questionable experience. Mostly I wandered around, sweated a lot, and promoted car safety by waving.

While I can't imagine doing that as a job, I came across an article that outlines plenty of weird things that people do for a living in this country. Click through to find out how to get self-righteous messages saved up for your heathen friends who won't go with you in the Rapture, and where to get implants for your male dog to make him feel like a full canine once again.

My favorite, and one that I do want to try out, is the Something Store. You give them $10, and they send you...well, what does it sound like they send you? I was scoffed at by a few friends, but I'm tempted to do it. I've read a few complaints, but it seems to me that if you have high standards and don't like surprises, then you'd best stay away.

*Footnote: This is a sentence that no one has ever said before.

Goodbye, old friend

Time to say goodbye to the Subaru. I'm bummed, but I'm on to "greener" pastures. Get it? GET IT? Anyway, in cleaning out my car, I found a fantastic collection of stuff tucked in nooks and crannies and wanted to share.



July 2008 - A list of things to do before we moved into our current place. Yes, I look for any opportunity to go to Big Lots. What of it?


2004 - a receipt from Marshalls in Bristol, which no longer exists.


$5.35. I was certainly hoping for more.

I found no fewer than 17 writing utensils. Most of the pens worked, and I think that one shiny pencil is a Lisa Frank relic.



1998 - Tickets to a Monet exhibit in Boston. I'm sure that I took the opportunity to enjoy a cultural event and squandered it in a lovely teenage way by bitching about my feet hurting the whole time.


2004 - Hotel key from a lovely joint in White Haven, PA, just off of I-80. I had to stay there overnight on a drive from Ohio to Connecticut due to excessive ice and cars smashing into other cars. I ordered chicken fingers at 1:30 in the morning and then lay awake under the covers wondering when I would get axe murdered. Good times.



Summer 2003 - My distinguished nametag from my first semi-real job, where I got lots of fine CT training in having rich people complain, to be continued in later years through nannying and selling expensive ice cream.


June 2009 - a mini umbrella from Aquí es Mexico, a super-awesome family-owned Mexican/Salvadorean restaurant. We tried out their newest dessert option, churros with ice cream. Seeing as it's deep fried dough, you can't really do wrong, but these were so, so good. The novelty of the umbrella in the ice cream may have helped.


Really really old - New Britain Rockcats seat cushions stored under the hatch floor. Nothing better than traveling to the Land of the Lost Consonant to watch some minor league ball and be creeped out or delighted by meeting Rocky the Rockcat.




2007 - This is a special gift that came in a package of galletas surtidos (mixed cookies) that I bought as refreshments for a group English class. The CD provided us with endless hours of entertainment at the office, especially when the chorus of Spanish-speaking children sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, or the classic "Dim, Dim." I can't find these anywhere online and I may have to resort to high-tech methods to get them posted.



2002 (?) - This is a Guster mix that I made. Yes, a mix CD. Before iPods. Taking it one step further, we had a program that let you design your own CD labels. I was particularly proud of this one, and I realized that I've used the same style on advertising posters I've made in previous jobs: Use one picture as the background, type out the info, and then take a nap. Very easy.

2007 - Remember all those words I learned in my continued studies Chinese class? Yeah, me neither.



No idea when or where these tissues are from, but the monkeys sure are cute.


hopefully 2009 - I remember loving this flavor in fifth grade. Nothing's changed.

2008 - Slip with the call numbers for Reviving Ophelia. Mildly interesting, though outdated book. Terrible class. I literally had to do a book report on it. Yes, you're reading the date right; this was for grad school. Good news: I got an A.



You may heard the urban legend of the girl who went to a job fair one day. Without a nice bag, and not wanting to look frumpy, she decided to put her keychain, wallet, and phone in the car, and just carry around the key to the car with her resumés. She told herself she wouldn't lose it, she wouldn't lose it, she just wouldn't. Ten minutes later, it was definitely gone. After scouring the parking lot, asking at the front desk, but before crawling around on the floor in front of potential employers, she walked the 45 minutes to a place that had a phone and computer. Those who were around that day say it was about 100 degrees. Though she had to explain multiple times that she couldn't just get the car unlocked to get the key, that she had locked all of her things in the car and essentially thrown out the key, she persevered. With prayers and many many many forceful phone calls, the magical Subaru fairies eventually took pity on her and granted her a new key, at no charge. Her tale is one of perseverance, but also stupidity, as she thought the key she had lost was the only one in existence. With the Subaru gone, this other key is what remains of her legacy, as she found it in the bottom of the glove compartment while cleaning out the car.



Please share any other fond memories that you may have, or weird stuff you've found in your own car. I'm wondering how a site called crapifoundinmycar.com might take off. Kind of like postsecret.com or that site where people post lost gloves, but with a different twist of automotive memories.

Puppies in Prison

Having only ever watched part of another episode of Oprah, I marveled at the consistency I've seen this far. Both times, Oprah spent most of the episode crying. She talked about her dog. (I shouldn't know that her dog's name is Sadie, but she said it enough times that it would be hard to forget). She talked about herself. In fact, she managed to take a fascinating topic and make it mostly about herself. Glenn Close didn't help.

All the fanfare aside, I was blown away by Glenn Close's reason for being on the show. Specifically, she has helped make a documentary about Puppies Behind Bars, a program that uses prison inmates to train puppies to become service dogs. Not only is this a big contribution to the tricky subject of prison system issues and reform, it marks a nice turnaround from the days when Glenn used to use puppies to make coats.

Of course, Glenn Close managed to get all political by hawking an odd dog chew toy (the footprint of a soldier's boot colored like the American flag). And Oprah managed to bring it full circle back to herself by joshing about how she certainly needed one, since Sadie was chewing on her Prada shoes earlier. Oh, can't we all relate to that wacky, everyday scenario! At least between the moments of self-absorption and over-emotion, there was a story and a program worth learning about.

Lemon White Chocolate Biscotti

This was a really easy treat from Cooking Light. In the same vein as coconut and raisins, white chocolate seems to be a make-or-break ingredient for some people. However, there are so many other flavors that the white chocolate isn't overwhelming. Fun fact: One piece of biscotti is called a biscotto.

Here is a link to the recipe. Below are some hopefully enticing pictures of various parts of the process.

Keyboard cat

Things that make it hard to finish a comps project due at 3:00 p.m. on Friday:

1. Adopt ridiculously cute kittens on Tuesday.
2. Play with kittens when writing should be happening the rest of the week.
3. Naptime at 1:30 p.m. Friday: