Deja Vous Part Deux

So a bit of the difficulty of this teaching scenario is that there are a handful of elementary students that know me as Jenn… like my friends Darci and Paul’s son, Max, who is 5 and won’t do anything unless you give him good reason to believe this it really is the best idea ever. And there kind of has to be a little something in it for him too… like, perhaps, being in on a secret that NO ONE else has the privilege of knowing… which is the route I took when prepping him for his music class experience the next day… the one I would be subbing. I said, “Max, tomorrow I will be in your music class, but no one knows my name is Jenn, so my name tomorrow has to be ‘Miss Swift’ “ Because Max would be the kid that, because he knows my name is Jenn, would call me Jenn and not call me Miss Swift like the other kids should just because… and we'd have to have a discussion about it. So it was best to do the prep work necessary. Max also speaks “adult” very well and feels it is important to be on par with you, because, well, truth be told, kids his age are really beneath him. So Max played along the next day. He did very well, although every time he called me “Miss Swift” it was like an inside joke to him… Except, that’s all out the window this week because he got home from last Tuesday’s class and this was the conversation he had with his mom…

“Here’s the thing…” Max says. “I asked everyone and they all know her name is Jenn. They all knopw. We don’t have to keep it a secret!”

So, we’ll see how Kindergarten goes this week.

Deja Vous

I don’t know how I ever thought I would escape this. I don’t know how I had the audacity to believe it wouldn’t be me… or perhaps I was just oblivious. I shouldn’t have been, though. My mom was a teacher. 2 Aunts were teachers. My uncle worked in education administration. My cousin went on to be a teacher. My other cousin is doing Master’s work in education. That cousin’s brother just married a teacher. Another Aunt now works post-retirement in a school as a resource aid. Her husband, my uncle, does admin work at a college… And I thought I’d do something different? When I moved to Rock Island I needed a job to support ministry… I became a Kindergarten teacher… apparently you don’t need training to do this. And somehow it all just fell into place. I was a teacher. After 2 years of that I decided I would step out of school setting full time. However, a music teacher job found me.

I made NO effort to pursue the position. Heard about it from 3 random people, the last was someone who actually took the job and then quit it and thought I should take it. Somehow it ended up finding me… and I taught it for three years. I quit that position in ’05 and went on to teach private lessons full time. And here I am at the door of a school again... that same school… same job.

I have an excellent relationship with the school. LOVE the students. LOVE the teachers. Outstanding atmosphere. I just didn’t know if I’d be in the area long and wanted to be fair to them, so I resigned my position a school year ago.

A week ago the current music teacher quit. So I told the principle I’d be happy to fill the position until someone was found. However, knowing that the Christmas program (oh yes, the Christmas program) was upon us, no one would walk into a job in the middle of that. I knew I would be helping indefinitely and have the ability to do so. However, the principle called this morning and said, “I’d like to talk to you about possibly taking the job.” And I’m back in school again.

I haven’t said yes. I will ask for a few weeks. I don’t love elementary. However, I have always loved the idea of having current experience with a wide range of ages. And what it comes down to is education in the arts and that is what I’m completely sold on.

I’m just surprised to find myself here… again… for a job I’ve tried not to have… twice.

My love/hate week with NPR

If you love NPR, which... I have a small group of friends that really, truly love NPR (you liberals!) you hate this week and one just like it about 6 months from now. We are in the fall fund drive. EVERY YEAR it sneaks up on me! I feel so unprepared when I go to turn on Car Talk at 9am on the Saturday of the wretched week and hear the talking, the pleading, of Renee Montagne reminding me of their need this year. I am totally an NPR junkie. I am a listener no matter what. But I totally hate this week.

I was talking to a friend a few years ago during this time of year and we had the conversation... the one that discovered we were both die hard NPR-ers, but confessed that neither had ever pledged. (we sound like we're Greek's or something - Nu Pi Rho) We said so somewhat sheepishly because we both felt the guilt.

And that's the thing about NPR... I confess my undying adoration... but I hate right now... because I am so guilt ridden... Because Ira Glass... a voice I love, one I've welcomed into my home regularly, one that tells me great stories... and then during the fund drives turns on me. It's so manipulative... because he says, "If you've been enjoying the stories NPR has brought you but you don't contribute..." and they liken it to stealing. And then I have an inward battle with myself... "They have CHOSEN to publish themselves... It is my RIGHT to take and NOT give back! THIS is the system. THIS IS UNDERSTOOD!!! You should NOT be guilting me to support a service you have CHOSEN to provide out of good will!!!"

But Ira can't hear me and neither can Sylvia Pagioli or Veer Sing (I love him, he reports from New Delhi and has a wonderful accent). And that's the wonder of it all... they are so unaffected, but I am guilty. Hateful ones that I love. They even get David Sedaris involved... and that's just low. He was born with Greek guilt and could care less who it spills all over.

It's Tuesday... they will go until next Sunday and life will be back to normal programming... guilt free programming... for another 6 months... and then it will happen all over again, this abusive cycle. I'll apologize, tell them it was my fault. I've been listening for too long not to be a pledger and then I'll try to offer some sort of bargain of "maybe if I just convert more NPR listeners they won't make me feel so guilty..." but then it all start again. Who new NPR could be so unhealthy.

Holly, are you with me on this?

Irony

At stores I find signs that say "simplicity" ironic when nestled in among various fauna and flora, signs and containers, vases and candles and other sundry home decor items.

I walked by the sign and had to turn back around and stare at it a second thinking, "now... that's certainly missing the point a bit, isn't it?"

Brilliant moment 2,405

While locking a door don't try to flip your hair out of your eyes while holding a cup of water between your teeth.

I need to go dry off.