I love spring for many reasons: my Lady Banks roses bloom profusely, the open windows bring fresh air through the house, and the days lengthen into lingering twilights enjoyed on a porch swing after supper. However, spring is particularly stressful these days, so I'm learning to dread it as the years pass. Perhaps when (if) the economy turns around, I will enjoy spring once again, but the last few Aprils have brought an ugliness to this beautiful season.
For example, the same day Jeff went into the principal's office to thank him for the glowing recommendation that helped him earn his trip to Vienna this summer, he was informed that he might not have a full contract next year. (He currently has four of the five classes needed to be full time.) Of course, we have grown accustomed to this push-and-pull over the years. Every time cuts are made officials begin with items like performing arts and sports because people will learn of their impending doom and be willing to fork over extra money in the form of taxes, donations, etc. In addition, many administrators like playing the "I found you a full-time job, so you owe me" card. In that situation the idea is to make teachers worry about their jobs so much that they are willing to do pretty much any duty to ensure their livelihood, including things like monitoring in-school suspension, sponsoring clubs they know nothing about, or taking the crummy class that absolutely no one wants to teach.
Another example of the stress many teachers endure is waiting for staffing numbers. When our school added freshmen last year, we also added quite a few teachers. The English department alone has 20 full time instructors this year; however, since the powers-that-be have looked into their crystal ball and determined we will not have nearly as many kids next year (for reasons I do not actually understand), our department will shrink. The problem is, we don't know until budget issues are worked out and staffing allotments are handed down to principals whether that means our "extra" teachers will still have a job in district (just at another location) or they will be RIFed (reduction in force, aka laid off). Thus, tensions and emotions are running pretty hot these days - not just in the English department, but across campus and around the district because none of us knows what the final decision will be. (I won't even mention that the projected numbers have about 36 kids per English class. Oh wait...)
To compound all of this uncertainty, if the state legislature continues to cut funding to K-12 education, people could be RIFed over the summer. We can't really know what's going to happen until our fearless leaders at the capitol create a budget - which won't actually be finalized until June. In the meantime, we lobby and email and make phone calls to representatives who pay lip service to education, but vote to slash funding over and over again.
So, while I am pleased to enjoy the flowers gracing my yard, the birds merrily chirping on Sunday afternoon, and the lovely stars that twinkle in the twilight sky, forgive me if I wish it were still winter.
For example, the same day Jeff went into the principal's office to thank him for the glowing recommendation that helped him earn his trip to Vienna this summer, he was informed that he might not have a full contract next year. (He currently has four of the five classes needed to be full time.) Of course, we have grown accustomed to this push-and-pull over the years. Every time cuts are made officials begin with items like performing arts and sports because people will learn of their impending doom and be willing to fork over extra money in the form of taxes, donations, etc. In addition, many administrators like playing the "I found you a full-time job, so you owe me" card. In that situation the idea is to make teachers worry about their jobs so much that they are willing to do pretty much any duty to ensure their livelihood, including things like monitoring in-school suspension, sponsoring clubs they know nothing about, or taking the crummy class that absolutely no one wants to teach.
Another example of the stress many teachers endure is waiting for staffing numbers. When our school added freshmen last year, we also added quite a few teachers. The English department alone has 20 full time instructors this year; however, since the powers-that-be have looked into their crystal ball and determined we will not have nearly as many kids next year (for reasons I do not actually understand), our department will shrink. The problem is, we don't know until budget issues are worked out and staffing allotments are handed down to principals whether that means our "extra" teachers will still have a job in district (just at another location) or they will be RIFed (reduction in force, aka laid off). Thus, tensions and emotions are running pretty hot these days - not just in the English department, but across campus and around the district because none of us knows what the final decision will be. (I won't even mention that the projected numbers have about 36 kids per English class. Oh wait...)
To compound all of this uncertainty, if the state legislature continues to cut funding to K-12 education, people could be RIFed over the summer. We can't really know what's going to happen until our fearless leaders at the capitol create a budget - which won't actually be finalized until June. In the meantime, we lobby and email and make phone calls to representatives who pay lip service to education, but vote to slash funding over and over again.
So, while I am pleased to enjoy the flowers gracing my yard, the birds merrily chirping on Sunday afternoon, and the lovely stars that twinkle in the twilight sky, forgive me if I wish it were still winter.
I know plenty of successful couples who for whatever reason aren't MARRIED yet remain DEEPLY committed.
ReplyDeleteI also was once MARRIED so that I could get financial aid. If you trust eachother, eff the IRS and get a divorce. That way, your combined income could provide advantages instead of tax burdens. Sometimes it can be a disadvantage (The gay couple composed of a surgeon and a nurse, for example) but I don't think you are in the same situation.
Don't let the IRS bogart the sanctity of YOUR marriage.
Just a thought, from a 30 year old gay guy. But hey, society has trained me to question the validity of contractual marriage within committed relationships.
ALSO... OPEN SOURCE project number one: Tommy Clonts gets cuttings of the lady banks for his back wall. Then we can work on changing the world- if you are game :)