Thread: Do I DARE to hope?????

Okay, so it's only been two days.

Tomorrow is day three. Way to early to start waving flags and making brave proclamations, I agree. WAY too early.

But I cannot deny (nor can my teammates OR my grade level mates) that something feels different, quite different. It's one of those things that cannot be stated in words or understood in conventional terms unless one is right there, experiencing it themself. Even then it is tough to define or grasp.

Gracious. Only today we were discussing the merits and differences betwixt observations and inferences. It all fits.

Yes, it has only been two days, but these kids just seem more manageable. That terms is as close as I can come to putting a face on this. Oh yes, we have some challenges; these are 8th graders after all. Some of them do come from rough neighborhoods. All true...

But not a one of them is said to be a gang member. We don't have a one that is alledged to peddle dope. Is it still possible some do? Oh, for sure, but last year, it was a KNOWN fact which ones were the gangers and the doppers. The reps were established. The "behaviors" were there. We just don't hear or see any of that. Nuts. We haven't even heard a one of them use profanity yet. Undoubtedly they do, but we've yet to hear them. Last year hardly a day (or an hour) went by when we didn't hear it.

Ah....perhaps they are just sizing us up for the knockout punch, holding back, waiting to spring....

Or could it be..?????

Lordy, I am afraid to hope. I don't like letdowns, hate massive disappointments....

And it could all go up in flame tomorrow morning (hopefully NOT in a literal manner) :roll: ; they could stage an uprising, march on the front office, burn the superintendent in effigy... (now THERE is a thought...)

So I am NOT drawing any conclusions. I don't dare. But even in the story of Pandora's Box, the one thing that remained in the box, the one thing that had not evaporated in the wind (read the story) was hope. Without some of that, in whatever form or however slight, things are bleak indeed.

Here....check it out [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandora[/url]

David, I know there are better places for me to be in North Carolina. No secret there. But, alas I am a virtual prisoner of my own value system. Wag and I are of similar philosophy on this. Yes, I would have taken that position I interviewed for in western NC, but I suspect my ole conscience would have tormented me the whole year.

As for the academic gymnastics my current principal seems to be doing, I spoke to the faculty member (the one taking the grad course from which much of this springs) and she claims that things aren't as I interpret them to be, that she, too, would oppose such an approach. Not sure how much of what I was told I believe, but that's a side issue right now. I was assured, by one of my teammates, that this "common assessment" thing is all too common in this school system, so it isn't just my school being pulled in by this.

That does not make me like it anymore, but I do not have to live with it anymore after this school year, for reasons we've already discussed. I am thinkingquite strongly of bailing out of public education and returning to private. Yes, I know that will involve some other issues too, but at least none of them will include NCLB, bloated central office staffs needing something to justify their jobs or principals needing to build up the value of their personal stock by pulling stunts and making silly demands.

But meantime, we are all hoping, daring to think that maybe...well, I am afraid to say it.

If you are one who makes prayers, now would be a good time.