Women...second class citizens?!

I read Anna Quindlen's recent editorial in Newsweek magazine early last week and can't seem to get it out of my mind. While I have never considered myself a feminist, I think that all women should read this article and consider the implications.

One of the most eye-opening and troubling parts of the article was Quindlen's reference to an incident that happened in New Hampshire:

"Consider the guys who yelled "Iron my shirts!" at a Clinton event in New Hampshire. The point wasn't the yahoos with the Neanderthal mantra; it was that their jeers got little coverage. If someone at an Obama rally had called out a similar remark based on racial bigotry—"Shine my shoes," perhaps—not only would it have been a story, it would have run on page one."

While the content upset me, the fact that I had not even heard about this happening bothered me most. When I mentioned the article and the comment at lunch, the first reaction from the men at the table was to laugh; their giggles were quickly stifled upon seeing my reaction. No one on my lunch shift had heard about the jeers that were shouted at Senator Clinton. The fact that this was not considered news-worthy information and that people's first reaction is to laugh really makes me think about where women stand in society.

Society tells young women that they can be anything and do anything and yet we brush misogynistic rhetoric aside as if it were nothing, even giggle at it as if it were a funny joke. Many a father, grandfather, and uncle have been wrapped around the finger of a little girl; yet, they allow the women those little girls will some day emulate to be treated so disrespectfully.

I cannot wrap up my thoughts on this topic any better than the way in which Quindlen chose (although I will highlight a few key phrases):

"Exemplary husband, perfect kids, no negatives—I guess you could argue that the double standard guarantees that female candidates are stellar since they are required to be all things to all people. It was a woman politician, the mayor of Ottawa, who is responsible for one of the most notable quotes about this: 'Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult.' It may be an era of change, but Charlotte Whitton's 1963 comment still rings true. I've just always thought she was a little too sanguine about the math."

Spontaneous lesson plans...Drug-sniffing dogs

The high school went into lockdown this morning when drug-sniffing dogs were brought in to sweep the school. It was interesting to see the students' faces when this announcement was made. As expected, the learning process was interrupted as students eagerly voiced their opinions on what was happening.

One student went on a bit of a rant about how the school was getting ridiculous...threatening to tow their vehicles for parking on campus without parking tags, giving detentions for not wearing their student ids while in the building, and now bringing the dogs into the school. She was quick to point out that none of this was going on just a couple years ago; more than likely her attempt to place blame on the new administration. Although slightly in agreement, the student sitting next to her made this comment, "We also weren't receiving regular bomb threats two years ago."

There are moments in teaching when you have to throw out the lesson plan (for awhile anyway) and use what is handed to you. Drug-sniffing dogs allowed us to discuss how education is different today than it was just a couple years ago, that rules (whether they agree with them or not) will be enforced upon them throughout their lives, and that all decisions (big, small, deliberate, or accidental) have consequences, positive and negative.

While I love teaching literature and writing, it is because of these moments that I remain in teaching (and here you thought it was because of the money!). Today's lesson allowed all learners to take part, no matter their academic levels, and in all honesty, it's lessons and discussions like these that will impact their lives more than practicing constructed response questions for the MAP test.

An iPod on Crack?

When people ask me what type of music I listen to, I honestly tell them I like just about everything. I pretty much love all genres of music...from old to new, from pop to rock, from lyrical to composed.

To illustrate, here is a two-hour block of what my iPod sounds like on shuffle:

Girls just want to have fun (Cyndi Lauper)
Vultures (John Mayer)
I can still make Cheyenne (George Strait)
The girl is mine (Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney duet)
LaCucaracha (Louie Armstrong)
Time to pretend (MGMT)
#41 (Dave Matthews)
Live to love another day (Keith Urban)
I believe (Blessid Union of Souls)
Everything will be alright (The Killers)
All we are (OneRepublic)
Argue (Matchbox Twenty)
So Long, Farewell (The Children...The Sound of Music soundtrack)
Thriller (Michael Jackson)
Snakes and ladders (Joss Stone)
Empty spaces (Fuel)
A little less sixteen candles, a little more "Touch Me" (Fall Out Boy...and I do have to say that I love their song titles!)
Words of love (Buddy Holly)
Superstar (Carpenters)
Lover lay down (Dave Matthews)
Not falling apart (Maroon 5)
Comfortable (John Mayer)
Peace in our time (Eddie Money)
By the way (Hinder)
Stitched up (Herbie Hancock)
Big girls don't cry (Four Seasons)
Save up all your tears (Cher)
Sunday best (Augustana)
Crying Time (Martina McBride...a tribute to old country artists)
Back in baby's arms (Patsy Cline)
It's only paper moon (Ella Fitzgerald)
Lady (Regina Spektor)

There you have it...

Yet Another Snow Day

While most are generally happy to receive the call that they do not have to get up early and go to school in the morning, I'm just the opposite. I would much rather be at school on days when the weather is like this than when it is 70 degrees and sunny. Thanks to Mother Nature and her cruel sense of humor, I will be teaching into June...note to self, check to see how many sick days I have stockpiled...I might catch a really bad cold in the Spring. :)