1,000 Mental Blogs

Friends, I always have blogs that I want to write, but I never seem to have the moment of peace to write them. Well, I am taking a moment now to write one of them about Education...

The town I live has a reputation of having bad schools.

I have subbed at every school in the district and I now deal with some misbehaving young people in my job and here is my opinion about my "bad school district".

Is there room for improvement? Yes.

Are there some bad teachers? Yes.

What is the heart and core of our "bad" schools?

Honestly? Parents who check out of their kids lives. All the elementary schools are pretty great- with a few average ones in poor areas.

The Middle School? It is awesome. The principal is a great leader and cares about the kids. He gives them the 'tough love' attitude that they need.

But it's like these kids hit high school and parents check out of their lives. That is why our high school is not very good. Because there aren't good parents that are pushing their kids to get good grades. Families are not being families. You know, doing stuff together. It's like the parents toss their 15-18 yr olds over to their friends and then shrug their shoulders when their kids do not succeed.


Often people ask if I will put my kids in public or private. I say public. They always follow up with how bad the schools are in SM. I can't help but roll my eyes and say, Well it's an education. Something I can get involved in and influence to make sure it works. It is not uncontrollable. Parents just need to put the time in to make our schools great.

Phoenix goes to law school...

Russ can't always watch Phoenix.

So sometimes she comes to class with me.

I can't wait for her to apply to Baylor Law and say:

"I attended my first class at Baylor Law when I was just one month old..."

English for English Speakers- Part 1

There are 'those' people who do not know the difference between your and you're. If you're reading this and shocked to find out there's a difference, I suggest you use your time to read this.

 I do something similar with different words. Examples:


Me to Russ: "She's a very textile person"

Russ: "....textile.... do you mean tactile?"

and then there was this last week:

Me to my Mom: "Mom, do you have an embroidery board I can use?"

Mom: "Embroidery?!? You mean Emery Board?" (Click here to read about this fancy name for a nail file)


But I am trying to fix it- by reading this blog daily. This is just one of many English mistakes I make. I'll try to address this issue on Thursdays on this blog... but I make no guarantees that I actually do this on Thursdays. I may blog about this more soon. Or... I mean, sooner.

Education: Let's not leave it up to chance

Russ and I recently went to the Alamo Drafthouse and watched Waiting for "Superman". Here are some bullet point thought about the movie, without ruining it. Because you should go and see it!

• Education is over-regulated by the government
• Teachers have their hands tied. If your a good teacher, then you're a miracle.
• Good teachers are patient, very patient.
• America has become an elitist system, the opportunity to go beyond the class and education level you've been born into is an exceptional lucky situation.
• We need to change this, and I think we can.

Okay, okay, so nothing revolutionary. Nothing new. But I don't want to give away the end of the movie. Actually, the director made us promise not to spoil it. Please go and see it. And lets start fixing our schools.

Watch the trailer here.