EEK

Ok, I think my anxieties have developed into neurosis. Not that this would be hard for anyone who knows me to believe, but I am totally freaking out. I have to have a bunch of lesson plans and a classroom management plan done by the first of the week, and I'm frozen in terror. Of course, I'm not so frozen that I couldn't play video games all afternoon! The thing is, the teachers who will be reviewing this are older, and while experience is a wonderful thing, oftentimes, it leads to stagnation, especially in teachers. My lessons almost exclusively involve about ten minutes of me talking, and the rest of the class time with the students working on whatever we're doing. While younger teachers recognize the value of self-direction and group interaction, older teachers often 'poo-poo' it as a fad. They want butts in the seats, quietly taking notes while a teacher yammers on and on. I mean, I get sick of hearing myself talk after ten or fifteen minutes, and I LIKE the subject! I think I need chocolate!

Next complaint: fireworks and the hillbillies who play with them CONSTANTLY. I do not for one moment believe that our forefathers would be pleased to note that we celebrate their struggles and sacrifices by lighting bottle rockets and trying to burn down our neighbor's shed with them! I have explained to the stupid fucking losers about four times (much more nicely than I wanted to), that there is gasoline in the shed, and if they continue landing flaming things on the roof, a spark could fall through one of the large holes in the roof and ignite the gas. I think if it happens one more time, I'm going to dump some gasoline on their shoes, then let Darwinism follow its natural course. As I mentioned, I am a little stressed, and I don't understand this national fascination with fire and noise. Ok, real fireworks are pretty, but do we REALLY need to play with firecrackers, Roman candles, and bottle rockets for two weeks before and after the Fourth? I think I need LOTS of chocolate! Have a Happy Fourth!