Trust-the good news

I believe one of the reasons I had such a strong bond with many students is trust.  It takes time to build trust, and once you get it, trust me, you don’t want to let it go.  Trusting an authority figure is rare, and imperative for healthy relationships.

When I realized, the vitality of this connection- but am no longer teaching, I turned the trust compass on myself.  How can I nurture more trusting relationships if I don’t always trust myself?  I trust kids. I trust them to tell the truth when complaining of school work. I have not always trusted that I am doing right by kids- giving tests and teaching AP classes and such. 

But I do trust that I am on the right path.  Attempting to bring light to education for the purposes of a new enlightenment is my endeavor. I write at my pace, on my time.  Trust that I will use my freedoms to benefit myself and society.  Truth seeker.  Trust maker.  

What about you?  Who do you trust?  What do you trust?  More or less?  Either you do or you don’t?  

Trust is to Truth as Time is to Freedom.  I have freedom to pursue truth, because I trust my time wasted, and it’s not time wasted if I am pursuing truth.  I don’t know, just rambling.  I trust I will get better.  

Trust- the bad news

You can trust business management structures to continually, relentlessly pursue revenue.  Agreed? It’s so simple.  Like a virus. It’s the single-cell organisms that are the most destructive because of such simplicity.  Or dinosaur movies demonstrating raw predatory behaviors.

I think schools have been more and more commercialized.  Maybe it has always been like that, but I didn’t notice.  If that is true and schools advertise to compete in the ‘business’ of education… well, think of commercials- do you trust any ad?  Most ads, in fact boast the opposite of their product.  

Cigarettes are marketed as relaxing, when they are a stimulant.  Alcohol is usually seen as a stimulant when it is a depressant.  Diets that promote thinness are designed to make us fat.  Products promising longevity are easily broken through planned obsolescence.

“No child left behind”, my be-hind!  ‘Race to the top’- of what? Just catch phrases that sound good but are tools of manipulation politically and economically.  School safety?  How much do you trust that?  Have shootings gone up or down? 

Schools advertise ‘learning’.  How much do you trust in the actual learning taking place?  Is curriculum aimed to really help kids? or use kids for financial and political  schemes? 

Do you trust yourself to know the difference? Trust change can occur just through observation.


Trust tight rope

Trust is a tight rope between Truth and Faith.

Trust= to make strong and safe

Untruth= treachery.

And faith is neither the submission of the reason, nor is it the acceptance, simply and absolutely upon testimony, of what reason cannot reach. Faith is: the being able to cleave to a power of goodness appealing to our higher and real self, not to our lower and apparent self. [Matthew Arnold, "Literature & Dogma," 1873]


Trust the sun will come up today. Have faith that it will. Truth may prove otherwise.

S-Hallow

Hallow. Hallowed be thy name. It means Holy, sacred.

Yet Halloween remains another holiday of irreverent shallow loot-ing. Another payday for bm’s. According to multiple sources, Halloween is a $10 Billion Industry of candy, costumes, and of course schools provide the pressured atmosphere to compete.

A school related memory I have was when my oldest child was in 2nd grade. I made his costume. He wanted to be Mario. I stayed up late sewing the last marker- the white M on Mario’s red felt hat. He was so proud to slip it on before the annual elementary halloween parade. I was taking pics when I heard some of his classmates making fun of his costume. Home made.

There are pressures to conform with business models even when you don’t realize it. It steeps deep, and with kids, indelible. A permanent scar. “It is through invisible hands that we are tortured and twisted the worst.” N.

Now, I like Halloween. I like dressing up (sometimes), and I like this time of year. I will not buy candy for kids, but I will write and read stories. I might dress up- reminded of the masks we wear. But mostly I would like to light candles, watch the moon and quietly remember. Remember all the people I have lost. Remember how grateful I am to be alive.

November 1st leads us into the darkest times of the year, literally; and figuratively, I light candles to bring iight to my darkest days. I wish I could be a light house. Students lost or wondering in the dark. Go from shallow to hallow- hollow to depth. Depth to the Soul-Full.

This seasons motto:

Buy Less, Be More.

You are going to die!

The question is, how do you chose to live? 

Philosophy, Psychology, and history can give us many lessons to that question.  Deep questioning is rare.  The rarest. 

We tend to ask superficial questions and give superficial answers in a complicated existence. That superficiality leads to a limited, narrow, two-dimensional view of life.  This leaves us depressed without explanation. Empty, to be filled with whatever substances keep us from going deeper. 

We somehow think this is easier.  How’s that working for us?  Why do we do stay shallow?  No time?

Fear?  Fear of what? Words? Emotions? Actions or lack thereof?  Words evoke an emotion but it is NOT the emotion. However when we keep using the same words over and over- anxiety, depression- it can keep us in a cage. 

The lack of time and deeper understandings of existence, of life is a living death sentence.  You may be here, but not HERE.  The walking dead, or at least the walking wounded.  No wonder why we are attracted to zombie themes- it’s a reflection of us.

Because we don’t have better conversations, nor the time to have those conversations- I think there is this illusion of life being inexhaustible. I am personally disposed to a Scarlet O’ Hara, “tomorrow is another day” behavior. But how many tomorrows do any of us really have?

Challenge: the next time you are inclined to capture a moment- sitting in class,  going to a concert,  on vacation, or are simply enjoying time with friends- don’t take a pic.  The resistance to not ‘capture’ those moments will be a test indeed.  Imagine in any of those times that you will never ‘re-live’ it. Ever.  Take a breath, smell, look around, be silent and feel.  Then reflect back on that later, personally.  You won’t be able to show it- but if you close your eyes and trust, the memory will be more intense than a screen.  

Yes, it is nice to have pics, yes it is nice to be reminded of those events, and they will never ever be the same.  So keeping a device with the mind-set that it is the holder of all your precious memories will keep- becomes superficial.  We can show our friends how great our lives are as an empty reminder of how empty we are.

There is a big difference between seeing a pic of a mountain over an actual mountain.  I can never get a good pic of the moon, so when I see it, I appreciate it all the more, because then poof, it’s gone.  There will never be another day like this. 

Lie, Cheat and Steal!

In I.School, I want to teach us all to Lie, Cheat and Steal. 

Lie- in a comfortable position.  Lie on the grass, in the snow, in a bath. Lie in waiting. Waiting for the extraordinary which is already there, lying, waiting to be noticed. 

Cheat yourself! No, not the self-sabotage urban dictionary version. Use trickery to avoid pointless tasks. I’m talking frivolous, asinine and avoidable activities.  It’s a sneaky con to doge, evade or shirk (meaningless) responsibilities.

Steal- Start the Steal! Like a little thief- burglarize, pillage, misappropriate your time to your advantage, stealthily.  Rob others of your time taken from you, for ‘them’.  

Morally, we ‘teach’ kids to NOT lie, cheat and steal.  But the reality is kids lie, because their truth is not convenient for BM’s, the business management style, who demands productivity above all else.  “My dog ate my homework” is a farcical antidote demonstrating the need to lie to a teacher because the truth is unacceptable (for profit). “My homework is at my moms/ dads/ step-parents house” (or the homework is absurd). That may be true, but insufficient to the instructor.  Kids cheat on tests because the pressure to preform outweighs morality. Entire faculty meetings have been dedicated to stop kids from plagiarizing.  Money spent on expensive programs to “get” the kids that forge on essays “caught” and therefore punished for not being genuine.  And when kids Are genuine, they are punished.  “That’s not an excuse!” Right. So, kids lie to avoid further condemnation. Do you blame them? When students are on their phones, ask to go to the bathroom when you know they don’t really have to, taking a sick day when symptoms are clear. Steal a day is seen as a crime.  Taking time off to grieve, to heal, or just desire some precious time- is a crime.  By the time students are in high school they are ninjas, they get wicked- good at cheating.  They don’t necessarily feel good about it, but what other options do they have? We have created the environment for such transgressions. 

Lying, cheating, stealing can be sagacious.  It’s about the ability to understand the inner qualities of insight and perception.  More or less? 

Pulpit Lips

I heard your message today on the right stage radio pulpit.  You want to persuade and advise listeners who to vote for in the latest school board election.  Wow, I didn’t know you cared. 

On both a national and local stance, you are working hard to research every school board candidate nominated by unions, so listeners vote against them.  In my state, you were very specific on live broadcasts.

“Don’t research you don’t have to take any time, we’ll do it for you.  All you have to do is go to the web page and copy the list of people who are not supported by the liberal unions who are indoctrinating our kids with….” We know the rest.  ok.  

Well played.  I have never heard of the Feds being called into school board meetings until now, but I think you know what you are doing.

Harass, intimidate, and violently threaten candidates to show them you mean business!  This is not the first time in history that school’s have been challenged by your ancestors. You know, evolution, free speech, ‘allowing’ black and white kids to sit by each other in a class. 

Way to get angry listeners angrier… at schools.  Hey, I’m angry about education too, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that Im not sure how well that same tactic worked earlier this year, say January, (yea, we don’t have to talk about it).  

Like I said, I think we have a lot in common- angry about education- so I came up with some tactics from the front lines: a) Let those liberal teachers teach all that stuff in class- kids will figure it out.  You know, if teachers show historic pics and have kids read actual documents about say, indigenous peoples, slavery, women, war, lgbt history… Trust me- kids will learn.  So, if you are right, those teachers will be a laughing stock. Right?  Ok, how about option b) have teachers, especially social studies teachers, go silent.  Yea, just refuse to teach the curriculum.  A silent protest. Temporarily putting a halt to teachers (thus students) being used as casualties in this new, not-so-civil- war. c) Honesty is the best policy, right Lips? (Wink wink). Option c- would be for education to be ‘transparent’ (another buzz word gone bad).  Let’s at least use appropriate locution. Schools are manufactured workshops for the purpose of profiteering.  No you don’t need the kind math and science you are learning in school.  It’s cold war propaganda hanging on to schools like dying fruit.  So instead of telling kids “it will help with logical thinking…” crap- lets tell them the truth- This class will do nothing for you but frustrate you so you can get a pice of paper and the US military complex may have a few students who can be used to continue invasions and propagate nuclear threats… logically thinking.  English- another weapon from days of yore.  Learn ‘proper English’! Indoctrinate language an as act of imperialism. Native tongues need to be eliminated. Slave lingo will not be tolerated.  If you have language, you have subservient soldiers.  History? Watered down patriotic, or extremist treasonous literature will keep kids in the dark ages. Cells and Bells.  Schools are here to create indentured servants. And it’s working.  Standardized, sterilized, mind-numbing compulsory, anti-learning is the directive. 

You are right Lips, it is a war on education.  And it’s 1-2-3, what are we fighting for? To make money off of kids backs?  Well played lips.  Keep it up.  I know you will and I am right there with ya.  My pulpit is a lame web page and three students.  Your pulpit is a hostilely attractive environment and you have millions of listeners. You want the ‘right’ education and I want a whole education, so we meet half way, yes?  You keep fighting for the dough, I’ll keep fighting for the Soul. Kudos. 

Kids, please try this at home.

In the spirit of dance I’d like to give you a lesson that you can have at no charge.  The lesson is called Body Parts.  Now what you do is focus your mind on each body part, starting at your fingers.  That’s right. Focus on each appendage then see your wrists, your arm, elbows… etc. Slowly.  You can do this anytime, anywhere. Its discrete. No one needs to know. 

The purpose of Body Parts is to ground your thoughts in your body.  Here is why- It allows your brain to calm down and simplify a target.  An intention.  That way you and your brain trains itself into relaxing and putting an intention on one thing instead of your brain going all hurly-burly with constant stimulus.  Like a dust storm.  Settle. 

It is a form of ‘meditation’.  And meditation, for our purposes, is: the deliberate pondering devoted to self-care.  You don’t need to be Buddha on the Mountain or sit lotus for days to reap the benefits of meditation.  Imagine sitting in class and feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed.  Think 1-2-3. One, just focus on a breath.  Two, Shift your mind to your body.  Three- start the meditation- fingers or toes, your pick.  

You can look someone in the eye as they are yammering.  Half-way listening just think about that left ankle… Imagine your face looking calm as you are not getting caught up in this persons own nonsensicalness.  Oh you can still interact, then come back to a body part in order to appear serene. I say appear because it can be temporary. But that grace of time might keep you from saying or reacting more negatively thus creating more stress.

 Yes, this takes practice, patience and fortitude. Yes, it is ‘weird’. So what?  What else do you have to do? How is staying anxious and medicated working? Take a risk.  Use common sense.  If you like it- do it at home, alone.  Dance party.  “Hey shoulder, how you want to move, girl?” “Way to move left elbow…”. Ha.  Have some fun. You are a hurdy gurdy- an exquisite instrument.

Either change, or keep doing what you are doing.  Let me know if it helps.  Hotplate7@yahoo.com

Homecoming

Is a traditional fall dace welcoming alumni back to school.  Usually takes place in the fall and  in secondary and higher education.  The tradition dates back to the 1890’s with multiple schools claims to its origin.  

Watching a Homecoming dance in 2021 looks as such.  Like kids were back, ‘home’.  It is really quite stunning to watch.  I’m not talking about the tomfoolery that accompanies high school dances, I am just talking about the dance itself. A hundred plus kids packed on a common surface- not waiting for the DJ’s cues- until the beat drops.  As if rehearsed, the mob of kids simultaneously drop to the ground, then pop back up again- as in a choreographed frenzy.  

You don’t need a year of covid to feel the need to release energy, but I think this years dance was particularly appreciated.  Coming home- to be at one.  Eyes closed you can feel the synergy.  It was an eloquent purification act.  A cleansing.  Certainly a much different energy dispersed than kids sitting numbly in a desk.

Homecoming may be another antiquated tradition in high schools.  Dances were often held to betroth women.  The “marry em off young” attitude is a tad dated, but the fundamental need to move is hardwired and integral to humanity.  The kids genuinely looked cathartic.  Dancing is a natural antidepressant.  Side effects include: contentment, joviality, and bliss.  No pill necessary.

I.School will not host homecoming.  Dance will be its own course and courses.  From an early age kids naturally dance.  Kids will dance while eating a carrot.  Kids love to move creatively.  That is until ‘silly movement’, dance, is eliminated and shamed out of them.  It’s difficult to keep an assembly line productive when workers are shuffling their feet, and happy-er. 

I’m not going to attach a bunch of statistics and data to show the psychological and physiological benefits of dance.  It’s common sense.  It’s healthy, it’s natural and it’s free (which is probably why we don’t do it more). It’s not ‘profitable’.  The benefits are solely for kids well being.  I.School is potentially a coming home.  Home of the self.  The “I” of the dance. 

Bottom Line: Kids just gotta dance!! 

**oh, and a special thank you to those mystery students for showing me some of your sweet dance moves!  It was time well spent indeed. 

T.G.I.M!

Or any day.  It’s just good to be alive.  It’s good to have time, thus freedom to appreciate Life.  A Flourishing Life beyond walls.  

You can tell when it is a Monday in schools. In High School more blurry eyes, slower response time, if any.  Or there is a buzz because of a weekend event.  Most agree, Monday’s suck.

How sad.  I get it.  But how sad.

In I.School we will need to change that.  Starting with a re-conditioning. 

I declare every Monday to be a personal holiday. Take as much time as you want to sort yourself. Sleep in, breathe, enjoy a slow morning with kids, a partner, or just you.  Put on some music, if you like.  Create the most relaxing atmosphere possible.  Get creative.

(By the way, how can you ‘take time’? Is time for the taking?  Do we take time or does time take us?  Mondays have no agenda- it’s quietly waiting for you to notice her without hostility.) 

Because we do not have this ‘luxury’ of time, and you are still probably in school, may I suggest you still slow down.  And before you start rattling off reasons as to why you “just can’t possibly do that”, (I can hear you, I’ve been you) fine.  Just think about it then, and when you are ready, come on back to I.School.

No hurry, no worries- Monday’s. :)    A Sincere Happy Monday to All (and none). 

Freedom, more or less?

Without basic needs like food, shelter, health care, mental wellness- there is less freedom, yes?

I hear people shouting ‘freedom’! Say from mandates perceived to infringe on individual rights.  

I wonder how many people angry at these laws have a mortgage, car payments, credit card debt, gym memberships, hair upkeep,… I wonder how many have addictions.  Addictions are literally the opposite of freedom. https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/addiction-statistics/

Drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, opioids- yep, the first ones to make the list.  And how about technology, relationships, power, control, gossiping.  Yes, the small act of gossiping secretly implies superiority and inferiority.  It’s insidious because it seems insignificant but adds up.  We begin thinking we are simply right without being challenged, which is addictive. 

Tied to school then a job.  And in-between we fill time with creating an image of perfection.  The perfect Holliday decorations, nice lawn, cars, toys, kids, vacations become superficial if one is trying to impress.  Commercialized consumerism constantly contributes to corruption.  Because it is never enough and a complete illusion. Manufactured by big BM’s who are more than eager to make money off of this counterfeit culture of freedom.

Now what? Make your own observations.  Get quiet, do less, be more. 

What is Freedom?

: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action~ MW

The absence of necessity? Necessity: the state of being at need. Need for food, water, shelter.

Coercion: the power to impose one’s will on to another. (Business model’s peak goal)

Constraint in choice- the power to choose, from limited options… (phone service, food, water, housing… is it a choice, or a coin toss between two evils? Is it a choice or an alternative?)

Questions: 1- do you really have freedom? 2- do you really want freedom? 3- can you really handle freedom?

“People do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility and most people are frightened of responsibility.” Sigmund Freud

Time is the Universal measure of Freedom.  

“Doing Time” is a colloquial for spending time in jail.  Jail is punishment for doing a crime, and “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”  (According to a 1970’s cop-show, Baretta, and later Spongebob Squarepants).  Credibility. 

It is a crime not to go to school.  I repeat, it is a crime… NOT to go to school.  So, punishment for not attending a coerced economic-political institution is to go to another coerced economic-political institution.  For what? Being born? If you don’t go to school, you could go to jail.  School or jail?  What a choice in a ‘free country’. 

Prisons take away freedoms, so the incinerated are ‘not free to commit more crimes’. 

Schools take up time to teach freedoms, and if you don’t go to school, you are not, what, free…?  (Head scratcher)

If schools take up time, and time is freedom, then schools are taking freedom.  Kids are “doing time” every day with the hope of… freedom?  You know this when “It’s time for everyone to stand and chant together about “liberty and justice for all”. 

Take time to pledge allegiance to a free society that takes your time and freedom.  

Too tired to think about this stuff?  Don’t have the time? Perfect. Enjoy your freedom. 

https://bostonreview.net/class-inequality-law-justice/mike-konczal-time-universal-measure-freedom

Wasted Time.

“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” (numerous claims to the quote).

and the time wasted with witless meetings, unnecessary homework, ‘mandatory’ classes that stifles creativity is absolutely wasted time- unless you enjoy it. I do not.

Interestingly, when asked “what do you do with your time?” There is a weirdness and a pregnant pause for me. If I tell people what I really do, I get a dazed and confused, sometimes pitiful or condescending look followed by a comment- “awe, good for you” but it’s more like I just got out of a mental institution ‘taking it easy’ and enjoying my ‘wasted time’.

In our society, if your time is not being used for profit it is considered a waste. Usually the profits benefit others -bm’s- rather than ourselves, but we tell ourselves and each other that we are being ‘productive’ members. (I wonder where we get that message?)

As a teacher, I could rattle off all the ‘quite verily important rigorous tasks’- “oy, I’ve got grading, lesson planning, preparing kids to fill in bubbles on a test. A test that both threatens the future of kids and is meaningless in the long run. But it sounds very important.

Wasted: “unprofitably used or expended”. “Laid waste”. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasted

That’s me. Unprofitable, expendable, laid to waste.

And it is scarily scrumptious. It is also NOT for the weak. Not being profitable is not easy, but it’s a lot more satisfying, personally speaking. No, I’m not going to go into what I ‘do’. But what about you? How do you spend YOUR time?

The last time someone asked “yea, but what do you DO?” I just said, “nothing”.

And to do nothing is really something! Try it. I dare ya.

Time After Time!

Institutions instill psychological conditioning techniques- socially, politically and economically- and then use additional psychological techniques (socially, politically economically and intellectually) to place blame on individuals gaslighted by said psychological conditioning techniques. 

It’s big BM’s (business model’s) signature move. Business models seldom deviate from this pattern of control because it works. For “them”. 

Examples:

#1 Sin industries: Alcohol, tobacco, junk food, pharmaceuticals, 

Socially- clever ads designed and targeted to prey on insecurities in order to swoon kids into anesthetized states of mind. Opium wars 2.0. 

Politically- influence and finance politicians to literally buy into the ‘regulation of sin’- thus making all this ‘legal’.

Economically- cha ching- it works. We would not see ads if it didn’t ‘work'.  Legalized Personalized propaganda intended strictly for BM profits. 

Conclusion- Exploit peoples disfunction, make it legal, pass it on to already inherited BM profiteers- thus keeping it in the very small family. 

But wait, there’s more!  Use some of those profits into more buying more ads- shifting attitudes on ‘sin thinking’.  Create ‘information’ and ‘news’ articles blaming “abusers”- you know- the alcoholic, the smoker, the fatty, the druggie.  More insecurities arise, yep, you guessed it, more profits. For?

#2 Technology as an institution:

S- Everything about technology is socially and psychologically seductive.  Socially apt apps create illusions of connectivity, that ultimately leave us sad thus craving more.  Look to a phone instead of a person- human connection.  Phones offer Ring tones, vibrations, colors, personalization devours our senses as planned. As Planned!

P- Regulate it, but put the responsibility on the user, not the institutor.  Mass campaigns mechanized to get kids hooked on technology cleverly and simultaneously plant fear, guilt and shame articles in the technically driven news feeds.  Articles instructing parents to ‘limit screen time” or else… shift the blame to parents, not the puppet masters…

E- planned obsolescence.  An industrial design to purposely and artificially manufacture technology to fail, thus creating more consumption.

Sure, then blame children and parents and teachers-time after time.  Turn us against each other while we subconsciously praise ‘technological advancements’ and ‘worship’ the profiteers (we love to woo the money makers).  Profiteers profiting off our addictions, our vulnerabilities, our pain that BM’s helped to contrive.

Keep clicking “accept” after scrolling and subsequently NOT reading 100 pages of technical legal jargon that clever lawyers couldn’t even decipher. Keep clicking “accept” because it puts culpability on your finger, you, and not the institutions.  Facebook vs Congress for example.  Two institutions in the same bed squirming to not get caught in the act.  

#3 Schools

S- condition kids young. 

P- make it not only legal, but compulsory as to enforce complacency. 

E- make money off the backs of children, cuz, why not, they are vulnerable. (kids have lip$, and we want them.)

Historically, NO global empire can rise without some sort of ‘educational’ control.  None.  Money and politics as is- cannot exist as is without consent. Period. Consent cannot occur without pre-school training. Conditioning. Sit down, shut up, do what you are told. 

Sin industries, technology, schools, prisons as institutions repeat the same pattern.  Look for it.  Be silent and see it in local grocery stores, gas stations, fast food chains, tv… watch how all follow the BM standard.

If you are open, you can start to see it globally.  

Pop quiz:

Is it in the best interest to promote ‘democracy’ or a dictatorship for BM’s?

Think Latin America.  Is it more profitable to make countries poorer or richer? Poorer countries are more easily susceptible to manipulation and economic control.  BM’s systematically keep countries poor, and then blame ‘their’ culture for ‘their’ failure. Enslave peoples and call them lazy when ‘productivity’ drops.  Look at your labels, where are they made?

Haiti is great-y when Disney (copyright) uses workers (child labor) to make toys for children.  *See Mickey Mouse Goes to Haiti*  

Time after time- BM’s construct institutions to maintain a hierarchy which strictly benefits the top BM’s.  

It’s About Time!

and Monopolies monopolizing each and every minute of it!  BM’s (business models) objectives aims to occupy time so it is occupied by anyone but ourselves.  

Take schools, for example. A typical day is to see kids at a bus stop early, blurry-eyed standing around darkened corners well before sunrise in October wearing black hoodies.  

High school kids (at least) then have 5-6 classes lasting 50 to 90 minutes of mostly sitting.  Sit down, shut up and listen to lectures that mostly won’t help you today or ever.  Tick Tock, look at the clock, you are only getting older. 

Lunch is a tight 25 minutes to drive and get take out. (Yes, it might be nicer to bring a lunch, but no time for that eh?) 

After school activities include jobs, sports, family, commitments, work from work- lasting into late evenings.

Don’t forget about home-work on top of that.  More work added to a 8-10 hour day.  Heavily pushed AP classes add even more time suck-age. 

Meanwhile, kids want to stay connected to friends. So more time is then occupied by screens riddled with ads taking up more time.

Many kids then stay up late in order to find time to chat- to connect- you know, to be a kid.  Precious time to share or just be alone.  Awake and buzzing from the day into wee hours of the morn.

Alarm rings- stumble to the kitchen- try to come to life- blurry eyed heading out the door in order to stand around that same darkened corner with others sharing similar experiences.  


Semester after semester; year after year; hoping to reach that what? Friday? Holiday? Retirement?  Death?  

Meanwhile kids are suffering needlessly with superfluous conditioning by monopolies monopolizing their time- occupy kids minds so they don’t get to.  Cradle to grave- it’s about time.  

“Your time is limited, 

So don’t wast it living someone else’s life.  Don’t be trapped by dogma- which is lining with the results of other peoples thinking.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  

~Steve Jobs

A Riddle:

“This thing all things devours;
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats mountain down.”

Gollum to Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit

Answer: Time

“Kids Count!”

was a cozy bumpersticker adhered to a metal fine cabinet in my first classroom.

My first thought was- geese, I sure hope kids can count by the time they get to high school- 1,2,3,… (ha)

My second thought was promising.  Kids count, meaning kids matter.  I agree, but became disillusioned after teaching for 29.4 years. I believed schools were designed to help kids and society. Naive of me.

I believe kids count for a labour force. Used for profits.

Here is an example. I once stumbled upon a memorable quote by a tobacco representative: 

“They got lips? We want them.”

This was the answer given to Terrence Sullivan, sales representative for R.J. Reynolds, when he asked the company which young people they were targeting — junior high kids or even younger? R.J. Reynolds, 1990 https://the84.org/get-the-facts/tobacco-executive-quotes/

Kids are a highly marketed tool and today is October 1st.  Schools yearly “head count”.  Teachers are encouraged to give ‘incentives’ to keep kids at school.  More kids counted = more money.  Simple. No field trips, no tests, nothing too strenuous to discourage attendance, even illness. 

From colleges to AP classes; from chrome books to data collecting- Kids count. They account for big profits for big BM’s (business management styles)!  Kids have data? BM’s want them! 

I’m a pre-re-semi- retiree.

Speaking of Labor Day- A day dedicated to the working class until they ‘retire’…. Let’s break it down:

Pre- prior to

Re- anew; re- “a drop of golden sun”

Semi- partly or somewhat

Tired- overworked, broken down, enfeebled

So, is a re-tired person the opposite of tired?  Somewhat? Anew? Prior to being “sapped and worn to a frazzle?”

Leave it to a thesaurus to feel “refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized”.. re-tired?

The thing is I don’t feel retired.  I still feel like a teacher/ student. (I have not received my “retirement” checks after 29.4 years of teaching, so no data to show as of yet).  But I dew feel re-newed, sort of- I don’t feel the taxation of administration.  I don’t wake up stressed and burdened with meaningless meetings on top of weighty student discomfort. 

And I never wake up NOT thinking about school and the education system and my beloved students who have endured far too much discomfort necessary for fulfillment, eudiamonia, or even moderate solace.  More serenity in an already hurly-burly world iso eager to appease. 

I am re-tired.  More awake.  A pre-re.  The opposite of a preemie, something born prematurely,  a pre-re is something acquired late. Postmortem.  Like a ghost, I wish to whisper cautionary tales to those unsullied in education as of yet… 

It seems like the name of the game is retirement.  “Once I retire I will______.”  Problem is we become so conditioned we don’t know what to do with the time once we have it.  Yes? Buying our way to some sort of deliverance from what- life?

Once Friday is here then my life will improve.  No? Ok, how about the next holiday! Not yet? Surly next year will reign supreme.  Still no?  What about when you graduate, get married, get a job, have kids, wait for kids to walk, talk, and eventually leave.  Get a house, buy a car, get that promotion, lose weight, get buff.  Essentially,  live for the next corner until the coroner. Isn’t that what we are doing?  Selling sanctuary when it is here all along.  

Wait for retirement- and enjoy being really-tired until then, you know, when you are old and more naturally tired and ‘enfeebled’. Then, and only then, closer to death, we can be “happy”?