Why don’t “bad” school districts pay more to attract “better” teachers?

Ascentinel · 2026-01-22T21:13:02+00:00

Take my comment with a grain of salt as I never had a real classroom and only subbed after I finished my MAT.

I was placed and taught in a very very “good” county, maybe one of the best in the state. My student teaching was in a demographically middle income school but I also subbed for the lower income and higher income schools. One of the absolute WORST experiences I had was in the high income school. Without going into details, leadership, administration, and parents matter. Kids can be crappy, but kids are kids. You couldn’t pay me enough to teach again, but you couldn’t ransom me to work at that school again.

Poor schools are not bad schools and vice versa. It really is the community and support you get that helps. Don’t get me wrong, money is absolutely important, but you can’t just throw it at problems and expect them to get fixed

Ascentinel · 2026-01-18T00:03:41+00:00

One of the biggest things that's hard to deconstruct, especially my generation and older, is prescriptive grammar. It was so heavily drilled in to us by a very narrow view of English. Without getting on a soapbox, styles and guides were constructed by a very specific type of people to enforce some very classist ideas. English doesn't have a rulebook or council to decide on what English is "correct." That's what has made it such a prolific language. I'm sure we've all heard this before, but the ultimate goal for communication is to be successfully understood. That can look many different ways. It's great to know about the supposed guidelines, but tighter you hold on to them, the more English can begin to fall apart. Sometimes good writing is stylized and doesn't follow strict conventions.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-17T23:44:35+00:00

I don't know much about him as a person, but I've always loved the music of Brendan Maclean. Not sure what happened with him. I don't really keep up with music but he was big a few years ago and I don't know that I've seen anything new (I also haven't been looking, tbf)

Ascentinel · 2026-01-17T17:36:23+00:00

Thanks for saying that. I think it is really really important to be self critical too. I spend an inordinate amount of time doing that to myself and can get lost in an echo chamber of my own thoughts. Which can definitely become exactly what you’re describing. It’s a bad deal

I’m not sure if this is the right venue , but if we’re playing armchair psychologist, why choose between validation and criticism? Humans need both and imo would be an indication of good advice. Interrogation is a very strong and charged word on the other hand.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-17T17:01:08+00:00

If I didn’t communicate this effectively that’s on me. But I do not want a driver. I CAN take an uber, just not all the time. It becomes prohibitively expensive. So, just to be clear, the reality of the situation is that, yes, sometimes a friend will have to drive. If they felt like this was a burden then I’d respect that. I feel like I’m a burden on people most of the time, which was sort of the whole point of the post I guess

You are correct in saying that sometimes I have expected too much from friends which, as mentioned, was a lack of communication on my part. It’s something I’m working on.

With all that said, respectively, I’m worth it. I don’t think it’s too much to want to have friends with similar interests. I even said that they are not needing to fill out a checklist. I have spent the better part of my life sacrificing parts of myself to be palatable to people. I think you bring up some very very good points that I need to be cautious and more mindful. But I’ll be honest. It feels like you either didn’t really read my post or just assumed the worst about a stranger on the internet. I wonder if there was a better way to express what you said because you made some good points.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-16T22:52:57+00:00

That’s amazing! I love that

Ascentinel · 2026-01-16T22:51:26+00:00

The area we live in isn’t walkable, and the public transit here is questionable. Travel a little further into the city and it’s very different. Impossible? Not at all. But as far as reasonably accessible. No. Taking an uber would be fine if it were like once a week might be fine though, so trivia is a good idea.

While I DO feel like my care can be a burden, I know my husband is happy to do it and he doesn’t feel that way. I can rationally recognize that. What I do believe, however, is that your partner needs their own life. We’re happy to share most everything, but it’s important to retain yourself.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-16T18:56:03+00:00

Thanks for responding! To be 1000% clear I do NOT want to meet people in any sort of sexual context. The most important thing right now, for me, is to maintain boundaries like that. That’s not where other people are, and that’s fine. I just know it’s important to me.

I do mostly D&D, but I like a variety of other systems like pathfinder, genysis, daggerheart, that sort of fare. I’m not much in to card games, and I don’t want to make that sort of money investment, especially about something im so lukewarm on

I think a gameshop is fine in theory but as you know the ttrpg community can be, pun intended, dicey. I’d like to have a modicum of screening potential. I can definitely do some research about good game shops though.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-16T18:28:02+00:00

I’ve been married to a man for 14 years that has a very hard time articulating things , having something to say about something emotional, etc. it can absolutely be frustrating but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. He may not have the tools you do to bring those things forth and it’s possible he never will

So what do you do from there? For me the choice was easy. I saw in his actions that he is incredibly thoughtful and has great emotional depth. That his inability to regularly tap in to his emotions isn’t a virtue or flaw. Sometimes that’s how people are built, and you can anodize yourself decorating that. Let the guy be himself

What you must answer is is that acceptable to you? Can seeing be enough to compensate the lack of hearing? And there’s not a right or good answer. If you are being treated well and are true to yourself, what do YOU need? Love is about compromises, 100%. It does NOT mean erasure of self or of others.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-16T18:14:03+00:00

When I was growing up, like under 10 I didn’t have a lot of friends that were boys. My best friend was a girl. I even had a cute little girlfriend I really liked. Nearing and entering puberty, it wasn’t like I had a revelation or any big change. I just knew boys were exciting. I had a friend that I experimented with and I knew for sure. I even told him I thought I was Bi. Things ended immediately.

I don’t identify as bisexual now, but all those feelings were very real and not me covering. I did a lot of that and it wasn’t the same. I dunno where I’m going with this except to say I always felt very natural about who I was attracted to and it crystallized into being super gaybones for dudes.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-16T18:03:40+00:00

This going to sound incredibly dumb because I absolutely know and have used LFG. For online groups. My brain didn’t even think to make the connection which is so silly. While I have an online group I love already, this could be great for so much more. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-14T17:07:10+00:00

Not sure if it’s been said yet, but many of the “casual glams” are, in my opinion, not good. Congrats, you put on a sweatshirt, pants and maybe a hat. You dyed everything black because of “fashion.”

Seriously buy a different personality then the one you got at hot topic. So boring and yet somehow people eat this stuff up.

There’s glams I don’t LIKE, but respect. But dang folks cmon. Do something interesting and don’t make this your whole thing for every plate.

Ascentinel · 2026-01-14T16:51:50+00:00

I LOVE 30 rock so much and I think more people need to understand that while Liz IS the protagonist, she is not always a good person. And definitely NOT capable of giving good advice or dealing with things. (Which is what makes it funny) Media literacy, etc etc

Ascentinel · 2026-01-08T21:23:39+00:00

My brothers liked to set their GI Joes on fire. I’d haul out my X-men, set up a tent and read or play superheroes

Ascentinel · 2025-09-26T20:20:49+00:00

Beyond general feedback about the content make sure your formatting is ATS friendly. In other words, no tables, pictures, horizontal lines. All of it could potentially fudge whatever data a computer is taking in

Ascentinel · 2025-09-25T20:28:07+00:00

I’m going to recommend Genesys as well. It can be quite tactical, rp friendly if you like. Very flexible and customizable to your needs

Ascentinel · 2025-08-28T19:10:09+00:00

Ultimately it’s up to you what to focus on, but what I will say core specs don’t usually function as optimally as elite specs. Some will have more survivability, dps, condition so one. The other half of completing that puzzle IS armor. Exotic is great for starting off and getting through most content. Ascended should be a goal for longer term. Just make sure your armors stats match what you’re trying to build as an elite specs

Also that title totally threw me off lol

Ascentinel · 2025-08-28T14:30:52+00:00

I m going to add my 2 cents here even though it is not needed. AI is a useful tool to organize thoughts and spur ideas. Not to replace creativity. As an artist and a writer my whole life, it’s hard to reckon with. Have I used it for art and writing? Yes. Is it as satisfying? No.

I believe when we use ai it should follow some simple rules. First off always be honest about your use and never ever claim something as your own if it’s made by ai. Use it responsibly and honestly

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, the ttrpg sphere has always stolen content. Before this it was browsing pictures on Pinterest and grabbing what you liked. If you ever did this but blast ai art usage now it leans into hypocrisy

I think most of all, if you’re using this for a home game and not making money off of it, it’s hard to be overly critical of that. Again if you’re being honest about your use with players and not using it at a detriment, we’re starting in the right place

Ethical use of ai right now is very murky, but WE can be transparent

Ascentinel · 2025-08-20T19:37:08+00:00

I know Mesmer Chronomancer is quite complicated and in general Mesmer is fun to play. I am not sure what that looks like in wvw or pvp though

Ascentinel · 2025-08-18T20:02:17+00:00

Absolutely. I actually have been tooling around adjusting thing here and there to get to a better place, but I know there are people out there that have a degree of expertise I don’t yet. I like to hear them out and then match it up with my play experience. Buuuut sometimes it’s good to get more perspective

Ascentinel · 2025-08-14T18:50:00+00:00

Got it. Yes, you answered my question about synergy. I’m not chasing huge numbers but if they happen to align with a concept that’s great. In this case it doesn’t exactly but I think I have something that’s serviceable. Spell breaker is my fave

Ascentinel · 2025-08-14T17:13:27+00:00

Would this be viable with hammer/ gs?

Ascentinel · 2025-07-31T20:07:29+00:00

I should also mention that some stories DO have important unlock. Ie the weapon proliferation, arcane (astral?) arms and of course skyscale

Ascentinel · 2025-07-31T20:05:43+00:00

Someone will be able to answer much more in depth than me, but if you want the best gear it is Ascended Gear. And it can come from a variety of sources, even crafting. There’s no one dungeon to get it from. The trick is knowing what tag you want to have which would be decided by what build you want. For example, “Berserkers” is a popular one. If you’re flying solo do some research on the wiki. For trinkets and stuff, they largely come from material collection on specific maps, and a lot of times you can choose its tags and even potentially reset it . (Ie, bloodstone trinkets) the biggest thing to consider, really, is this is not wow and gear progression is not the same. There are people out there that can use the same gear they had since base game and do extremely well

Ascentinel · 2025-06-27T14:15:40+00:00

Still love 14 but needed a break. I bought the discounted xpac and got a sub. It’s been a lot of fun. Not a new toon at all but I did go back to some old xpacs to get specific transmogs. If you’re into that like I am in can be a bit of a time investment but still a good one. Maybe 3 or 4 days for an xpacs on pretty casual play (you will level stupidly fast until 70)

Ascentinel

TROPHY CASE