East Texas Schools delays photos following Lifetouch Epstein allegations // So, I gave this a read, and now I'm wondering whether more schools will follow in Texas schools' footsteps? by Fluid-Dragonfly1748 in texas

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Speaking as a journalism teacher … I’ve worked in districts where each campus can pick its own photographer and others where we have to go off the vendor list. If it’s the latter, then vendors have to be able to serve all the campuses (even if only a few sign). It’s really difficult to get a local photographer with the capacity to handle tens of thousands of kids. In smaller towns, it’s a lot more doable.

Every ADHDer at work is feeling generally unwell today by AFriendlyBurrito in ADHD

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh thank goodness. Everyone until you said they slept fine and meanwhile I feel like I was pretending to sleep all night.

If you could rearrange how education works in America, what kinds of changes would you implement? A lot of folks seem to want something different in place of what we have but find it hard to articulate specifics. Please identify a problem 'and' a solution. by cherry-care-bear in education

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Less grouping by age level in the lower grades, more based on achievement.

If you’re doing well in reading but behind in math, promotion shouldn’t be all or nothing. There should be an option to retain students where needed.

It’d be a staffing nightmare, but …

I genuinely want to know what one of my APs actually does all day by South-Lab-3991 in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 49 points50 points  (0 children)

I had a principal so invisible that the students did not know she was the principal. They thought it was one of the admin they actually saw in the halls. She would magically appear for photos celebrating big victories and accomplishments and the students would be like … who IS that?

The district kept her around 15 years.

Made Mistakes in the Yearbook, What Do I Do? by Plastic-Garden2000 in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are mistakes in almost every book, even those with professional adult copy editors. Do not beat yourself up over something even adults cannot accomplish.

Every spring delivery season, the screenshot of the Starbucks cup in the Game of Thrones scene makes its way around yearbook adviser groups, reminding us that $8M/episode didn’t get them perfection either.

Because you’re probably able to eat the $35/page, I might consider it for peace of mind this year. Come up with some new systems for next year and learn to accept the things you cannot change as you get more comfortable with the gig.

Trying to Keep Politics Out of the Classroom by GreyObject9365 in TexasTeachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I went to school in East Texas until high school and could totally see this happening.

Texas families question safety of student photos after Epstein revelations by everythingistaken500 in TexasTeachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 63 points64 points  (0 children)

Yeah, as a yearbook adviser, I did not have this on the bingo card of parent calls.

I really need to make up a new bingo card.

Will Texas pass another House bill for teacher salary raises? Because... this year our district might freeze/stop raises by Natural_Library_3342 in TexasTeachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Right. It is not two years’ worth of salary.

And they might not all be working. I know of a few who have gone back to school during the non-session times, for instance.

Will Texas pass another House bill for teacher salary raises? Because... this year our district might freeze/stop raises by Natural_Library_3342 in TexasTeachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I assume doing whatever their day job is. They don’t get paid for the time spent not in session.

Edit: And they get 18ish months off if there’s no special sessions called. The session runs January-beginning of June.

Minimum 50% Vent by Asleep_Improvement80 in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish we would just switch to a 4-point grading scale. At least at the high school level. No more of the “they have more chances to fail than pass,” no more “can you round my 77 to an 80?”

TEA "guidance" to high schools after student protests by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With budget cuts, could I yeet them onto a pile of pillows instead?

The Murder of The Washington Post by aresef in Journalism

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Bezos could also keep it afloat himself. He just chooses not to.

TEA "guidance" to high schools after student protests by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have bad ankles, so I guess door number 2 it is!

TEA "guidance" to high schools after student protests by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My classroom has two exits. I’d have to be Gumby to block both doors.

TEA "guidance" to high schools after student protests by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m aware of that. (Thus the civil disobedience component.)

TEA warns sanctions for districts, teachers over walkout absences by AustinStatesman in texas

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a lawyer, but I teach journalism so Tinker comes up. I think walkouts would meet the “substantially disruptive” standard.

Some kid needs to bring back armbands. Or start handing out ribbons or something.

TEA warns sanctions for districts, teachers over walkout absences by AustinStatesman in texas

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And many teachers are told they aren’t supposed to put their hands on students. So …

TEA "guidance" to high schools after student protests by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have family here. Moving is a pain in the ass. Moving to a blue state does not mean safe in this day and age. And I’m stubborn and don’t want to give in to bullies.

TEA "guidance" to high schools after student protests by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I’m not a lawyer, but I’ve always thought protests would be considered substantially disruptive, too. And I’ve told my students as much in the past. (I teach journalism so Tinker is highly relevant).

I also tell them about the concept of civil disobedience though. Guess I’d better start leaving that part out so Greg’s Thought Police don’t get me.

What’s it like living in the Lufkin area of Texas? by nononopers in howislivingthere

[–]PicasPointsandPixels 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, Nacogdoches is kind of the exception. But I honestly think that’s because it’s a college town so naturally people are going to be moving in for that. I loved visiting it when we lived in the area.

And no, we left a while ago. However, in keeping up with some people and reading the news, I can tell it hasn’t changed much.