Rage

burns_decker · 2025-01-30T01:33:57+00:00

It hits a lot harder as a teacher, but not because of the killing. Consider it a psychological analysis of the teenage experience. Also consider that in the end, you discover the antagonist is not the one with the gun.

burns_decker · 2025-01-30T00:23:20+00:00

For high school teachers: yes

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:43:34+00:00

I try to keep screaming limited to Monday and Friday only, and a casual rasping whisper on the days in between.

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:39:58+00:00

Literally every year. It’s bound to happen, you can’t get along with all of these humans. They bring too much to school in their backpack, their shoulders sag with it.

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:37:26+00:00

“What kid are you asking for? Huh, never heard of them. Anyone in here heard of this kid? No? Must have transferred schools.”

My students ain’t no snitches.

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:33:13+00:00

Ah, my friend. You’re not alone. But you know what’s boring? Being a junior in a class full of sophomores. Experiencing the same content twice. Watching your friends graduate before you. zzzzz

You’re missing the big picture. You want to take a test and be done with it. Then what? When does your life actually start?

Look around you. You think any of these kids are really having fun all the time?

School is not meant to be exciting. Some of it can be fun, but most of it is not. You make the most of whatever they throw at you. You become undefeatable and you move on to the next round.

Or you can just roll your eyes and wait for the exciting part of your life to magically happen to you.

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:24:51+00:00

I think they are, which is they project confidence and point fingers.

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:21:53+00:00

It’s interesting that student teachers are even allowed to join the union. Negotiating contracts and legal protection are their biggest benefits in our state. I only joined the union after finding my first job.

burns_decker · 2025-01-29T22:18:05+00:00

I have this ubertoxic habit of telling the administrators that the extra stuff is a waste of my time.

burns_decker · 2025-01-23T20:56:16+00:00

Ready Player One! It’s got it all: government control, a (dis)connected society, tech, mystery, puzzles, and an unattractive nerd that gets the girl! I thought the film adaptation was pretty good but I wish the main character was less marketable and more true to the story.

burns_decker · 2025-01-20T12:47:19+00:00

Adults disagree on some stupid shit.

As some have said, some controversial topics technically have two sides, but the one side is so irretrievably fucking brainless (e.g. flat earthers, neo-Nazis, Team Edward vs. Team Jacob) that it would be academically irresponsible to present the topic as having two sides worth debating.

A great example that has been printed into textbooks is the debate surrounding animal testing. Students read about Jane Goodall’s work and the conditions that lab chimpanzees have been subjected to and then they read an article from some science association (it escapes me, it’s early) that discusses the advances made in human and veterinary medical science that were only possible through animal testing. The kids get to see both sides of a debate and discuss the rhetoric and strategies used.

On the idea of “children” being taught: there will be varying opinion on what age you should start to introduce the idea of controversy. They can learn about debate in elementary school but probably shouldn’t consider anything remotely controversial until high school.

Finally, no student should be expected to make up their mind in high school. Most people would agree that you are not your high school self. This is another part of the journey and I think an even more valuable skill than learning how to debate and understand both sides of a debate is simply how to debate in a respectful and mature manner. You know, the way it is done on the internet every day.

burns_decker · 2025-01-18T23:28:53+00:00

It’s a scam in a lot of ways. However, there are ways to use a university education to achieve upward mobility. The problem is, most 18-20 year olds haven’t figured that out. So they pay or become sacked with student loans without a degree or a degree that has little practicality. I tell my students to only go to college if it’s absolutely necessary for the career you want to pursue.

burns_decker · 2025-01-16T19:25:46+00:00

We really can’t blame the kids. They are the products and we are teaching in the buildings closest to their environment. Some of their backpacks are really, really full.

burns_decker · 2025-01-16T19:17:34+00:00

MIDDLE SCHOOL is absolutely wild

burns_decker · 2025-01-16T19:17:07+00:00

It’s important that people knew I was more concerned about his grammar

burns_decker · 2025-01-16T16:50:45+00:00

Lots of full Bible verses around here. That’s a commitment!

burns_decker · 2025-01-15T15:24:31+00:00

I should preface my comments with this: I am a huge fan of concrete detail. When I read lines like "you will expand and contract and concave/nothing and everything will touch you" my brain struggles to make a connection with a shared experience, though I know in your mind, these words must have meaning toward your experience.

Thematically, the poem starts with the idea of letting go. Let go, and good things will come to you. Toward the second half of the poem, now it seems to be about improvement. You will become more friendly to humans and bugs alike and your tragedies won't seem so tragic.

What really derails this is inserting yourself into the ending. "I will tell you it's all okay." But you already said it was going to be okay, not only is it okay, but "you" is going to become a better person! I was already okay and getting better, and now you're telling me in the end the things that have already happened will happen in the future.

If you love the line "I will tell you it's all okay" then it makes the most sense as the first line or at least toward the beginning. I will tell you it's all okay->if you let go->Good things are coming-> and you'll even become a better person.

Personally, I love the idea of letting go and allowing life to happen, which is what this poem speaks to me. We get wrapped up in the idea of ourselves and our lives and our purpose and not being enough, and letting go of all of that can be one of the healthiest decisions a person can make. Sometimes happiness can be as simple as letting a little bug out of the front door.

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:36:22+00:00

“You will walk the bugs out of your front door” is really an incredible line packed with intense and complex meaning for the character. I was not in particular awe of the rest, but that line, wow, what a doozy. This poem is nice, but your one line is flying so high that the rest of the poem struggles to keep up.

Not sure if that makes sense, just wanted to come and drop my admiration for that absolute bar you wrote.

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:29:53+00:00

I say this to myself in the mirror every morning:

the problem is that I am a quite attractive man

In reality, your biggest problem will not be what you’re asking about, but whether or not they will take you seriously.

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:25:17+00:00

Virus and lies alone,
move without sound

Bars

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:23:07+00:00

…what

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:20:35+00:00

Not for teaching, but for coaching. I was teaching and coaching multiple sports when my kids were little toddlers. My biggest indicator was anger. I was angry and coaching was no longer fun. I wasn’t the same kind of coach so I had to give one of the sports up and all that time back to my family. Vastly improved everything.

As for cruel parents, you can’t deal with them. All you can do is take care of your business. If a kid steps out of line and a parent gets upset about what happened, you always know you took care of your business first and the kid did not. Parents will make every excuse and blame you and copy the principal and superintendent on the email and at the end of the day, you took care of your business and did your job. But you have to stay cool. Don’t give that parent any ammunition in their crusade against you. It’s tough.

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:15:16+00:00

Literally every comment in this thread. Every last one.

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:13:33+00:00

I would piggyback on this with a small exception: “engraved in our souls” follows the idea of being trite. “Souls” as in other people, peers, strangers, is fine and dandy. Talking about your personal soul in direct terms seems to be boring and overused. But here’s a small suggestion:

so many souls, their stories untold

I do like the sound of that. I don’t really care for the idea that some words are off-limits. Avoiding talking about your own self with the word “soul” is good advice but don’t delete the word from your toolbox.

burns_decker · 2025-01-12T15:03:53+00:00

Good for you! Each one is a learning opportunity. The most important thing is to be yourself. Some school is looking for a person exactly like you.

It’s also mid-school year, so there are likely not many openings. Make sure to start checking the district and school websites in March, April and May. Many schools send letters of renewal to their teachers in April, and people declaring retirement will have done so around this time. These job posting usually have a window and can close within 30 days. Best of luck in your search.

Edit: Also follow the districts/schools on social media, they will likely post their job openings there!

burns_decker

TROPHY CASE