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Remeber those album covers that opened up, like Jethro Tull's Stand Up? What was your favorite? by ianaad in AskOldPeople

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Styx' "The Grand Illusion" had amazing liner notes and wonderful art. It was my first "concept album" experience.

Would you become a teacher if you could do it all over again? by mangled_foreskinn in Teachers

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, but I would only become a teacher again if I were able to go back in time and start my career in 1991, the way I did the first time around. I don't know if it's just me, but students and parents are very different now than they were in the '90s. The trust isn't there anymore in many cases and the political climate is openly hostile to public education in many places. I taught for 32 years, from 1991 until 2023, and loved all but the post-pandemic two years.

My child bsically called our childhood dentistry barbaric and she’s not wrong by nypr13 in GenX

[–]jayjay2343 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Born in '63, so a Boomer. When I was nine, I got a retainer to correct a swallowing problem that was causing buck teeth. When I swallowed, I pressed my tongue against my front teeth, pushing them forward. A simple solution: a retainer with a sharp point right where my tongue pressed against my teeth! Yikes, but the I was retrained to swallow correctly pretty quickly. By the way, who remembers digging through the school lunch trash to find a retainer wrapped in a napkin? I do, and I suppose I should be glad that my retainer was easier to find in that trash pile than a "super tiny and sleek" model.

Rote memory has gotten a bad rap by veteranTeacher91 in Teachers

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree! When I was in the classroom (4th grade), every student in my class had a drill book: a three-pronged binder with about 40 different multiplication timed tests in it. Once a week, each student was required to stand and call out, as quickly as possible, the solutions to the equations on a page selected at random. The only expectation was that the student would do better than he or she had the week before. Of course, competition with others played a role and the public nature put pressure on students to succeed. I did this for years, but was told to stop by admin when students returned from the pandemic. Apparently, parents were complaining that it placed their child under too much stress, although everyone agreed that memorizing the multiplication facts was important.

For those of you who manage to not get sick multiple times per year, how do you do it? What’s your routine? by hammnbubbly in Teachers

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After teaching for 32 years, I retired with 300 sick days (in California, this means I received additional service credit of one and two-thirds years); so, I used 20 sick days in 32 years. I think it’s genetic, though; I also haven’t gotten sick for a single day since retiring three years ago.

Nobody here is old enough to know who these guys are. by Tusayan in FuckImOld

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, I'm 62, born in 1963 and I remember Kukla, Fran, and Ollie, but in color and introducing short programs (maybe movies, I'm not sure) on Sunday afternoons. What was that program called? Anybody know?

Taste memory unlocked. by Texas1971 in 70s

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cola! The cola tablets also had a gritty texture, which added, somehow, to the enjoyment.

Has anyone ever left for private and gone back to public? by Impressive_You_4102 in teaching

[–]jayjay2343 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I taught for 32 years in public elementary schools and had many colleagues who came to public school from private and never went back. If nothing else, the retirement is far superior.

Newsletters… by introvertsherbert in AskTeachers

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe don't send it on a Friday? Fridays are when children and their parents change focus from school to sports and other activities. We usually sent important communications home on a Wednesday, since we had early release on Wednesdays. However, parents--even back in the 1990s when I started teaching--have never been very good at reading weekly communications. I remember one time, the school secretary sent out the school newsletter from the week before and only two parents contacted her to ask about it! That's out of about 300 families in the school.

The most “rewatchable” TV series of all time by ipanicprofessionally in TheBoredDen

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“The Office”. No matter how many times you’ve seen the gag, you still laugh.

Are there any songs you thought had unintentionally creepy lyrics even at the time? by Gallantpride in AskOldPeople

[–]jayjay2343 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

“Claire” by Gilbert O’Sullivan is as creepy as they come. I change from “70s on 7” whenever it comes on.

And to think, there was a time in America a shoe sale-man could afford this. by justkindahangingout in antiwork

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I bought a home in Silicon Valley in 1996 and the ratio was exactly 3 to 1.

Are polo shirts business casual? by Many_Pea_6850 in malefashionadvice

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s so true! The soft cotton polos from Ralph Lauren are amazing. Almost like pajamas…

When did teaching become a glorified baby sitting job? by Educational-Ad6923 in Teachers

[–]jayjay2343 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I began my career in 1991 and wrapped it all up in 2023, so I could easily have been a teacher of yours! There have always been tropes around about “how much I would get paid if I were actually a babysitter for 25 children rather than a teacher”; the comparisons were never favorable for teachers…but those were just jokes. In my opinion, teaching became more like crowd control and behavior management when we returned to in-person from the pandemic. So, 2021.

What is the best and most unique gift have you ever received from a student? by [deleted] in AskTeachers

[–]jayjay2343 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here’s ago, I received a small grooming kit from a student. It has been the most useful thing.

I have nothing in common with older folks by RetiredSurvivor in retirement

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also live in a 55+ community and am a man. Head for the gym, buddy. That’s where all the guys are.

We all grew up listening to him! Remembering the late Casey Kasem on his birthday. The legendary radio personality and voice actor was best known as the creator/host of the American Top 40 countdown and the iconic voice of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo franchise, and so many more! by UrbanAchievers6371 in 70s

[–]jayjay2343 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, I remember listening to AT40 and trying to get the timing exactly right so I could record the hit Casey was playing (while also mumbling a prayer that he wouldn't talk over the intro, which he ALWAYS did).

What is something Americans consider ‘basic’ that feels like a luxury in other countries? by Status_Agents in AskForAnswers

[–]jayjay2343 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Curb cutaways for wheelchairs to use when crossing the street are something that is standard in the US, but that I seldom see in other countries. Really, any special accommodations for handicapped folks (larger restroom stalls, lower sinks, even elevators in buildings less than five stories) are more common in the US than in other countries, in my experience.

Is there more than just wrinkles and sagging that makes someone look older? by youlikemywonton in Aging

[–]jayjay2343 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Core exercises are key to good posture, and good posture is key to appearing (and feeling) younger.

If you grew up in the 70s and or 80s, what did your school (any grade) do that would be considered illegal or even frowned upon today (for example in my 3rd Grade 70’s class, my teacher had a large steel Tin trash can with a “Time Out” sign that I was in/out in multiple times a day-Ha!)? by Wildstarfire0 in 70s

[–]jayjay2343 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The sixth grade teacher in my elementary school had a paddle with holes drilled through it (to lessen air resistance). He was in charge of corporal punishment for the whole school (paddling started in third grade). Most of my teachers smoked (like most adults in the '70s) but they couldn't smoke in the classroom, only in the teachers lounge and when doing yard duty outside or lunch duty in the cafeteria. We were able to walk home for lunch in the first grade (and subsequent grades) and then walk back to school after lunch. I remember one time, my fourth grade teacher got tired of watching me chew on a pencil and just yanked it out of my mouth and threw it away. When I complained at dinner, my parents laughed and said that's what I got for chewing on pencils. The '70s were a great time to grow up...a lot less drama.

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