Substitute Thoughts

Contrary to the title of this post, I was not thinking about one thing, and then start thinking about something completely different. In fact, I was thinking about several similar things all at once. I am currently working during the day as a substitute teacher. Because of this, I see more different students in the course of the week than most other teachers. I also have, because of the nature of being a sub, more time with nothing to do than even the students have. As a result, I spend much of my day observing and listening to the students. It is very interesting what the students will tell each other when they think no one else is listening.

"I can't believe how drunk I got. I totally passed out, and didn't remember anything until I woke up in the hospital."

"Yeah, I got a ticket for underage drinking, but I'm gonna fight it, 'cause my Dad gave me the beer, and he was driving."

"No, I'm not pregnant. So I dodged another one."

"I beat the ____ out of her! She totally deserved it. She was talking ___ about me."

I could go on, but it gets very redundant. Underage drinking, casual sex, violence, lawbreaking, cheating, fighting, drug use. Name it. The scariest part of all of it is the attitude. Nothing matters, so do whatever you want. One person even suggested that the perfect retirement plan is to rob a bank with a gun. You'll go to jail where they will provide food, shelter, health care, etc. all for free. Besides, I don't need school, I can make more money in a day on the corner selling than most teacher's make in a year.

Where did we go wrong? Not too long ago in America people were ashamed when they did something wrong, or something that would embarrass their family. Not any more. In fact, many of the kids think their parents deserve it for trying to stop them from doing what they want to do. We live in the "me" generation of disposable things. Disposable razors, disposable cars, disposable marriages. If it doesn't work, throw it away.

This school, along with others, is trying to change those attitudes. They have a new program trying to build respect, responsibility, and honesty. They say it is working. I hope it is. I worry that it's not.

Take Care. Keep Hoping. Stick.

The Profane

I was recently working with one of the classes I teach. We had been studying murals and monuments. As part of a class exercise, and to have a little fun, the book suggested creating a mural as a class. We came up with a theme, and the images that we wanted to draw to represent that theme. Everyone was really having fun trying to draw and represent the images we had decided on.

Then one guy had to spoil it. I looked over and he was writing swear words on the mural. I lost it. I immediately grabbed an eraser, and while erasing the swear words, I threw him out of class. (He wasn’t even in that class, but had come to the room with a pass to “work” on make-up assignments from another class.) I told him how ridiculous it was that he had done this, and that he was not welcome in the classroom for a while.

I apologized to my regular students, but told them that this had ruined our project, and we would not continue. I then told them something that inspired this post. I said what I have always heard, and believe to be true,

“Profanity is the refuge of the Ignorant”.


When people use swear words and profanity, they are simply showing that they are not intelligent enough to put someone down with the vocabulary that they have available in their own intellect. Swearing elevates no one. It does not express what we really mean to say. My mother used to say, “I’m so mad, I cold just spit.” That is all that profanity is. It is getting so upset, that we verbally spit, because we don’t know what else to do. How much better if we were to think carefully of what we wanted to say, and express our anger, or hurt feelings, or whatever in a reasoned and intelligent way. Swearing is just a way to abuse someone without hitting them. In my opinion, you would be just as well off to throw that punch as to swear—the end result is just as effective at getting across your point. (No, I am not condoning, nor encouraging violence, I’m trying to show that both are equally wrong.)

Perhaps there is an occasion where a profane word expresses the exact sentiment we wish to get across, but I have never found it to be true. Unfortunately, I see that the trend in our society today to be towards accepting more and more of this type of language as common and acceptable. I hope we never fully get there. I long for the day that %@#%&*%$ was as profane as anyone ever got.

Keep it clean. Use your Intellect. Stick

Hot! Hot! Hot! Or Almost

We had an interesting situation occur Wednesday at school. We were part of the way through our sixth hour classes when the principal came on the intercom and announced that we needed to evacuate the building due to a potential natural gas leak.

We marched over 1200 students and faculty out of the building and down the street about a mile to the local Junior High. I have done similar type activities in other areas, so I know what should have happened. The reality was CHAOS!
There was no organization, no chain of command or information, and no knowledge of what was expected. No one knew where they were to ultimately go. No one knew who to go to, or where, for information on what was going to happen.

I hope that the school learned from this, and that they plan better for any future possible needs in this area.

Take care. Stick.

Computer Woes Continued

I got the new hard drive. I put it in. It works perfectly, but...I still have the original problem. It turns out the crashed hard drive was an additional problem the computer had. Now they think my video card, or display has gone bad. They are sending me a shipping box to return the computer for repair. Should be good as new (minus all my saved memory, pictures etc.) in about two weeks. This too shall pass.

On a better note, we are really feeling blessed right now. A friend, who is an avid hunter, gifted us with about a hundred pounds of meat. Don't feel too bad for him to give this up. He has gotten three elk, a moose, and two bears already this year. He had buffalo, deer, elk, and moose all from previous years hunting already in his freezer. He needed to make room for this seasons take. We are still grateful, and really feel blessed.

Take care. Good Hunting. Stick.

The Day of Resurrection is Near

I called my computer's manufacturer help line today. They had me run some tests, and confirmed that my hard drive was dead. They will send me a new one, along with instructions for its installation within a week, so what was once dead will live again.

We can't wait. Keep on hoping. Stick.

This Virus Kills

Since my last post, we have had a death in the family. Sadly, my computer has died. My laptop has been diagnosed with a terminal motherboard illness. There is hope of a manufacturer resurrection, but we do not know if this will happen yet. Until then, if I post at all it will be from whatever computer I can borrow. Currently, I am on a long term sub with the High School, and they have issued me a MacBook for use while I am doing this. Hopefully we will get our regular computer either repaired or replaced soon. Meanwhile, my posting here will be sporadic.

Take care. Have a great day. Stick.

Computer/Viruses

The last few days we have not had a computer working at my place. My two boys have decided they needed e-mail/facebook addressesand all that goes with that. The problem has been, that they now are on the computer more "checking their e-mail". In reality, they are on playing games off the internet more, and for some reason, turning off my anti-virus program to do it. My computer has been "ill", but we finally inoculated it again, so for now it's mu--u--uc-chh better.

In contrast, now my wife and I are both sick. There has been a bug going through the schools lately, are girls got it, and gave it to us. It is just a cold, but it's bad enough to be miserable.

I hope that you are all well and happy.

Watch out for both viruses. Stick.