War on Pessimism

Pragamatism is ok. But there is a difference between looking at things logically and looking at them pessimistically.

For the record: Pessimism is that dreary outlook, the glass is half empty, doom and gloom, life is horrible, there is nothing good about this situation attitude.

Optimism is the determination to find something good in every situation, no matter how dismal it may seem. You aren't ignoring the facts, you are just trying to find something good. (And just so you know... there is ALWAYS something good to find.)

You can disagree with the following opinions, but only if you go by the above mentioned definitions. Don't cheat and change them on me in order for arguments sake. And yes, I am talking to you Kyle.

There are few things wrong with finding everything in the universe to be broken, bad, or hopeless:

1. It's called "igetsocaughtupinhowcooliamthatistartcomplaningabouteverythingpossibleandijustendupsoundingstupid" syndrom. Kind of a mouthful. But it's true, and pretty self explanitory. Ever met someone with this disease? I have.

2. You run the risk of offending people.
Why point out everything bad about a situation, teacher, idea, class, friend, article... ect. ect? You aren't going to fix it by complaining. In fact, you may (in addition to possibly looking silly) find youself making a bad situation worse. (Which is so important I am going to give it it's own number.)

3. You may just find yourself making a bad situation worse.

4. As a Johnny raincloud, you rain on everyone else's parade and make the world seem more dreary. Get it? YOU AFFECT OTHER PEOPLE! Profound I know... I guess that's ok if you like being depressed and want everyone else to join you... maybe. This is closely interconnected with #2. The differences lies in the probable emotions that are going to be produced in other people.

So please stop whining all the time. Please. (I'm not saying never whine... just some of you... tone it down a bit. And think before you complain.)


Although... I will give it to you pessimists out there. You can be extremely amusing to argue with :)

Unapplauded Courage

Kindergarten. A word synonymous with crayons, carelessness, picture books, mini-melodramas, finger paints, snack time and fun.

Not.

I hope to heaven I was not a problem child in kindergarten. Don't get me wrong. I love going everyday. I am extremely proud of myself, I nearly have all the kids names down! And there are 48 of them to memorize. However I watch the teacher state, cajol, repeat, reprimand, repeat, remind, exhort, repeat, and correct about 15 billion times a day. This is just the teacher mind you. I do nearly as much correcting as she does, as do both of the TA's as well as the parent volunteers who come in everyday. After hearing 'I can't', 'She breathed on me!', 'Teacher look at this', 'My dog (insert story here)', 'He cut in line!', 'She won't let me have a turn,' ect. ect. forty billion times a day, on top of trying to be sensitive to student development, cirriculum goals and ability levels of each child.... I am worn out.

Kindergarten teachers have quickly jumped to the top of my list of bravest people I know.

I don't want to sound cocky, but I think I can do a fairly good job in the classroom. I can keep control of the class, run my center fairly smoothly and I'm learning the 'correct' way to give correction. Of course I still need a ton of practice. But I'm wondering if I will fall apart from exhaustion if I decide to be a regular education teacher, at least one in a kindergarten classroom that is.

Next time I go home I need to look up my kindergarten teacher, and tell her thanks. Teacher's are so undervalued. Sometimes when I tell people that I am an education major I feel like they look at me and think 'you couldn't think of anything better to go into?' Often times I think it's looked at as the 'copout' major. "I didn't know what to be... I couldn't handle that program... so I'll teach."

This paragraph is for all those people who think that teaching, and especially young childhood education, is a 'copout' major. One day when you are a parent, make sure you volunteer to help in your child's preschool or kindergarten class. Be there ALL day- don't wuss out and go for only an hour or two. Ask the teacher a few questions about the importance of early vocabulary and language aquisition as well as early intervention programs. I promise you will be amazed with what you see and learn. And if you aren't... either you are an educator, or your child has a clueless teacher.

The government, the kids, the parents, the developmental problems, the cirriculum goals ect. ect... have all been put teacher's between a rock and a hard spot. They work their tails off and get no recognition for it, but I think if more people could get an inside look at what exactly teacher's do and why they do it, maybe they'd be willing to do more to help.

So this is my tribute to early childhood educators. Thank you. I don't know if I'm brave enough to do what you do.

Special Education is looking really appealing right now....

Why do I remember so many dang dreams anyways?

I am softly falling into oblivion.... wrapped beneath a thick layer of blankets and contentment. Protection. Drowsiness brings with it the perfect serenity that can only be found in that moment of complete stillness between dreams and waking.

And then YOU appear.

Suddenly I dream, and the only safe harbor I had left is stripped away. In my dream I feel vivid sensations that belong only to the world of waking. YOU turned them into a horrible, wonderful fantasy. Only I can't decide which you turned it to...

Was Cinderella right when she said that "A dream is a wish your heart makes?" -I don't know if I like that.

Is it possible to meet someone "Once upon a dream?"

Don't get me wrong. YOU don't appear every night. Not even close. But since the first time you were there, I find myself no longer able to look towards sleep as a reprise. Will YOU be there tonight? Waiting?

Do I want you to be?

Ready, Set, Socialize!

So why is a social life necessary anyways?

I've been thinking about it.

Basically people need people. Which seems obvious, but why???

I bet you had to pause to think about that one didn't you?

This is the answer I came up with: If I don't know anyone, I can't help anyone. And then I break down and feel like a worthless piece of junk, which doesn't help anything, ever, at all. So I need to have friends so that I can help other people. Cause that's what I am here for.

Guess I'd better start talking to people more.