Teacup Café XXXI

[Willow Oran]

That really is sad, but I thought actually that Willow meant that the schools had no walls because of some educational experiment. Like: "kids shouldn't be in narrow rooms because that disturbs their creativity, so lets not build walls inside the building" sort of nonsense.
(My apologies to people who really believe in that sort of thing for sounding sarcastic)

That is what I meant. Katya's description of run down schools is true, mostly in the states along the Mississippi.

The Seattle schools I was talking about were built in... the 70's, I think, and for some ill thought out reason they chose to build them with as few indoor walls as possible. So there are walls between classrooms for different grade levels, but then each grade level has a 'pod' of three spaces seperated by little more than waist to shoulder high shelves and a shared play area/computer space. Which isn't so bad if the class sizes are small and the students all well behaved.
However, the classes are over enrolled as far down as kindergarten and the public school system here requires that special needs students, including those with sever behavioral disorders, be integrated into the regular classes.
Add that to the fact that the district of the city these schools are in is the most multicultural district in the city and you get 70-90 highly distractable students speaking a variety of languages crammed into these spaces with only 3 underpaid teachers and a shortage of qualified interpreters/IA's and still expected to come out of it able to pass the requirements imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act.
This has recently exacerbated the over enrollment problem because students from failing schools are getting moved to schools with better test scores, despite the fact that the bulk of the resources are being poured into bolstering the failing schools. So the schools with good teachers are ending up overcrowded and underfunded while the schools that haven't met standards get extra funds but have very small class sizes. Seattle teachers did just get a raise, after the teachers in the neighboring school district started off the year with a strike, but the pay still isn't anywhere near what it should be.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Originally Posted by katya

Indeed. The politics of education all around is... worrisome to me, to say the least. What particularly do you not agree with as far as certification?

The continuing ed requirements for teachers are out of control, at least around here. If you've been teaching middle school math for 10 years, why should you be required to be taking night courses in ed theory? If you have an advanced degree in physics, and professional time in as a scientist, why can't you teach? Yet, a lot of places you can't.

I believe in a lot of the advances in learning theory, for example. Learning styles is a really important component of the educational picture. But we should have that worked out as a tracking issue. I see kids who are getting tests and study guides which are almost useless to them, because there are so many sections...trying to reach every learning style. Stop it. Let tecahers teach by their skills and get them the students who benefit most from that style. Stop trying to make all classrooms equal opportunity.

Originally Posted by Mari

That really is sad, but I thought actually that Willow meant that the schools had no walls because of some educational experiment. Like: "kids shouldn't be in narrow rooms because that disturbs their creativity, so lets not build walls inside the building" sort of nonsense.
(My apologies to people who really believe in that sort of thing for sounding sarcastic)

"Open school" are usually structured with more freeflow between learning stations. They aren't actually without architecture.

[Curufin]

Hey everyone. It's late and I'm tired, but I can't sleep anyway.

I made a big decision in my life today - I finally took the bait and decided to go vegan. I've been vegetarian since I came back to the States, and I felt I wasn't living up to my expectations of myself while still eating animal by-products. So as of today, I'm vegan. I've started taking a multivitamin, and looking at all the yummy recipes out there. Thankfully, I'm a big fan of beans and grains and fruits and vegetables, so it's more of an enjoyable challenge than a major sacrifice.

Wish me luck!

[Tessar]

Oooh, good luck ^_^.

[Mari]

Oh my, good luck, Rinkë!

I can't see our shed in the backyard...

[Grey_Wolf]

"Ok, boys and girls, pay close attention to what they're doing, because there'll be a quiz afterwards."

[Varnafindë]

Good luck, Rinkë!
As you like beans and grains and fruits and vegetables already, that should help you to persevere and to have a healthy diet.

[Coffeehouse]

Hey all. Hows everyone! So glad its Sunday. It's the perfect excuse for doing nothing, nada, nicht A day of recovery I'm wishing for this though because in reality I'm supposed to watch a match at 4pm and go to a student meeting at 6pm and... no i dont want to

[Mari]

In reality I'm supposed to do homework and make my groupmates do theirs...
I hate groupwork!

[Empress_Flynn]

Today I get to do nothing! mwahahahaha!

I stayed in bed til after 12 Mwahahahah!

And I went to bed at 10:30 the night before lol...

It's very cold in here...

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Rinke email me if you want suggestions.

I was up way too late (3 am is too late) but a busy day today.

[Mari]

I thought 3 AM was normal!
Okay, maybe not for people who need to get up at early hours and aren't students

Good luck, Sis!

Empress, you don't have the sun out at the moment? Here it is quite sunny.

[Grey_Wolf]

"And we are back at M.O.O.T. 102,2 with this classic Lion King song..."

Lala kahle [Sleep well]

On the Cafe, the Teacup Cafe
Hector sleeps tonight
On the Cafe, the Teacup Cafe
Hector sleeps tonight

(Chorus)
Imbube

Ingonyama ifile [Hector's in peace]
Ingonyama ilele [Hector sleeps]
Thula [Hush]

On the Cafe, the Teacup Cafe
Hector sleeps tonight
On the Cafe, the Teacup Cafe
Hector sleeps tonight

(Chorus)

Ingonyama ilele [Hector sleeps]

Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling
Hector sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling
Hector sleeps tonight

He, ha helelemama [He, ha helelemama]
Ohi'mbube [lion]

(Chorus)

Ixesha lifikile [Time has come]
Lala [Sleep]
Lala kahle [Sleep well]

On the Cafe, the Teacup Cafe
Hector sleeps tonight
On the Cafe, the Teacup Cafe
Hector sleeps tonight

(Chorus)

My little darling
Don't fear, my little darling
My little darling
Don't fear, my little darling

Ingonyama ilele [Hector sleeps tonight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Y-5...eature=related

[shesabrandybuck]

FINALLY! Entmoot is working. For some reason it wasnt letting me open the webpage last night. I was so sad


Also, I think the sun wants to show its face today

[Coffeehouse]

Originally Posted by Mari

I thought 3 AM was normal!
Okay, maybe not for people who need to get up at early hours and aren't students

Haha yeah I hear you Mari

Originally Posted by shesabrandybuck

FINALLY! Entmoot is working. For some reason it wasnt letting me open the webpage last night. I was so sad


Also, I think the sun wants to show its face today

Yeah I think it happened to all of us. I even thought the website was just.. gone, since it said at one point that the website was expired.

[Varnafindë]

Originally Posted by Midge

Oh, and PRINCESS VARNA! It's your turn to post a question in the Narnia Trivia Thread!!!

*hint hint* To newcomers who drool over C.S. Lewis.. there's an entire sub-forum devoted to him which needs perusers!

I read this post just now - but earlier today I checked out the sub-forum and posted my Narnia Trivia question.

So, C.S. Lewis droolers, run over there, and beat Midge to answering it!

[Empress_Flynn]

Originally Posted by Mari

I thought 3 AM was normal!
Okay, maybe not for people who need to get up at early hours and aren't students

Good luck, Sis!

Empress, you don't have the sun out at the moment? Here it is quite sunny.

No... it's sunny... but the flat is freezing lol...

I'm all wrapped up in a blankie ^^

[Mari]

My window is wide open. You can easily sit out back and try to get a tan. ^_^
Do you have a balcony or something?
Anyway, blankets are good. Much better for the environment than just turning up the heat.
I never use my heater. But I do have a great amount of pillows and blankets.
*gets a few out of her secret stack and offers them to Empress to use*
Oh and we have an ever burning fire, so snuggle up in the sofa near it

*makes herself a cup of tea* Want some as well?

[Empress_Flynn]

Originally Posted by Mari

My window is wide open. You can easily sit out back and try to get a tan. ^_^
Do you have a balcony or something?
Anyway, blankets are good. Much better for the environment than just turning up the heat.
I never use my heater. But I do have a great amount of pillows and blankets.
*gets a few out of her secret stack and offers them to Empress to use*
Oh and we have an ever burning fire, so snuggle up in the sofa near it

*makes herself a cup of tea* Want some as well?

Yes please! Actually I've been drinking tea a lot today, so that's helped

A snuggle always helps too ^^

Haha... nope, no balcony... and it's a bit chilly out anyway... so being wrapped up like this is good enough for now

[Mari]

*gets Empress some tea as well*
There you go.

You know, "I'm in love with a big blue frog" is such a brilliant song. *is singing*