take a chance

Years ago, there was a TV show by the creators of All in the Family.  "Good Times", it was about a poor black family in the public housing.  They were not shown on welfare or support (though I'm sure technically they were eligible for it)  The father worked, hard physical labor but not enough they could move out to a not crime ridden place.
The series was known for J.J. and his catch phrase "dynomite."
In retrospect one episode, now has struck me.  The father had a chance to go and work on the Alaska pipeline, making good money.
The family complained they would loose friends and their way of life if they moved.  And the wife objected to the husband going on his own.

I realize this was simply a sit com, but why not take a chance?  Why stay in a place with no chance of advancement, in one of the most dangerous and corrupt cities in America?  Alaska (or Texas or the Dakotas or other places...) had/has vast opportunities.

bolt from the blue

I have students who still do not understand the basic naming of chemical compounds.  I mean how hard is it to understand "copper (II)..."  means the copper has a plus 2 charge?  Then I realized.  "They do not want to learn it."  They are perfectly content to muddle through ignorant.

Need more geeks

A while back I bought some T shirts to wear on tshirt day.  For college day I had "star trek academy engineering" shirt.  I have also a Miskantonic shirt.  In addition I have a Wonder Woman shirt with the simple "WW" logo from the Women's lib age.  A student asked me why I had a World Wrestling shirt on.

wait...how many?

The Steubenville rape case has been talked about to death.

27 coaches are being investigated....27 in a town of 18,000.  There is your first problem people, even assuming that the coaches are also teaching traditional academics.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57574904/city-backs-growing-steubenville-probe-official-says/

humbled..

the Administration had a survey for the students.  One question was "what can the adults do to help students be better students.?"  A student asked for help on the last idea.

"well let me see what you have ?"

Paraphrase
Item 4 "it is hard to get excited about learning when some teachers do not care.  Some do, *colleague*, Me, and *another colleague*.  But others just go through the motions."

Oh...Wow.

(I was sure to tell my colleagues they were mentioned in this way.)

good for the goose...

Yep, every state representative, teacher, education administrator, senator, congressman and any person who makes decisions for education should have to take the standardized test.  Heck, if they fail they should loose their jobs.  Maybe then they might look and say "do high school graduates really need the knowledge these tests are about."
 

http://www.providencestudentunion.org/2013/02/14/zombie-cauldierre-declares-no-education-no-life/

This is a buret.  It is used to titrate chemicals.  It gives you great precision in the amount of chemicals added.  the part that controls the flow of chemicals is the "stopcock"  (stop that, its because you "cock" it to control or stop the flow).  The part that the chemical comes out of is the "nipple."  (Siiigh, gotta love teaching teenagers)

Sometimes the stopcock will stick.  There are a few tricks to loosen it, soaking it in warm water or soda.  There is something that will help prevent this from happening.

So the bookkeeper is gonna love my purchase order of "stopcock grease."