Some thoughts during this first weekend of spring:

Perhaps for the first time this school year, I have hardly any schoolwork to do this weekend, no tests to grade, no tests to write, no recommendations, nothing but prepare for next weeks’ classes. *wow* So why am I wasting time blogging instead of reading and writing? ☺

It is obvious that Jean and I have moved into another generation with all that is happening in our family. Not only are Mark and Kate getting married this summer, but our nephew and his wife are expecting their second baby, so that my brother and his wife will be grandparents again! When my friend Alan commented after our fathers died that he and I are now the eldest generation in our families was scary enough, but all these weddings and babies are even scarier.

I have had such an enjoyable week chatting with former students on Spring Break, not to mention spending time with current students in the Math Lab, that it reminded me yet again that the worst part about growing older is the inevitable need to retire eventually. Perhaps my supervisor will encourage that by taking away my honors and A.P. classes and give me low-level classes. That would drive me out of teaching faster than the state of N.J. as its legislature continues to blame teachers for all the fiscal ills in the state rather than point the finger at themselves for refusing to address the state’s financial woes while continuing to borrow money to pay the state’s bills and not funding pension funds while letting deficits continue to pile up. Townspeople at the past week's Board of Education meeting were fairly anti-teacher as well. If those people had any idea how difficult teaching is, or how time-consuming, perhaps they would not be so prejudiced against us. Or perhaps they still would, since how many people care about the good of anybody but themselves anyway?