Summer "break"

Summer is upon us. This is the time of year I am incessantly reminded by snide assholes that I get paid for doing nothing. The true welfare queens of the modern era. Nevermind the fact that my summer pay is payment for services already rendered, and districts stretch out the pay over 12 months so that teachers don't return in August emaciated and starving because they blew all their money in Vegas back in June.

Ah, but I am now a welfare queen in more than one way. Unemployment insurance! Today I get to file a claim because I am officially unemployed. The government teat is sweet. Maybe I can milk this for 99 weeks and earn our bad reputation.

Since being placed on leave after the student protest, I have been an applying and interviewing fool. It brings back all the terrible memories of applying straight out of college. Over 100 districts, a dozen job fairs, no bites. Non-stop anxiety and confusion. This time around is different though, and I'm hoping I get picked up in the first round of interviews. Then I can enjoy my summer with the comforting knowledge that I will have a paycheck for the next twelve months.

The other day, the students put in the $7,000 community garden from my club, and a teen political summit was organized by a State Senator who was inspired by my student's protest. Awesome accomplishments for a four year teacher I think. That State Senator now wants to give me a job working for her during the summer. Sweet government teat.

One of the more striking realizations from the garden and political summit, was the complete lack of interest by the district or media, despite invites. I suppose it is just another painful reminder that nobody gives a shit about education anyway. They just wave their hand and expect magic to happen, and when it doesn't, they criticize and then forget. Oh, well. Perhaps that is best. Stay out of my way and we'll all be better off.