DONE!!!
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Posted:May 14, 2008 7:42 pm
Last Updated:Nov 4, 2009 12:49 pm
6545 Views
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Those of you who have followed along for a while know that I've been pursuing my Master's degree while teaching. Amazingly enough, I started the certificate program back in 2002 when I was still bartending at Chili's!! In the time since, I worked as a clerk in a medical unit while student teaching, tending bar on weekends and going to class during the week, sweating out the summer of 2004 waiting for my initial certification before starting my first teaching job, surviving three years before making tenure, and going to night classes to finish my Master's.
It's finally over as of tonight! I handed in my research thesis, signed off on its release, and am now a free man. All that's left is to apply for permanent certification and nudge the folks in payroll for my salary bump.
For those of you who think teachers are overpaid, I now owe $20,000 in student loans that have to be paid back within 5 years while making a grand total of $64,000 a year come next September. That's not counting the 21 certificate credits I have that didn't count towards my MS for the first 3 years. Whatever your opinion of teachers may be, none of us are in it for the money!
To everyone who offered kind words and encouragement when things were bleak and dreary, my infinite thanks and appreciation-your support really made a difference for a guy who was ready to pack it all in a few months ago.
You all know who you are. 
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In case you were wondering why public schools suck
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Posted:Apr 24, 2008 10:39 am
Last Updated:Feb 9, 2011 1:06 pm
6491 Views
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NEA Today has as its cover story for this month the depressing news that nearly 50% of all new teachers in the US public school system quit the profession within 5 years!!! The most common reasons cited were lack of preparation (what, you mean having Education professors who have never been in a classroom is a bad thing?), lack of administrator backup in handling discipline, and lack of, if not complete disrespect, from the parent or guardian. (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.) Also on this list were complaints regarding certification requirements, the Byzantine moronicism of No Left Behind, and simply inadequate pay to make a living, especially considering that in NY you have to acquire a Masters' degree in your field within 5 years of the initial certification.
I have to say, I know exactly how these teachers feel. With 30 in a decrepit classroom (the ceiling tiles in my room threaten to fall on us and our bookroom is an unused boys' bathroom-pheww) and who can remember their cellphones, sidekicks, iPods, and baseball caps but can't be bothered to bring a pen and a notebook, everyday makes me wonder why I became a teacher.
Those of you who think that having July and August off makes up for the rest of the year, I dare you to substitute teach for a DAY-see how you like it. Consider that once I finish my Masters this year, I'll be $20,000 dollars in student loan debt (and that's cheap by today's standards) but will only make $64,000 with my raise next year-and I work in the 6th highest paid district in the county! In order to afford a house here on LI, you need a minimum $70,000 annual salary. Now you know why teachers have second jobs!!!
For those of you who inist it's not about the money, quit your job and go do charity work. As cynical as it sounds, you get what you pay for...
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What is up with politicians?
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Posted:Apr 6, 2008 7:18 am
Last Updated:Feb 9, 2011 1:07 pm
6331 Views
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So my former governor gets busted for involvement in a ring and is forced to resign, and now the lt. governor beign sworn in is the first blind, black governor of any state. No red flags there, so far.
So why does he feel the need to discuss the extramarital affairs that both he and his wife had twenty years ago?
I've had this discussion with TXBitch and RealThing before, who are both big proponents of monogamy and fidelity, yet all I see around me are miserable people in miserable relationships! With six billion people on the planet, is it really possible to maintain fidelity? And why is it so important to some people and obviously irrelevant to others?
TX would argue that it's a byproduct of our disposable culture where nothing is worth anything if its not shiny and new. That's a good point and difficult to refute. Yet I don't think that it's the cause so much as the effect. Here's my question:
If it's ok to marry then divorce someone in our country, remarry someone else and divorce him/her, and finally just shack up with another person who winds up cheating on you, why is it not okay to have multiple relationships? If you can love someone with all your heart does this mean that other people in your life are being emotionally shortchanged?
Or (and I hate to sound cynical) is it because marriage really is a civil contract first and foremost set up to ensure that a man isn't raising someone else's offspring and protect a woman from getting STDs from her philandering mate?
Comments, anyone?
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Hubris-Or, How dumb is Spitzer?
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Posted:Mar 13, 2008 12:55 pm
Last Updated:Aug 6, 2008 7:12 am
6322 Views
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So for those of you in a dark cave, the esteemed governor of my home state of NY has resigned over allegations that he was involved in a ring for the past five years, spending over $80,000 on hookers in that time under the pseudonym 'George Fox." Considering that he was one of the most aggressive attorney generals in recent memory here, notably enacting a law that prosecutes the john rather than the , it seems that he is in danger of going to jail because of legislation he himself enacted as governor.
Now do you understand why we make you read Oedipus Rex and Julius Caesar?
The ridiculous part is, why does a man of his power and position need to pay for sex? His hookers in some cases charded $5500 for two hours!!!  What, does her pussy cure baldness or something??
Just out of curiosity, what would you do sexually for $5500? (You can answer "Nothing" but it's more fun if you get creative.)
More interestingly, what do you suppose Spitzer wanted to do in bed that it required that much money to set up?
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I'm in the wrong district
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Posted:Mar 7, 2008 1:14 pm
Last Updated:Apr 24, 2008 10:25 am
6420 Views
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I read in the NY TImes today about a charter school starting up next year where the teachers will make (and you're reading this right) $125,000/yr!!!!
The premise behind it is that paying teachers more money will lead to increased performance among low-functioning students for the simple reason that the pay will attract a better quality of teacher. The downside is that this charter school will have a longer school day and run longer during the year while class size will average around 30 pupils. Teachers will also have a greater responsibility towards discipline and maintenance of the school in lieu of having assistant principals and deans.
Personally, I think this is a great idea. If you are wondering where your taxes go when it comes to public education, we teachers are wondering too!!! My district has been on austerity for 4 years, my school building is literally falling down around me, all of my classes have 28-29 in them, and no matter what a does to disrupt a class or fail a course, the admins never expel them.
Considering that my state mandates that I have a Master's degree from a state-accredited college in my subject to maintain certification, it seems to me that having an MA or MS should certainly be justification for making money comparable to a CPA or an engineer (I mean, we are teaching to function in society!) Considering that I make $55,000 and am considered a high-paid teacher in the NYC metro area! Considering that you can't afford a house around here without making at least $70,000 it doesn't compute into making a living.
Here's what benefits you as a taxpayer-federal funds are used for the charter school to increase learning but with no superintindents, 1 principal, and teachers doing double duty, the paper trail becomes that much easier to follow. Also, if scores don't go up, the feds withhold funding.
More importantly, the teacher is compensated well enough that he/she doesn't have to worry about school supplies or other equipment because any materials purchased for the classroom are tax deductible, and clerical staff are held to a minimum because there is only one administrator in the office.
And just try suing a teacher who makes six figures for disciplining your when he gets out of line!!  
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Back from the Dead
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Posted:Feb 23, 2008 10:21 am
Last Updated:Mar 7, 2008 3:32 pm
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Well, so much for having the week off! I spent last Friday at the dentist getting cavities fixed, Monday and Thursday going to an oral surgeon for a tooth extraction and a dental implant, and have to go back next week for more follow-up work. And my insurance covers a whopping 75% of the bill so it's only about $800!!! 
So much for the cable bill this month...
Did anyone do anything fun this President's Day Week while I slept off novacaine? 
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For all those who ever worked in food service!!
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Posted:Feb 9, 2008 1:19 pm
Last Updated:Mar 30, 2009 1:01 pm
6378 Views
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Heidi the blonde stumbles into a bar and screams at the guy serving drinks:
"Beertender, gimme a dribble martoonie and put a pickle in it!"
He gives it to her and she drinks it down.
She then says, "Beertender, gimme another dribble martoonie and put a pickle in it!"
He gives it to her and she drinks it down.
She then says, "Beertender, gimme another dribble martoonie and you better put two pickles in it because I've got the worst case of heartburn!"
The bartender sighs. "Look, lady...It's not beertender, it's bartender. It's not a martoonie, it's a martini. It's not a dribble, it's a double. That's not a pickle, it's an onion. And you haven't got heartburn-
-you've got your left tit stuck in the ashtray."
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Employees Must Wash Hands...
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Posted:Jan 30, 2008 7:27 pm
Last Updated:Mar 30, 2009 1:01 pm
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A beautiful woman comes out of the ladies' room at a bar of middling worth and beckons the bartender. The bartender dutifully approaches as the woman leans over and places a finger under his bearded chin.
"Hello, handsome," she coos seductively. "Would you by any chance be the manager here?"
The bartender turns red as her fingers creep through his beard languidly. "Um, no, sorry. I'm just the barkeep."
"Oh, too bad..." she chuckles as her hands mover their way up to tousle his thick, dark hair.
"Well, then, handsome, would you know if the manager is around at the moment?" she asks hopefully.
The bartender flushes red again and stutters out, "No, I'm afraid he's stepped out for a moment. He should be back in a few minutes, though."
"Oh, okay," teh beautiful woman purrs, running the tip of one manicured finger along the contours of the bartender's mouth. "Could you be a dear and give him a message for me?"
The bartender smiles and replies, "Certainly! What's the message?"
The gorgeous woman tickles the man's nose with her index finger and says in a smoky voice:
"Tell him that the ladies' room has no soap, no toilet paper, no sanitary napkins, no working faucet, and no hand towels, and women like me who are menstruating and gassy would like to clean up when we use the facilities!"
(Do you suppose the bartender leaves the seat down for his wife from now on?) 
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To link to this blog (Canice70) use [blog Canice70] in your messages.
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off the field for all but 10.5 minutes of the second half. Eli Manning silenced all of his naysayers for good with two TD passes and only 1 IT which slipped out of WR Steve Smith's hands. This makes a record setting 11 road games that the Giants have won and provides sweet revenge for Jets fans after "Spygate."
