Thursday, September 8, 2011

Really annoying things that Alanis Morissette would call Ironic even if they’re not.

Best feeling in the world: Throwing off the shackles of a 2 week diet and licking dulce de leche off the spatula after eating cookie dough.

Worst feeling in the world: Right after the dulce de leche/cookie dough binge. And maybe you had a couple of chocolate covered pretzels, too.

 

Reading angry comments on a news article about teachers’ contracts. Because we make so much money.

 

Being told we can leave early from school, because we have comp time for coming to the open house after hours, but I have 45 more essays to grade and for once we don’t have an after school meeting because everyone else has left. Oh, and did I mention, most people leave school early anyway.

 

Playing an “All Things Considered” piece about the misuse of the term “That’s Racist” and then hearing students misuse the term almost immediately after that.

 

Catching students chewing gum after I’ve made 10 of their peers spit out their gum within the same hour. And them telling me that gum tastes good.

 

A parent lecturing me about why her student doesn’t like my class after I’ve called her because the student is messing around and being disrespectful in class.

 

Me complaining about Harry Potter even though I’ve never read it. And don’t intend to.

12 comments:

tiffanymljames said...

i listened to the thats racist thing earlier today. i thought it was way interesting. and hilarious.

erin summerill said...

Oh Mariko...still no Harry? Sigh. One of the greatest books ever. And if I had my way and I was still teaching at KHS, I'd push for a full Harry study. 

Mariko said...

I loved that story. It is so funny. P.S. one of my students thought I was trying to slip in a political statement since the story mentioned Glenn Beck calling the president racist. Kids are hilarious.

Mariko said...

Still no Harry. But Erin, you do have a talent for making me excited about anything. When am I going to get to read your book?

Kurk Spendlove said...

So, whats the difference between irony and sarcasm?

Mariko said...

Sarcasm is a type of irony. And it's the only one my students understand. And if they don't, they're totally lost in my class.

Jesse Palmer said...

Perhaps the term is "unfortunately coincidental," like rain on your wedding day.  Let's wait for that to catch on, since it's so catchy.  As someone who has read some/ a few/most of Harry Potter books, I can't remember (they take maybe 45 minutes each despite being 400 pages) I can confidently affirm you're not missing much.  It's blasphemy in some circles, I know, but they are just so many more interesting, nuanced things out there, even if you limited it to fantasy and/or children's books.  It's literary popcorn, fun to eat, but pretty inconsequential.  Teaching is hard work. 

Mariko said...

Glad you're on my side. I'll just quote you as my argument from now on. :)

Rebecca Hurst said...

M. Jackson -- I'm lovin' your blogs. And I have to say, I did get one of my friends to buy one of those "mooncups"...

Mariko said...

YOU DID???? I love them. I would do a commercial for them. Glad you're reading. :)

liko said...

i considered being a teacher...and then reflected on all the effort my mom put into it, and how much work she had to bring home, and how dedicated she was to the point of it being super stressful for her, and how awesome they are treated and paid...and now i'm an LMT...go figure.
BUT, you do get holidays and summer and winter breaks.  so there's the tradeoff.

liko said...

AND you are saving the world...one student at a time.  
teachers don't get enough credit.