How Could I Resist?

For obvious reasons, this offering at the toy store had my name all over it.

There's Gold in Them Hills

On Tuesday, our ship sailed into Skagway, Alaska, the gateway to the Yukon and Klondike gold territory.  In the late 19th century, prospectors were required to bring a ton of supplies into these hills before they could go looking for gold.  JT, C, and S were ready to travel.

 They were not willing to carry a ton of hardtack and jerky (not to mention eat such dreadful foods), so we opted to take the scenic railroad up the mountain pass. 

 The views were pretty spectacular, so though I didn't find gold, I'll settle for the pictures.

The Road Ahead: Education Reform, part II

Last week, I outlined the first half of a set of ideas to improve education in the United States.  Today, I'm wrapping up those thoughts with the rest of my desired reforms.

More teaching, less administration.  Our resources must be used to put more teachers into more classrooms.  Principals can set the tone for a school and work to get resources where they are most needed, but the administrative overhead in public schools goes well beyond that.  We need less administration and those who remain  must also be regular classroom teachers.  If they teach, they will understand what students need.  And student needs must drive our eduction system. 

Teacher autonomy.  Most teachers are effective classroom planners and they value autonomy in getting the job done.  Successful learning requires flexible teachers who adapt their lessons to their students.  I know this first-hand.  On a year to year basis, I may focus on different elements of the subjects I teach.  That's not to say there is no goal; no endpoint.  In fact, all of my courses have objectives, but my school is flexible enough to permit me to map my course to student interests while working toward that goal.  This means greater engagement for everyone in my classroom.  We all win.

Eliminate tenure.  Though experience is valuable and should be rewarded, we must acknowledge that the "job for life" model of teaching in no longer useful.  Job security is important, of course, and elimination of tenure should not serve as a license for schools to get rid of experienced teachers.  But the current tenure system is not serving our students well and we must acknowledge that fact.

Let the state run the show.  I'm not always a fan of state government, but local control of our schools has proven a disaster, especially in terms of funding.  Local control means that local taxes are used to pay for the schools.  And where the tax base isn't up to the job, local schools (and the children enrolled in them) suffer mightily.  Our haphazard system of local control rewards well-off children while leaving the rest of our youth to muddle through. If the state collected the money and then doled it out to districts, we'd have much greater equality in the system.  And if the state is footing the bill, then they should set the standards.  Then we could quit pretending that the petty fiefdoms that we call school boards are a good idea. 

I am convinced that this is the recipe for educational success.  Innovative, successful programs like the Harlem's Children's Zone and KIPP are getting the job done.  But, for all their success, they are still rare bright lights.  I fear that we lack the national commitment to provide a system that will succeed for all of our children.   The price of this neglect is steep, and that it is paid by the most vulnerable among us is deeply shameful.   We can do better.

Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da

Perhaps eager to reprise last summer's water slide incident, my nephew C seemed particularly anxious to see me on the zip line in Alaska.

Not one to disappoint, I suited up.  C and JT came along for the ride.  Riding shotgun was my sister K, whom I believe hatched this plan in the first place.

We set off on a beautiful day.  The zip line equipment was the real deal. 

 The course featured 10 zip lines (11 if you count the bunny slide……the try-me bite slide, which seemed plenty adventuresome to K and me…..little did we know). 

Add in two swinging bridges. 

 And did I mention the final rappel down the tree?  Because, yeah, I wasn't scared enough.

We all survived.  In fact, we had a blast.  And the next time these boys dare to suggest that we don't do enough for them, I'll be dusting off these photos.  Because we are some bad ass mamas, people. 

World, take note.

Modern Air Travel

Largely due to the fact that I am my father's daughter, I arrived at the airport at 6 am for my 9 am flight last week.  As it turned out, that was a damned good idea.  Newark Airport was awash with the crazy and the lines were epically long.

In typical New Jersey fashion, many people sought to receive special treatment and while that sort of line avoidance was largely unsuccessful (the airport staff were not to be trifled with), it was vastly entertaining to watch so many of my fellow citizens claim to be special.

The 90 minutes in various security lines also provided ample opportunity to ponder the things people wear to the airport.  I'm not a girl who expects to make the style sheet in the local paper, so I'm in no position to judge.  But judge I shall. 

1.  Sure, it's warm outside.  And yes, it will stay warm.  But that doesn't mean you should wear a strapless halter dress.  You look foolish and I can't have been the only person whole-heartedly wishing for that tote bag to exercise the call of gravity and give us all a 7 am show.

2.  The floor-length maxi dress is cute, I guess.  But based on the number of times the sweeping hemline got caught in the wheels of your rather sizable carry-on bag, I think we should conclude that it's not ideal for travel.

3.  While I applaud those who left the belt behind (one less thing to remove at the endless security checkpoint), may I note for the record that you should still ensure that your behind is covered?  No bootie crack, please.

4.  Hey you in the incredibly-short shorts……When your legs stick to the vinyl seats in the waiting lounge it will feel like a giant bandaid is stripping skin from the back of your thighs.  I almost wish that I could see the expression on your face when this happens.

5. And now I turn my attention to shoes.  We'll all be forced to take our shoes off at the x-ray machine (and that's just ridiculous, but I digress) and easily removed shoes are handy.  But the platform flip flops?  Neither handy nor useful.  Spiked mule heels with bandaids?  Those can't be comfy.  Unwillingness to re-tie your shoes? You will be sorry when you get to the moving sidewalk.

Six hours later we arrived in lovely, sunny Seattle and I was suddenly awash in a city of people in cargo pants and sensible shoes. I think that New Jersey and Washington are still on the same planet, but I can't be sure.

110% Organic

The supply list in the bathroom at the Marriot Hotel in Seattle:   quince lotion; barley body wash; quinoa shampoo; amaranth conditioner.

I wasn't sure if I should bathe and moisturize or enjoy an all-natural organic snack.

Or both?

A Peculiar Brand of Fun

Our hotel retain its old stairwell and the boys seem to endlessly believe that walking up the stairs qualifies as "fun."

All Cousin, All the Time

The cousins arrived yesterday and that meant triple the fun.  We headed off for a baseball game at Safeco Field.  The day was beautiful even if the Mariners lost.

JT scored himself a foam finger.  He promptly used it to torture his cousins.  They endured his nonsense, though if they toss him to the wolves in Alaska it may be that he's earned that treatment.

We went to the Spaghetti Factory for supper (a fave from my own misspent youth) and then we visited the Space Needle. 

The view was really quite splendid.

We came back to the hotel at 9 and the announcement that some children were ready for sleep horrified JT.  Sleep?  When there are cousins to play with?  

A Day in Seattle

We're in Seattle for a few days before we board the boat to Alaska.  The city was amazingly glorious on our first day.  We arrived at noon Seattle time and after a crazy early morning at Newark Airport, it was like we gained a whole new day.  We got some lunch and then spent the afternoon wandering around Pioneer Square and the Pike Place Market, enjoying the mild warmth and generally soaking up the atmosphere. 

The market was terrific, with fresh produce and flowers galore. 

 For supper, we ate some donuts for our appetizer.

And then we bought fresh cheese curds, homemade crackers, and Rainier cherries and retreated to our hotel to watch the College World Series and await the arrival of the cousins.

Tomorrow, we head to the ball park to watch the Mariners play the Cubs.  Reports as warranted.

Promiscuous Gardener

I can never say no to a plant and for this reason I am what you might call a promiscuous gardener.  Happily, I often end up with amazing plants as a result of this behavior.    But that just reinforces my easy ways.  If I had this problem with animals or children, some sort of state protective services would be called in and I would be gently separated from the beast in question, sternly warned to stop this nonsense, and then left to behave myself.

But there is no Plant Protective Services and I can't say no, which is how I ended up with over 150 canna bulbs this spring.  Cannas in bloom are lovely and I've long admired them.  So when the canna bulb offer was made by a fellow Little League parent I quickly said yes.  And when the bulbs arrived in greater number then I expected, I planted and planted and planted.  More than 50 of the bulbs made their way into my garden in various spots all over the yard.  The rest were distributed to fellow gardeners. 

These flowers will grow to be quite tall; the beds in which they were planted are already looking quite lovely.  I am eager for the spectacular display that will soon follow. 

The worst part, of course, is that my garden promiscuity is only furthered by experiences like this.  Plants in need of home, take note.  There is always a bit more space at Sassafras House.