September 11, 2001 – September 11, 2021

Reasonable questions were answered with silence, or the statement: “You’ll find out when you get home.”  This, to children who weren’t even sure they still had a home to get to.  A rumor mill can be a horrible thing.

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Long Winters

Mamacita says: There are two winters that stand out in my mind, both with seemingly never-ending blizzards and subzero temperatures: The winter of 1977 and the winter of 1978. Two winters in a row of deep, deep snow and temps … Continue reading

Testing, Basic Skills, Behavior, and Blame

Mamacita says:  Testing, you say?  Don’t get me wrong.  I believe in testing, to a point.  I do not believe that a student who can’t pass a simple test of basic skills should be promoted at all, in fact. That … Continue reading

Our Older Students Are Wired For The Night

Mamacita says:  Guess what; not every student is ‘more alert’ in the mornings; our older students are wired for the night. Believe it or not, many students are nearly comatose early in the morning and their brains spring into action … Continue reading

Girl Scouts, Cookies, and Why I Don’t Give To The United Way

This was originally posted in 2008, but a friend’s problem with the Girl Scouts reminded me of my own problem with the Girl Scouts and specifically with the United Way.  I’m sure many Scouts love selling cookies and I’m sure … Continue reading

Self-Esteem Is For Those Who Earn It.

Mamacita says:  I have never understood the utter gall and entitlement mindset of some parents.  At the end of each grading period, these same parents would be storming the school, demanding  a few extra points so Lil’ Bubba or Lil’ … Continue reading