Clashing Symbols

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"The main hope of a nation lies in the proper educaton of its youth."

Erasmus

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During an extended hiatus between jobs I signed up to be a substitute teacher. There's not much required; passing grades on the three sections of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), proof of having earned a bachelor's degree, and a negative result from a tuberculosis test. I presented those at the administative offices of the school district, had my fingerprints taken for a background check, and paid the necessary administrative fees. A week later I had my picture taken for an ID badge and received instruction on how to use their telephone system for substitute teaching jobs. I had never done anything like this, but it was something I thought I could manage. I've been told by friends and relatives that my disposition would be an asset in the classroom.

As it turned out, I received and accepted an offer of a permanent job less than six weeks later. I am grateful for those few days I worked as a substitute teacher, if for no other reason than gaining from that experience a deep appreciation for those who do that work every day of the school year. This photo is some of the twenty first grade students I taught for two days. Well, to say that I taught them is a bit of a stretch. Those children were as manipulative as they were charming. An inexperienced teacher's time could be consumed with simply having those young students sit still and be quiet for their lessons. Luckily for me, there were teacher's assistants in the classroom who were a big help in maintaining some semblance of order.

While at the school I took the opportunity to talk with a few of the teachers I met there. A man who teaches fifth grade wished me luck with the younger children. My brother-in-law in San Antonio teaches fourth grade and also regards the lower grades as a greater challenge. A first grade teacher mentioned how there isn't enough money to offer the teachers classes for professional development. There is not enough time to teach anything more than the three R's. My general impression is that the teachers have to contend with bureaucracy, but the time they enjoy with the children outweighs the negative aspects of their jobs.

It was interesting how quickly I learned the students' names and began to see them as individuals, each with her or his own distinctive character traits. I saw a list of recent test results on the teacher's desk during the lunch period. The scores were in line with my impressions of the students' academic skills. Some were very bright, first finished with their worksheets and eager to read books. A few had learning disabilities. One needed her classmates to act as translators. I could see how a teacher could invest time every school year getting to know each student as an individual.

Well, who knows? If I get tired of the work I am doing now, maybe I'll look into what would be necessary for certification and go back to teaching.

My friend Leigh Ann was in a fatal motorcycle accident last Tuesday. We were coworkers years ago. I hadn't seen her in quite a while, but that in no way diminishes my sadness at her passing. She was a vibrant person with an amazing breadth and depth of interests. Doing a Google search on her full name returns an amazing array of information on a variety of topics; motorcycles, Celtic music, cooking, Morris dancing, home brewing, creative writing. Leigh Ann had a unquenchable thirst for knowledge which served her well in her work in the software industry.

Leigh Ann brought much to everyone with whom she had contact. I can barely imagine how her death has affected the people closest to her. It's said that example is the best way to teach and that the most avid students are the best teachers. A vast number of us learned a great deal from Leigh Ann about living life passionately and having fun in the process. This color photo was taken during a birthday party on a boat on the San Francisco Bay with all the celebrants dressed in pirate regalia.

I once had two tickets to a concert by Indian violinist L. Subramanian. I asked Leigh Ann if she wanted to come with me. She agreed so I picked her up and we drove fifty miles to the college where the concert was held. I'd ordered the tickets early, so we had good seats. After the music ended, people went up on stage to say hello to L. Subramanian. Leigh Ann and I joined them. When it was her turn to say hello, Leigh Ann asked if she could shake his left hand because that was the one which did all the wonderful fretting on the violin. Leigh Ann was exuberant about that concert. I enjoyed it so much more for having gone with her.

In reflecting on Leigh Ann's life and her sudden death, I am struck by how our desires are so boundless. As much time as someone may live, it's never enough. I can imagine some expletive crossing her mind as she realized that was the last moment of her life. Fare thee well, Leigh Ann.

Just spend a wonderful three days with friends in Tucson. Flew out on Friday morning and returned on Monday afternoon. The impetus for this visit was the premiere of a new composition, a fantasia written for and performed by a very skilled orchestra of young people.

The pictures of the desert I show from a friend's rental. Not driving a car for three days was a nice break for me. The camera in my mobile phone can take pictures in black and white, color, or sepia. I like the sepia look, especially the desert shots. I don't like posed shots. I would just keep taking pictures knowing that many would be discarded. I'm still sifting through more than a hundred shots.

Spent most of my time in Arizona indoors. Good thing as I am no longer acclimated to warm summers. The temperature edged up to 100 degrees Farenheit. Everybody has air conditioning. Flights arriving in Tucson or Phoenix give passengers at the windows a view of swimming pools as the sun glints off the blue water.

The premiere performances on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon were great. The composer said that it sounded as though they had seven more rehearsals before their first performance. The performance was that much better than the last rehearsal he'd attended. I enjoyed hearing the different groups perform. It is amazing how much technique the children learn on their instruments in just a few years.

As much as I enjoyed the time there in Arizona, I was reminded just how dreary travel can be. A woman across the aisle on my flight from Tucson to San Diego had three children, two or three more than she could handle. Just put a DVD in the little player and have your boys zone out on that. Don't worry about the sound of those videos. The world is your day care center.

Years ago my son's middle school was on the way to my office. It was nice spending time with him in the morning on the drive to school. If we got an early start, I could take a more leisurely route, going up into the hills east of us then south on a street that winds its way down along the hills. The speed limit on most of that gently curving street is twenty-five miles per hour.

Well, one morning when heading down that street I see in my rearview mirror that the driver behind us is not maintaining a safe, fixed distance from us. Her car gets close to us, then drops back a bit, then creeps up again. The driver is using her rearview mirror, but not for the intended purpose. She should have had little lights installed around it. First she is checking her hair, then she starts in with the makeup application, all the while giving minimal attention to the task of driving. When I see her holding an eyelash curler, I pull over and let her past. I was nervous enough when she was wielding a sharpened pencil near her eyes.

Now, many parents rarely question their children's need for sleep or food. Though he had eaten breakfast just before we left the house that morning, my son tells me he's still a bit hungry. I make a quick detour to a commercial area that has a good coffee shop and a bakery next door. As I park the car, who should pull up next to us but that woman who was putting on her makeup en route. We get out of the car as she walks by, and I say, "Oh, your makeup looks fabulous!"

I related this incident to a female coworker. She was not happy to hear about it, and remarked that such behavior only perpetuates the stereotype that women are too concerned about their appearance and not very bright. Her exact words were something along the lines of "I f***in' hate it when women do that!"

By the way, Chuck Berry needed a title for his song about a woman driving a car and used the name of a cosmetics company, Maybelline. Thanks, Chuck.