Our cultural competency training this morning was both fulfilling and horrifying. I "filled" myself with coffee, conversation among friends from other buildings or my school, and amusing asides to a fellow French teacher. Horrifying was how accurate my assessment was of what our morning session would be like; as I predicted, our district throws around the words culture, cultural, multi-cultural--and then the WHOLE inservice ended up to be about race. (yes, the race that won a 7.5 MILLION dollar lawsuit against my district) I do think that all employees should be educated about the implications of this settlement; just don't call it cultural competency training, you dolts. The powers that be also chose the high school at the farthest edge of our district for this session--one way in and one way out, one lane, with everyone trying to go the same direction...Note to self: Make sure to go to the restroom before climbing into the car! I have to admit that the afternoon program in my own building with our staff was much more about culture, and thus, WAY more interesting to me. I did have to hear the word "pedagogy" today, and also had to read a question on a form that used the verb "explicate." Then, we heard about the necessity to "affirm the students." This type of language is a sure fire way to get me all sorts of ANNOYED--just ask my tablemates!
On to blog day! I have found the following FIVE new blogs, complete with links. (they can't be on my blogroll to qualify)
1. http://www.flummel.com/ee/ I am not sure if this person is a man or a woman(woman?), but s/he uncloaked to reassure me about Evergreen State College. I appreciate that! For several weeks, I assumed that my blogger buddy, FB, was a woman--how embarrassing. So, sorry if I'm wrong on your gender, Flummel.
2.http://blackbird17.blogspot.com/ What a cute title for a site: Say la Vee. As a French teacher, I was awestruck by the phonetic rendition of C'est la vie. S/he also had some really interesting photos of a visit to a Japanese store; it brought back wonderful memories of trips to Uwajimaya in Seattle.
3.http://agirlandherlife.blogspot.com/ I like the way she wrote her last post about accidentally putting her hand through a window. (and at least I know HER gender!)
4.http://spaazlicious.blogspot.com/ She's a knitter, and anti- Iraq war blogger in San Diego (death wish?) and had a bunch of interesting buttons on her site.
5.http://gotnik.blogspot.com/ Agog and Aghast is the name of this blog; it is beautifully constructed and written. I admit to a huge weakness for artwork woven into a site; it's not only esthetically pleasing, it's also very calming.
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