Politicians, Teachers, Parents, Students and Money (1)

The London Free Press published a story and photo ('Young runner idled', Jan. 16) related to an issue involving politicians, teachers, parents, students and money (and much more). Something the student Jessie Fleming said caught my attention.

["I give her that. I liked sports too. Still do."]

Sports are so big. If we studied the history of sport within the school setting we would likely be amazed. The number, intensity and importance of sport has literally exploded. We've gone from bags of clay marbles and games of scrub with borrowed bats and spongy balls to badminton, football, hockey, track and field, basketball, soccer, to name a few. You name it, a child can sign up for it. Some students will even say, "(Pick a sport, any sport) is my life."

At the same time we should study those things that contributed to the wild growth from marbles to a mountain of athletic activities.

What might those things be?

Photo of news quote by GH

I Ask You: How long will these recurring dreams last?

I retired from teaching almost eight years ago but I haven’t left the job behind - entirely.

Every month or so I will dream about being back at school, in the classroom, and my time in front of the class is never pleasant - though I handled things well for most of my career.

This morning’s dream went a bit like this (all in the miracle of technicolour):

I saw myself wake up, I felt very hot, I peeled off several layers of damp pajamas and socks, and desired a refreshing bath.

My sister was in the bathroom (it was the one in my childhood home in Norwich) so I went outside to the backyard (again, behind my childhood home) and ran water into a clawfoot tub in the garden.

My son (though 39 now, he looked about six-years old) joined me in the tub but neighbours kept dropping by the yard so we couldn’t wash up properly.


["Good grief. And why take a bath in the yard?"]

We tried moving the tub to more private spots in the yard but people kept finding us.

When I looked at my watch (I think that’s all I was wearing) it read 9:00 a.m.

Yipes. I was going to be late for class. So I ran to school very quickly.

Up and down stairways and hallways I ran, in a right state, looking for my classroom. Students were everywhere so I knew I’d better hurry or else my own class would be ripping the ceiling off the room.

I finally found my class. Students were already sitting at their desks with their books out but I had no lessons prepared. In fact, I didn’t have a clue what to do, as in many earlier dreams.

Three students were known trouble-makers and had teachers-aides with them but I had no plans worked out for any of them. (One of the aides was a TV character, a woman who works at Under World on Coronation St. She yawned when I looked at her. More trouble).

Thank goodness I woke up at about that time.

As I shuffled to the bathroom, not feeling overly hot or at all damp or stressed out about life, I wondered how many more years will have to pass before my teaching career is out of my system.

I ask you: Do dreams about the workplace follow us forever?

***

I can understand why the girl from C St. ended up in my class. She’s a bit of a busy body.

But why do I get all the trouble makers?

And no time to bathe?

Please click here for another episode of I Ask You.

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Teachers’ Pension owns Maple Leafs, now mattresses. Connection?

If you didn’t hear, here’s the scoop, as reported in the Sept. 26 issue of The London Free Press:

“One of Canada's largest pension funds, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, cited "attractive industry fundamentals" yesterday for its decision to buy a major stake in Simmons Co., the iconic but troubled U.S. mattress manufacturer.”

Very good, I thought. As a retired teacher I want my pension to be safe - and by golly - everybody has to go to bed sometime.


["One... two... now go to sleep"]

Then I read the part about “iconic but troubled.”

Geez, we already bought into The Toronto Maple Leafs. What’s more iconic and troubled than the Leafs? Shouldn’t we be buying things that are perhaps a little less troubled, you know, for the sake of balance?

Then I made the brilliant connection.

Leaf fans turn on their TV. Watch the Leafs struggle. Start to yawn. Rub their eyes. Say, “I’m going to bed, Sweetie-pie.”

And what’s beneath their bottom sheet? Ca-chinga.

***

Anything else that’s ‘iconic and troubled’ that would be a good fit for my pension fund?

Don’t suggest any of Canada’s political parties. Please.

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It Strikes Me Funny: email re my hypocrisy and golden pension

My weekly column usually flies under most people’s radar.

A few regular readers like the fact it’s the same size as the bottom of their budgie cage so they can use it twice.

But another greybeard sent me the following last night:

[For context; I am a retired teacher, have a pension, own a motorcycle (1984 Virago) and encouraged readers last week (in an article my editor entitled ‘Got seven bucks? Buy this book and get ready to act’) to read a G. Dyer article re climate change and buy The Little Green Handbook, “$5.99 at Chapters”.]


“GH, when I was a child of 10, and then again as a temporary hippie at age 18, I knew the adults were crazy.  They were willfully blind to what was obvious to any child 40 or 50 years ago, that the path our society was on was unsustainable.” 

“Now we've got greybeards, who probably used their cars for decades to commute to the job that now provides them with their gold-standard pension that enables them to sit home (when they're not riding their toys around) and write articles, telling everyone else NOW we should get ready to act ("get ready" to act - ?!).”

“How convenient for them!  And how typical - begin by spending money and consuming a book!”

“I say to the young, ignore the Suzukis and other hypocrites as they ignored you while they were blinded by their greed - we're all about to reap what we've sown, and prepare to be one of the few and toughest who might be lucky enough to survive!”

Alex L., greybeard

I’m going to reply to Alex as soon as I finish my coffee.

He might ignore my words but I hope he’ll accept my copy of The LGH after I’ve finished with it.

[Find my latest prize winning piece at The Londoner]