This is Regents week in New York for high school students. Every academic subject taught in high school (English, Maths, Global History, American History, languages, etc.) terminates in a Regents exam. Not only must you pass the class to get the credit to graduate, but you must pass your Regents exams.
We teach to the test--A LOT. We have to. We try to teach the kids to beat the test, how to get points and pass, how to write formulaic essays that are dry and answer the task proposed by the test-makers. As a teacher, it is agonizing but it must be done.
But even with all this test prep, there are certain obstacles we can't overcome. A student I know by name only left with my bathroom pass today during the exam and never returned, leaving his sweatshirt behind (I make them leave collateral). Here is the essay he left:
Writing an essay for such a stupid topic is very pointless and a very big waste of time. No amount of note taking or listening would make this topic interesting. How the hell would I know how and why people make food choices I'm not a fucking mind reader. The University of the State of New York is a croc of bullshit for giving us such a dumbass listening passage. Why the fuck should I have to listen to Cynthia Sass talk about the food her husband likes or dislikes. I hope the person that is reading this essay pays attention and takes heed to the words that are being said. Listening passages like this are the reason young black men don't attend school and drop out. When you grow up in a place like Bed-Stuy or Brownsville articles on food choices don't teach you how to help your mother that is on drugs.
Nope, the Regents isn't going to help you figure out what to do with your strung out mom...I can't argue with that.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
I Have A Dream: a TrioBike
Had many a blog post in my head over the holidays but never got around to posting. However, in honor of a new year, a new president, and new resolutions I thought I'd share my newest dream--a TrioBike.
Adam and I have been talking adult tricycles for a while now. I am not a steady girl on two wheels, therefore the idea of strapping Alexandra onto a bike and jetting around New York City is pretty much akin to putting her in the Ergo and jumping into the East River for a swim. I am generally a walker; I can hoof it for a LONG time, but it seems a toddler just doesn't have the same "Let's walk/run to Coney Island for 2+ hours!" mentality. Alexandra is a ticking time bomb of toddler tantrums. What to do?
The cargo bike.
We have searched the internet high and low for these bikes, but I had never seen one in person until Saturday when I saw this beauty parked outside a neighborhood store. I GEEKED OUT. No--really. I went inside the store, stood by the door, and waited for the guy with a bike helmet with a 2 year old with a bike helmet to emerge from the aisles of overpriced kitchen goods. And then I met (accosted?) Rene and Nona Lily.
He's German, of course. (I heart Germans--subject for another post.) No way an American would be cool enough to have this bike. He painstakingly explained all the details of the bike to me, had Nona Lily get in to model the child safety harness, and gave me his number in case I wanted to call and test ride it before ordering one from Denmark. He was honest with the price, but said it was worth it. A great guy.
Then I got back online last night and found this baby:
I have died and gone to heaven. A cargo bike that converts into a two-wheeler and into a stroller (albeit of ginormous/tank-like proportions). I am in heaven. And that scary monster mouth? Awesome. My brain is spinning. Can't you see me on this in Brooklyn? It's my soul-bike. Now I just have to save the $4000 (shipping from Europe included) to get one...Anyone with connections in Copenhagen?
Adam and I have been talking adult tricycles for a while now. I am not a steady girl on two wheels, therefore the idea of strapping Alexandra onto a bike and jetting around New York City is pretty much akin to putting her in the Ergo and jumping into the East River for a swim. I am generally a walker; I can hoof it for a LONG time, but it seems a toddler just doesn't have the same "Let's walk/run to Coney Island for 2+ hours!" mentality. Alexandra is a ticking time bomb of toddler tantrums. What to do?
The cargo bike.
We have searched the internet high and low for these bikes, but I had never seen one in person until Saturday when I saw this beauty parked outside a neighborhood store. I GEEKED OUT. No--really. I went inside the store, stood by the door, and waited for the guy with a bike helmet with a 2 year old with a bike helmet to emerge from the aisles of overpriced kitchen goods. And then I met (accosted?) Rene and Nona Lily.
He's German, of course. (I heart Germans--subject for another post.) No way an American would be cool enough to have this bike. He painstakingly explained all the details of the bike to me, had Nona Lily get in to model the child safety harness, and gave me his number in case I wanted to call and test ride it before ordering one from Denmark. He was honest with the price, but said it was worth it. A great guy.
Then I got back online last night and found this baby:
I have died and gone to heaven. A cargo bike that converts into a two-wheeler and into a stroller (albeit of ginormous/tank-like proportions). I am in heaven. And that scary monster mouth? Awesome. My brain is spinning. Can't you see me on this in Brooklyn? It's my soul-bike. Now I just have to save the $4000 (shipping from Europe included) to get one...Anyone with connections in Copenhagen?
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