Tax Free Shopping

I have to question the intelligence of the Georgia Legislature. Of course, them being politicians, they most likely did not have much intelligence going in and being under the "gold dome" has sucked what sense they had left out.

Yesterday was the start of Georgia's annual "tax free" shopping for back to school. Under the plan, electronics (computers, etc), clothes (up to 100.o0 per item) and school supplies are tax free. Now, mom and I went shopping today and it seemed to us where we were that retailers had marked prices UP to compensate for losing the sales tax. I can understand that in today's economy. I don't necessarily agree with it, but being a capitalistic free market society, until Obama and the Democrats have their way, I see their point. Stores are all about making money. This brings me back to the lack of brilliance of Georgia legislators.

The state of Georgia is in the biggest budget crisis it has ever been in since at least the Great Depression. So, in an effort to "save" money, the governor cut school funding and furloughed teachers for three days. He did this LAST TUESDAY!!! Most school systems were forced to take the days during pre-planning so teachers do not get all the time that they deserve to plan. They were not even allowed in the buildings. Now, this does not effect me because I teach at a private school, but I have lots of friends who are public school teachers.

My question to the legislature is this: Why have you not taken pay cuts? Why has the governor and other top officials not been furloughed. What about the Board of Regents, the head football coaches at State Universities that play football. Why have these people not had to take a pay cut. I realize that they feel they are helping families with the savings on sales tax. But, when stores mark up the prices to mark them down, there is no real savings. Truth be told, the only people we are hurting are the children of the state of Georgia. No wonder we are 49th out of 50 in education. The lawmakers in this state need to remember that Teachers are a powerful voting bloc. We got rid of one governor who screwed up education. This one has a term limit but we sure can vote out the legislature.

Ok, that is my rant against the government for today. Tomorrow mom and I are going to the Office Depot Teacher Appreciation Day (always good for free stuff) and to relax before pre-planning starts. Only a few more days of summer left:(

Back to School

Well, Summer is almost over. School starts 2 weeks from today!! Of course, I have been working some in my room for the past several weeks to get ready.

This year seems to be shaping up to be interesting to say the least. We have lots of new families and students. As well as a new headmaster, administrators, and teachers. That is exciting. I am praying that our current students welcome the new students with open arms and are as accepting of them as they have been of new students in the past.

What I am teaching is interesting too. Right now, I know I am doing Study Skills and a section of 8th grade Georgia History/Ancient Civilizations. Late last week I was asked to consider doing a section of 5th grade history if needed. Of course I said yes. Now, I don't know anything about 5th graders except that it is between 4th and 6th, but I am sure that will change if needed. I hope I find out if I am teaching it though before pre planning starts. I would like a little time to prepare.

I am excited and can't wait to see what God has in store for TSA this year. I think its going to be a GREAT year!!

Annoyed

I am so annoyed right now. Much of my annoyance is directed at my former apartment complex and my Latin American professor. What is the purpose of a $500.oo pet deposit if not to clean the apartment after the pet moves out??? I got my statement from them today and they informed me that not only was I not getting ANY of my security deposit back, but I OWE THEM $25.00. Needless to say, I am ticked off. To top that off, I made a B in Latin American History. I know, its a B, but it ruins my 4.00 GPA. Plus, I feel that I learned NOTHING about Latin American History and am not prepared to teach it to my students. I could have taken the easy way out and dropped the course and picked up pedagogy this month, but no, I stuck it out and get rewarded with a B. I am really ticked about that one and I think a letter to the chair about all the crap this professor made us do is forthcoming.

I did enjoy Birmingham with my sister though. The food and company was great. It was awesome to see Wendy in the role of mom with baby Alex. I can't believe he is nine months old already. Such a cutie.

I got an interesting phone call today from a parent. The mom of the new Junior class president called to talk about prom. I am meeting with the moms on Monday night. Hopefully I can convince them to wait a few more months before we start planning. I don't even KNOW the date for prom yet!!! These ladies are more organized then I am. Could be an interesting year with them...

Finished

I finished the summer term on Thursday. I know I have an A in one class, and will be sweating it out till grades are posted on Wednesday about the other. Angie came home for the long weekend on Thursday and it has been fun just relaxing. Of course, last night I felt like I was in a war zone with all of the fireworks going off. I think I liked it better when they were illegal in Georgia. Of course, this is coming from someone who greatly dislikes being ANYWHERE NEAR fireworks. I love looking at them, I just don't want to be near them. Apparently, my neighbors have a different view. Thankfully, they stopped fairly early and Barney the wonder dog and I were able to go to sleep.

Tomorrow I am off to Birmingham for a few days of r and r by Angie's apartment swimming pool. That's the ONE thing I miss about my apartment. Then is back to Macon to meet with our Academic head on Thursday to find out my teaching schedule and get to work on stuff for fall. Hard to believe we go back in just over a month. But I am going to ENJOY this month with no schoolwork!!