u/MathMan1982

I am finding more and more fieldtrips, days where students are being pulled out for sports, or taken out for other CTE class work. Yet we are under a microscope for even raising standardized tests scores for math and English higher. How do expect this when kids are being pulled out so much? I am a HS math teacher of 18 years and am just about done with continuing to be blamed if we do poorly on the state standardized exams. We did well last year but I'm worried with the increased absences. Am I just working in a corrupt district or is this common? I am all for CTE but I feel like we as math teachers should have less pressure for test scores if students are being removed so frequently.

Do you as a HS math teacher feel like other subjects are kind of let off loosely, other than English? I mean if feel like our entire school and district has been strongly rated on standardized test scores which includes math and English. If the school scores badly, that's all on the math or English teachers. This is not the on the other subject teachers but did any of you move on because of this? I feel lately it's been more about field trips, students are now gone about 15 days a year. In additional to other legitimate absences, it makes it seem like they are not in class very often and yet we are supposed to make these kids score superstar level on standardized tests. I feel like these last minute field trips or sporting events cause students to miss out and I have revamp lessons and reteach. Maybe I'm just in the wrong school or district.

I have a PUR on my faucet mount that uses replacement filters. I just changed the new PUR filter and they changed their design and it's going slower than it ever has. I am thinking of buying a Zerowater mount to put on my sink. Does it filter at a reasonable speed or are we talking about a fairly slower stream? Thanks

I teach HS math and another teacher, who I've had a good relationship for the past 12 years or so teaches culinary. He has been writing a pass for one of our students to come in late to my class about 1/2 to 45 minutes twice so far this semester. Our classes are 1.5 hours long (blocked schedule). I understand that sometimes a student is needed to complete things they don't get done but I feel like this student is missing out on some of my work required. There are no emails asking if this is okay. The email only says "please excuse so and so". I am teaching a "standardized tested" subject as well and it's a bit irritating. This student can be kind of sneaky though and I'm wondering if my student is saying well "my math teacher said I could stay late so just write me a pass" Either way just irritating. Would you talk to this teacher? Or would you let this slide and put in on the student to get everything done missed?

I am a single male, I used to do the downtown areas on Tejon back around 2010. Just curious if there are some bars, especially on the northwest side of town that cater to this age group. It doesn't have to be just 40's of course but maybe more like the 30's-50's crowd? Looking to get back in the dating scene to meet a lady eventually.

Does anyone know a site or a link to a site that has yearly volcanic activity? Like comparing years on how much volcanic activity occurs. Not so much the underwater activity but the volcanoes above water and on land? Thanks much!

Does anyone know a site or a link to a site that has yearly volcanic activity? Like comparing years on how much volcanic activity occurs. Not so much the underwater activity but the volcanoes above water and on land? Thanks much!

Let's say you were in your 30's or 40's at was 1985 or so, was it more common for people to get drunk at social gatherings or bars? Just curious about alcohol use. I know that some people didn't drink but I am guessing it may have been more common than now or not? Just curious thank you!

Edit: I didn't mean to say "middle aged" and I'm kicking myself for that. I apologize because it's not middle age.

Do you guys get deliberating hangovers now if you overdo it on the sauce? It 43 years old and now it seems like in the past two years that having a night out causes me to feel off for almost a week after. In my 30's hangovers might be annoying for a day or two but I would be over it pretty quick. Do I just accept this? I mostly just have one or two beers Fri and Sat nights and that's it.

The black cat firecrackers seemed to be tougher, and when they went off they would totally disintegrate when we lit the firecracker during this time. Anything we can get that is similar? Maybe I was younger back then and things seem louder (I'm 43 now). But those things would make my ears ring if I were too close.

I know especially in the west and southwest it's been a hot and dry year this year. But I feel people exaggerate heat waves and there is always this news "it's the hottest year ever". Yet, if we look at temp data going back in the 1930's and 1950's, there were some quite hot years, maybe the records weren't set in the exact areas. My grandpa in the 1930's from Missouri said it was so hot they had to feed cattle tree leaves because the grass was dead in the Summer, and even most of the trees were stressed and had lot's of brown or discoloration from the intense heat. And it just wasn't a one year deal either back then. The 1950's had some extreme heat records in Missouri and Kansas as well. The 1870's seemed to be know for quite heat and fires as well. I just feel like some climate people like to scare everyone. Maybe we are warming and getting warmer. I am hoping the AMO changes to a negative phase in the next 5 years or so. Then maybe we will go on a track like we did in the 1960's and 1970's and start cooling off.

I am renting a two story townhouse and lived here 10 years. Always pay on time and no issues. The dryer vent that goes through the roof needs cleaning because of lent buildup. My dryer will not dry correctly because of this. The vent goes up about 15 feet in the attack to the top of the roof. My neighbor who lives in the 4 plex works in the business of cleaning carpets, dryer vents, does HVAC, plumbing etc all the works basically. He looked at my dryer vent and he said he would charge my landlord 250 to clean it out. My neighbor says it's a fire hazard. I have had a good relationship with my landlord and have lived here 10 years. My landlord won't respond to my messages as I messaged her twice over two weeks and this was 18 days ago. I can tell they are read but no response. My neighbor who lives in the 4 plex contacted the landlord as well and our landlord not responding about getting it fixed. My landlord did respond to my neighbor once about looking at it to give her a quote but no response since. My neighbor wants to write a letter to an agency in town. Do you think this is the best bet? What would you all recommend? The grass is getting very tall is well. I even offered to trim it myself for no charge and still no response.

I am renting a two story townhouse and lived here 10 years. Always pay on time and no issues. The dryer vent that goes through the roof needs cleaning because of lent buildup. My dryer will not dry correctly because of this. My neighbor who lives in the 4 plex works in the business of cleaning carpets, dryer vents, does HVAC, plumbing etc all the works basically. He looked at my dryer vent and he said he would charge my landlord 250 to clean it out. My neighbor says it's a fire hazard. I have had a good relationship with my landlord and have lived here 10 years. My landlord won't respond to my messages as I messaged her twice over two weeks and this was 18 days ago. I can tell they are read but no response. My neighbor who lives in the 4 plex contacted the landlord as well and our landlord not responding about getting it fixed. My landlord did respond to my neighbor once about looking at it to give her a quote but no response since. My neighbor wants to write a letter to an agency in town. Do you think this is the best bet? What would you all recommend? The grass is getting very tall is well. I even offered to trim it myself for no charge and still no response.

So I've taught HS math for last 17 years. Do you all get tired of our subject like mostly math and English being tested on the PSAT? We are not allowed to use any incentives on our PSAT and our STAR test really can't have any incentive either. I'm kind of done with it. The pressure of kids doing well has increased dramatically in the last 3 years or so. It seems like if students don't do well, it's put on the teachers. It was a miracle our students did better this year. That kept me from resigning. I can see why many try to teach non tested subjects like history or other electives. I think it's a bit unfair that standardized testing mostly all goes on the Math and English teachers. Maybe I've had a worn out couple of first weeks and I'm complaining too much.

I mean CEO's resign, superintendents resign, across all walks and jobs. I don't live where the these "takeovers" in certain districts in Texas has taken over. I've heard that some teachers are leaving but are threatened with license punishment or whatever if they leave. I don't think that's fair because they weren't given clear outlines from their building or school what conditions would be like. I mean if we start a new year or new job, if things are terrible and there is no way to fix it, then one should have the right to leave. Just my opinion. I know that it takes work to find a new person, but isn't that the job of "bosses" or leaders?? I mean if one is in charge of the building and thinks the only time a new person should come in June for the next then I think they have the wrong job. That's the job of a boss I thought. I mean I think 2-4 weeks would be a reasonable timeframe to exit. Why keep someone if they realize they are not a good fit, burned out, or just need out?

I am have been teaching math at the community college and high school since 09.

Maybe this is just specific in the state/location I teach and I know we live in a different world now but....

Back then there were more college prep math and English classes to prepare students at the college. I want them back.

Classes were so much easier to set up. Now it's like remembering all the required things to load the shell up. Some things given by leaders are confusing or missing so it leads to many emails asking "do I need this or is this okay?" I feel like now a dept chair or dean can just randomly check on the shell without warning. So if there is a crazy time or a mistake, it keeps me on edge. There was more flexibility as well on how we graded things as well.

I feel like we have to be very flexible and say "yes" to an extension needed. When I was in a college the assignment missed could be given a zero with no questions asked. Many though were fair and had one test or assignment that could be "dropped" which was nice.

I feel as though many people will stop showing up online or in person without withdrawing the class, even halfway through the semester. The will have an F halfway through the semester with doing very little or nothing, and never respond to emails or drop. It baffles me.

Now discussion requirements in online classes are pretty intense.

AI use!!

Maybe I'm just cynical.... I love teaching but sometimes I miss these times.

I find it fascinating how climates have changed in the past. I am just curious as the main driver of going to a relatively warm time during the Middle Ages to a colder regime by about 1300 or so.

Could one of the ocean currents changed? More volcanism? Less sunspots? Earth's tilt?

I am thinking it was probably a factor of all of the things listed above. Some research I've read differs somewhat. Just curious what you all think.

On another note, it's interesting how in the last 150 years there seems to be 30 or so year periods of positive AMO and negative AMO. Of course PDO, NAO, AO, and PNA change too but it seems like the AMO has a pretty big effect from seeing graphs verses temps/precip. Like from the 30's to the 1950's years tended to be warmer and dryer (of course not all of these years) but more warmer/dryer than average due to pos AMO. While things seemed to get cooler and wetter overall as the 60's and 70's came about in the neg AMO. It's just interesting to study these trends.

I am just hoping we maybe we get a break in the next few years and go to a cooler and wetter time. Not mini ice age like, but just not as hot and dry as this year has been out West. Done with fires!

Due to continuous low standardized test scores after several years with no incentives allowed on students, and other problems, I am thinking of resigning. I can't keep playing the game where it's all on teachers when students have no incentive to do well on PSAT. I have taught HS math for 17 years (12 at my school) and have been a dept chair for 6 yrs.

As a principal, would you rather a teacher resign now? Or would you prefer they come back and give a 30 day notice?

We go back next week for in service days and students come back the following week on Aug 12th.

I have empathy and don't want to leave admin and other coworkers in a rough spot. I have to do what is best for me. So, I am thinking if things are as bad as I think they may be, it might be good to get started and then give the notice so they can find someone. Any thoughts?

From my understanding, what is 2001 when schools started getting rating on standardized test scores? Before that, I've heard they would be taken, but it was it was more for the student's self assessment and teachers/schools were not rated.

If this is true, I really think this is what I wish we could go back to. I think it's totally unfair that a standardized test given once a year can determine how the school is doing.

I think if they are going to continue to rate schools on things like PSAT, it needs to be revamped to have more basic skills. It also needs absolutely in everyway should be incentivized. I think incentivized to the point to where a student would not graduate HS unless it's passed. Not put on the schools or teachers, but the student. They could have multiple tries, but it would be up to them to pass it. Otherwise, I feel like it's a ungraded test that can only hurt the school. I live in a district where no incentives period are allowed for these standardized exams.

Just curious. You've probably have seen me here before ranting lol.

Anyway if I come back to find we are going to be micromanaged or have to change curriculum again because of low PSAT test scores, I'm not sure I will stay and give a 30 day notice. I've taught HS math for close to 18 years and the past 3 years we have had lower scores and no matter what we do they aren't going up. Yet no incentives for students allowed. It all falls on the schools and especially teachers. . And what's even better we are in a district with low enrollment. So I may be too expensive in the long run. And there is no union either so can't do much with that. I was told last year in April if my test scores didn't improve it would be my last year teaching for this upcoming year anyway. I'm sure that was a scare tactic but don't care to be treated that way. So not too excited right now.