Riot!

Well, there was a riot today at school. I am too tired to write about it right now. I'll add more later.

Life Lessons

In my 4th period Math class I was teaching my GED students how to do simple word problems. Problem number 5 was something along the lines of:

Suzy gets paid $9.25 an hour. How much did she get paid after she worked 30 hours?

Easy, huh! After calculating how much money Suzy made the inmates starting arguing about whether or not she made a lot of money.

I instantly changed my lesson plan.

We calculated how much Suzy would make in a forty hour work week and then how much that would be for a whole month. Then we calculated the taxes and subtracted that from the total. The next step for us was to spend Suzy's money to see how quickly it would run out. I asked, "How much is rent a month?"

"$80," came the reply. I must have made a face because that was quickly followed by"...in the projects-you know-Section 8 housing." A stunned moment later I responded.

"I have to admit, I don't know how much rent is in the projects. But, out where I live, a small cheap apartment is going to cost you about $800 a month." It was their turn to gasp!

So, we deducted $800 from Suzy's month's pay. With the meager left overs we debated how she should spend it. Should she buy food? Could she make a car payment? Was she going to have any utilities? All the talk about buying a car sparked a conversation. The boys wanted to know how to buy a car. So I explained the different ways. They were intrigued by the concept of buying a car on eBay. Actually, they were more than intrigued; they were disturbed. They were horrified at the thought of getting ripped off. I explained to them the safeguards that eBay and PayPal have. It still didn't do much to reassure them.

One student, asked what else could be bought on eBay. So, we discussed the various objects, both used and new, that could be found on eBay. I mentioned among the things you could buy were books. This student was very intrigued. He wanted to know more about buying books on the computer. Soon, he decided that the internet was too scary for him. So, then came the next query.

He asked how to buy a book. I could have been knocked over with a feather. The kid didn't understand shopping at store! Surely, I thought, his mother or grandmother had taken him shopping?

So, I went over the names of some Bookstores and how they were set up. He was worried that they would only take credit cards and I assured him he could pay in cash. He wanted to know what cost more, a paperback or a hardback. (He admitted that he didn't start reading until he got locked up.) I also told him he could go to the library. It was a very interesting math class with lots of life skills for the boys.

It all reminds me off the time when I shocked the boys after they found out I am actually dumb enough to pay for my own groceries! I also am reminded about the inmate who confided that he was scared to leave because he didn't know how to find a role model who could help know how to get an apartment or set up a phone line to the apartment, etc. These kids today were kind of a mix of the two situations.

I guess today they learned some real information that will apply to them someday. I hope.

Dumb Substitute

I had to tell off a dumb substitute. She interrupted my class to start preaching. She tried to argue with me when I told her what she was doing was illegal. I then told her if I was an administrator I would fire her. That was satisfying. I also told her to never interrupt my teaching again! :)

Hick Sex Offenders From Hell

I am so angry today I could scream.

Those backwards hick country sex offending child molesting hellions were giggling about drinking moonshine and copulating with cows!

GAH!

I have to come here and vent because it is so crude my wife won't even listen!