Is this the answer?

I wrote this a while back when arming teachers was all over the news.  I recently attended a town hall meeting in the community I work.  I found that many others feel exactly as I do about arming teachers.   


I've been a pretty laid back blogger and do not really talk too much seriousness or controversial topics, however I came across this article in the news and it really just disturbed me and I just felt the need to speak my peace on this topic.

AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst wants the state to pay to train school officials to carry concealed guns in public schools as an added measure of protection for campuses.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Dewhurst-pushing-teacher-gun-training-4187684.php#ixzz2HoDAJaYb

Why are we focusing on wanting to arm our teachers?  Do we realize all that comes with arming our teachers?  Where do you suggest we store the weapon when it's not in use?  Have you thought about the curious child that grabs the weapon at home and now we want to provide this same environment at school?

Lots of funding was cut and schools were forced to do without quite a bit and school districts were forced to do more with less.  Yet, we are going to find funding to arm teachers?

Right now teachers are responsible for educating the child, bringing the kids who are below grade level to grade level, counsel children, seek all kinds of ways to ensure success for each child, monitor progress, write lesson plans, provide quality instruction, attend professional development, maintain open communication with parents, get kids to pass their standardized tests and many other tasks on a daily basis.  On top of what they are already responsible for making sure is happening, we want to give them a gun too?

Have you been to a government office lately where there is not an armed officer at the entrance?  Why can't we look at funding a program where we place armed officers at schools?  An armed officer has the experience, the knowledge and the professional training to handle difficult situations.  They are also more experienced in identifying tell tale signs of oncoming danger.  There presence alone can aid a situation.  They have the experience and receive the crucial training that comes with carrying a weapon.

Obviously I'm just in awe that right away the answer was arm our teachers.  Really?  Let's really take a long hard look at that and open our eyes to the can of worms you are opening up.  I can see it in the headlines now "Student gains access to teacher's weapon at Somewhere Elementary" news at 5.

Passions

Day 8-What are 5 passions you have?

Photography

 Books/Reading

Writing

History

Music

Day 7 Dream Job

Day 7- What is your dream job, and why?

My dream job includes doing something I am passionate about and doing it with passion.  

I always knew I wanted to do something that involved helping children.  I always wanted to be that difference in a child's life.  I wanted to help pave the way for their success.  I went back and forth from education and the medical field.  I landed in the education field and live to love it!  I am a firm believer that all children be given an opportunity to find their potential.  I am in a position where I get to help them along their path and I love that.  Children can be the most appreciative customer!  They soak in all that you give them. I am blessed to be at a point in my life to be doing what I consider to be my dream job.  

Bonus?  I get to have a job that provides some nice holiday time.  

Hardest Thing...

Day 6-What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

I've been through quite a bit in my life so far.  I've overcome many obstacles.  I don't think I would be the person I am today if I had not had the experiences I have had.  Some experiences were quite more intimate than others.  With that being said, I will share my most recent "hardest thing I have experienced."

Three years ago, one of the teachers at my school discovered she had cancer.  She was the most positive person I have ever known.  She went through treatment and missed days from work, but she came back even better than ever.  

This past year, the cancer returned. She didn't want anyone to know.  Not even me as her supervisor. She didn't want all the fuss over her.  The cancer got worse.  She began to slowly deteriorate. It was difficult watching her go through this terrible disease.  She ended up passing on a couple of weeks before Christmas.  

This young woman had just turned 34 years old.  She was a devoted wife and a mother of 3 young children- 6, 4, and 18 months.  She was a kindergarten teacher at my school.  

This was a very difficult time.  The campus is a fairly new campus that just opened about 6 years ago.  Many of the staff are the original staff.  She too was part of the original staff that opened up the school.  There is a bond that forms among people when you open up a new school.  It is something unique, so losing one of our own, was a very sad and difficult thing.  Being at the forefront of this staff and trying to continue leading and keeping the momentum going, staying focused, and keeping the morale strong can be a difficult task. 

Prior to her passing, everyone wanted to help.  Everyone wanted to do something.  Everyone included the community. Everyone wanted to do fundraisers and collect money for the family.  Having to make decisions on what to allow and what not to all while protecting the family, protecting the campus, protecting the district from any harm was hard.  All the while, I was grieving in my own heart.  I lost a teacher.  A young teacher who had a husband and children.  It just broke my heart.  

The experience did put a different perspective on things for me.  Although I've known this, it helped me see even more so that when we think we are suffering or have problems, there is always someone else who just may need a few more prayers than ourselves.  

Day 5-Most Happy!

Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

I am feeling so happy and blessed with life right now.  Why?  Because:

My husband is one of the most caring individuals.  I am happy that I was blessed to have him in my life. 

My children are healthy and doing so well.  My daughter is discovering her niche-teaching.  She also is enjoying her passion-teaching dance to young girls.  I am elated for her! My son is into his Drum Line and is doing remarkable in school-making the Honor Roll!  

My job is a rewarding one.  I get to make impressions on quite a bit of young children.  I have a job where I get to have hugs from children every day.  I get to watch them learn.  I get to watch the awe in their eyes when they discover things for the first time. 

My two week holiday vacation.  It is almost over, but I have been happy to enjoy my time at home. 

My clean home.  I love being home because that is when I get to cook and clean my home.  I love that I have the best of both worlds with my job!  I'm home when I need to be and all the other times, I am a working gal. :) 

Day 4-Dear Self

Day 4-List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

I had quite a bit going on at 16. I was in my junior year of high school.  I was a varsity cheerleader-something I had wanted since I was a little girl.  I remember taking chemistry and loving it.  Yeah, that was totally weird!  I was in that...I'm close to graduation and I can't wait for college mode.  I was in the middle of locating scholarships and finding out about different colleges.  Yeah, I was on a roll.  Until that is I found out I was pregnant.  Yes, so at 16 years old I had a lot going on and needless to say it was quite a bit to handle.  If I could go back to my 16 year old self, this is what I would have to say:

Dear 16 Year Old Self, 

1. Continue to pay attention in Science class, you'll need it later. 

2. Spend more time with your sisters.   

3. There are people who truly care about you and there are those who really don't, choose your friends wisely. 

4. It's okay to not have a boyfriend, just be friends. 

5. Stay focused on college and your future. 

6. Keep your grades up, it will pay off later. 

7. Listen to your parents.  They really do know what they are talking about. 

8. Slow down...stop trying to grow up too fast.  You'll miss these days when they are gone. 

9. Speak your mind more often.  

10. You are pregnant, it's not the end of the world.  You will be okay.  You still can have a successful life and you will. 

That time of my life was a very defining time for me.  It was either going to make me or break me.  I chose to let it make me.  I still carried on in high school and managed to graduate with my senior class.  I didn't miss a beat.  I still applied for college and attended the following Fall.  As in my previous post, my parents were my biggest supporters and I couldn't have done it without them.  I later married my high school sweetheart, finished my bachelors and went on to complete my masters.  I beat the odds and am proud I did.  My husband and I lead a very happy and successful life.    

So, at 16.....yeah....it was one of those defining years in my life that I took and made it work for me. When some people here my story, they think wow, you have come a long way?  How did you do it?  My thing was I didn't know anything else. :) I knew what I had to do and just did what I had to do to get there. 

Day 3-Parents

Day 3-Describe your relationship with your parents:

My parents are the best! They have always been the most supportive people with everything I do. No matter the mistakes or poor choices I made growing up, they maintained their unconditional love and support.

They have always encouraged higher education. They didn't take any excuses. I had my daughter one week after I turned 17 and they would watch my daughter endless nights so that I could continue my school.

My parents are big on tradition and making family time a priority. They have instilled that in me and my siblings, so needless to say, we've all followed through. My parents always took us everywhere as kids. We hardly stayed with sitters. They always wanted us with them.

All in all, I've always felt their love. I've always felt their support. No matter what I was going through in life, they held my hand when I needed them to or they just stood behind me when I needed them to. They are also the best grandparents and make it to just about all the grandchildren's school events. They hardly miss any!

I couldn't have asked for better parents!

Day 2- Fears

Day 2-Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

Do I have fears? No way!  Okay....yes I do.  Here they go:

1. Heights! Oh my gosh, do I fear heights!  I don't know where or when the fear originated, but it is there.  I have some not so fond memories that this is true.  I will share one of them.  One year, my husband got on the roof to put up the Christmas lights.  He asked me to go out there to help him grab a particular strand.  He was on one end of the roof and needed me to bring the other end to him.  I climbed out from the window not thinking a thing about it.  I ended up laying on my back on the roof and looked down.  I saw how high I was off the ground (we have a two story home).  I literally froze!  I could not get my body to move one bit!  I almost cried!  My husband had to come and help me back in to the window.  It was a very scary moment.  I never did that again.  haha! So, I really do not know how that happened, but it became a fear.  Yeah, so don't get me to overcome this fear by standing on a ledge or crawling a tall mountain or anything, because I am perfectly find and at home with my fear.  I have no shame!

2. Flying!  Okay, this fear isn't as bad as it use to be, nonetheless it is still there.  I don't get how some people can sleep during flights. I envy them so much.  The only thing that runs through my mind when I try to sleep is having that "falling" feeling and then the engine noise is even more profound that it sounds like it is turning off?  Not a cool feeling!  My earliest recollection that I had a fear of flying was when I was in middle school.  My entire family and I were flying to El Paso with the rest of our family (aunts, uncles, cousins) along with an entire men's softball team (and their families) for a softball tournament.  This was my first plane ride.  I didn't know what to expect, but I literally cried the entire flight!  No, it wasn't that annoying cry. I just sat there in my seat crying the entire ride.  My mom just held me the whole time.  Coming back wasn't as bad. My next flight came when I got married and my husband and I went on our honeymoon to Cancun.  My hand was tightly gripped to my husbands leg.  His shorts became drenched from the sweat in my hand.  It was his first flight and he was enjoying the ride, but felt so horrible for me.   Funny thing was the trip was my idea.  I wanted it.  I have been on quite a few flights since then and have gotten way better at flying, however my nerves do get the best of me when I do.  It's just not as bad which is a good thing. I can even look out the window now! :)

3. Driving in the rain! This is not so much a fear as it is something I do not like to do.  I still do it though.  During rainy weather, I wish that I had an exempt card to stay home.  I much prefer to be in my home than on the road.  When it's within my control that is what I do.  Besides, you don't want me on the road during rainy weather.  I tend to drive 40 mph on the highway!  I drive overly cautious.  I have hit those water pockets more than a few times and hate that "hydroplaning" feeling you get.  It's a loss of control of your vehicle and that really scares me.  I also loathe when the cars next to me are driving super uber fast as if there is no rain on the road and hit a water puddle that splashes onto my entire windshield!  Don't they know they just made me blind in my car for those brief seconds??

If I don't have to, I won't drive the highway.  I will take the feeder all the way to my destination.  It doesn't help that I drive a low car, but I am determined to pay it off.  Looking to get an SUV of some sort after a while.

So beware of slow drivers on rainy days!  There could just be a fear hidden in that car.  You've been warned!



Day 2 done!  Hope you are having a great second day into the new year.  Feel free to share your fears!

Thirty Things January: Day 1- 20 Random Facts about Me

I stumbled across "30 Things" in a blog through Pinterest.  When I clicked over, I realized it was from a blog I follow!  I must have missed this series of "30 Things" that Jessi from Hopes and Dreams did last January.  I loved it and thought it would be a great series to start my blog off with in the New Year.  So, thank you Jessi for the inspiration!  Here are the 30 things I will blog about for the month of January.  Stay tuned!

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

Day 1: 20 Random Facts about Me

1. I'm happily married to my high school sweetheart.
2. I have two of the most loving kids.
3. I own over 100 books and I continue to collect them.
4. I have a fear of heights.
5. I can never have enough purses or bags.
6. I learned to LOVE football.
7. Chocolate makes me sleepy.
8. I love wearing gold and pink, but I have people always tell me how I ROCK red!
9. When I was a child, I wanted to be an actress when I grew up.
10. I have to have a glass of OJ when I feel a cold coming on and not that Sunny Delight stuff-although that's good too. It has to be real OJ.
11. I'm a bargain shopper with clothes and sometimes shoes, but I will spend top dollar on purses, hair products and books.
12. I am a country music loving kind of girl.  Country music-I'm there!
13. I love cooking and trying new recipes.  If I like what you cooked, most likely I will get the recipe from you before the night's end.
14. I cherish my friendships.  Each girlfriend in my life has made an impact on me and I admire each one of them for their individuality and their unconditional love and support.
15. I fear driving in the rain and late at night when I'm sleepy.
16. I am such a beach girl.
17. I enjoy hearing about stories from the past...something about our history is captivating to me.
18. My favorite place in the world is home.
19. I have a fascination with the medical world. I must have been a doctor or something in another lifetime? ;)
20. Hence, I am in the middle of watching every episode of Grey's Anatomy. I started watching this summer and am on season 5. I think I can tell you all symptoms to a tumor and maybe even be able to scrub in on a surgery or two?

There you have it! Day 1 with some random facts.

Hope your new year is off to a great start!

Happy New Year!