School District Cuts

This week I received the newsletter from my local school district. I believe the Superintendent in my district has a tough road ahead, as well as behind recently, and furthermore, she is doing an admirable job with the less-than-ideal conditions that exist now.

For example, I really do appreciate that I was called to participate in a poll. I, as the mother of elementary school age children, was asked my impressions of school quality, safety, curriculum, texts, district fiscal responsibility, frequency of levy issues on the ballot, teachers and more.

When I spoke with the congenial pollster, I did tell her I home school my children so my impressions are mostly vague and second-hand. She wanted my opinions anyway.

One question was about a levy on the upcoming ballot. I told her that I would vote against the levy. I gave her only one of my reasons, that being the district put a huge levy on the ballot two years ago, saying that if it passed they would not put another new money issue on the ballot for five years. She laughed. Was it because I remembered the promise? Was it because the previous 50 people she spoke with that day told her the same thing? Was it because she thought I may have believed the promise from two years ago? Don't think for a second I thought they would keep that promise. I did think it was an irresponsible and short-sighted thing to say.

Looks like I was right. There will be another huge levy on the ballot in May. The newsletter that officially broke the news to me had something interesting to say about what the future holds if additional funding is not received: "Outdated technology and textbooks mean students will do poorly on standardized tests and be less able to compete in the job market."

That bullet point struck me because I've noticed over the years when I compile the lists of texts and books my children have read each school year several of them were published in the 1950s. There are a few from each decade in between then and now too, but at least three quarters of the books are over 25 years old. I don't think this is detrimental at all, and my school's standardized test scores bear that out.

It is not so simple a problem as to say "Let them use older books," though. The older books owned by the district are probably not books I would choose for my school. They are probably on the list of text titles the district had to choose from when spending money from the state of federal sources. Those strings are a noose.

The superintendent closed her message in the newsletter with word that funds are promised from Washington and Columbus (Ohio), but so far only promises have arrived, not guarantees or dollars. "Therefore, the only real hope our children have is you." (emphasis is mine).

I know this message is intended to garner support for the upcoming levy, but what a shocking statement! It is sad, shocking, downright pathetic, and an ill omen that parent would look to Washington or Columbus before looking to themselves to provide hope for their children.

There are great programs to help people with difficult educational challenges, and I'm thankful they exist. But even considering those circumstances I cannot fathom looking to government first for hope.

Christmas Sweater

A new sweater for the Engineer Was completed late Saturday night and was set out to block. This morning, it is almost dry. If the Engineer looks a wee bit uncomfortable it is because he is not used to wearing sweaters that are still a bit damp in the back. I am thrilled with the way the sweater came out and with how quickly this pattern knitted up with my only change being color scheme and ribbing in K1 P1 instead of K2 P1. But I also have made some notes to keep in mind next time I use this pattern for help it fit even better. The Back to School Pullover is the third pattern in the top row of this link.

The kids came home from a weekend with their grandparents to find the Jesse tree and the advent wreath in the dining room. We have the non-traditional advent wreath this year because I thought I had purple candles. I went to my candle drawer and found three ridiculously stumpy purple candles that begged to be put in the trash. Next to them I had several new pink candles, and here we are...Sunday afternoon was dedicated to swatching for the Artist's sweater. I got out my calculator and did all the measurements and math required to reduce an adult size pattern to fit her. I also got started with my cast on and knitted until I realized I had once again twisted my yarn while joining in the round. Drat!

Next time I cast on straight needles and knit a couple of the beginning rows before transferring to the circular needles. This worked much better for me, and I used the little tail to sew closed the three rows I had worked on the straight needles.

But getting any actual knitting accomplished yesterday was doomed. After I had knit about three inches there was a knot in the ball of yarn making an unnatural join between the bright pink and the white. So I cut the yarn and rejoined at a more natural place in the color scheme. I made a terrible join and I grew increasingly unhappy with it every time I passed that place knitting the next several rounds. So before I went to bed I rewound the whole thing.

My big hang-up with beginning this project was getting through all the math and measurements. Now that those parts are done, I am eager to proceed. Before I cast on again I'll knit a swatch of the edging on the pattern (see it here). I could have been happier with the yarn overs in the lace edging and I could use some practice to get just just the look I'm after.

In my knitting marathon weekend I did not get lesson plans printed for the kids this week. On Wednesday, the Artist has a Latin final going beck to second semester last year. Her time will largely be dedicated to studying for that. I made a giant stack of flash cards for her to learn.

The Engineer and I will go through a few subjects then start some house cleaning. Won't he be thrilled!

November, After All

We have had a glorious autumn with warm dry weather. Today I looked out the window to see this, and my first thought was, "Wow! It is really foggy today." I peered around the sheers and reality quickly checked in--it was a hard frost. Well, we certainly are due for it, it is November, after all.

My part of the veggie garden is cleared out, but the Artist still has some clean up work to do. maybe she will have a chance (and maybe I'll remember to send her out to do it) today. I heard the weather gal on the radio mention snow for next week.

Today ends our first quarter of school and I'll be making out report cards. Rick is home from work, but hopefully he will keep his distance and not catch the bug the Engineer and I have. It is very uncomfortable to talk, so the little guy has not had a lot of school this week.

I'm behind my usual pace for Christmas shopping, and more than half my list is completed, and nothing is wrapped yet. I'd best get moving if I'm to have that all taken care of by Thanksgiving.