Teachers' Scotch Cream Whiskey Here I Come!

Well, its been awhile since I posted anything and Jenn mentioned tonight that John B. sent a message complaining that we are not blogging anymore so here it goes.

My new teaching job at Wilson Middle School in Lethbridge is going swimmingly however this weekend and week are quite stressful. Today I logged a 14 hour day as I taught all day followed by a two hour meeting for the ATA. At 7pm we had our Meet the Teachers evening at the school afterwhich I had to go to a Lethbridge Symphony rehearsal to get my music. I finally stumbled home at 9.20. I have two beginner band clinics tomorrow evening and Thursday from 6.30-8.30 and by the time Friday comes around I will be ready for some Teacher's Scotch Cream Whiskey. Yes, that's correct. TEACHERS' Scotch Cream Whiskey. We picked it up in London, UK on the cheap. Its been made for a long time by Teacher and Sons of Glasgow and to me, the name just implies that it will be an excellent addition to a Friday afternoon on a week like this.

On a possibly exciting note, a rep from my local A.T.A. Economics Committee (the Alberta Teachers' union for all you anti-union buffs out there) has decided that she thinks I should receive my five years experience increment from Immanuel Christian, even though it was pre-degree. If they are successful in winning this for me, I get a very large raise, well, basically overnight. Guess what we're hoping and praying for?! Now that's why a union is a good thing!

Enough of my rant. School's been busy but really positive. I teach five bands, two choirs, six general music 6 class (twice each per week) and two periods of E.S.L. each week. We have a new (and according to the students a way more strict) administration and things are really feeling positive at the school. I'm quite excited as by the end of the week I should be up and running rehearsals and making kids practice. Wilson will have its challenges however, as it is in a more economically challenged neighborhood and has a poorer demographic than the other middle schools in the city. However I have never been one to believe the line that poorer families automatically equal less expectation. I believe in situations like that we should all work the harder to get ourselves out of such predicaments and succeed. When I took the job at Wilson a lot of people responded with "Oohh, you're going to Wilson." As many amazing music programs are currently being fostered in U.S. inner-city schools in particular, I don't think WMS is anywhere close to the family and social problems in those schools south of the border. If they can do it, then by the grace of God so can I. After all, that's one of the reasons I feel called to teach in the public school system. Though it may sound like a cliche, I really do believe that even one inspired child is worth all the effort.

So I begin each day reading a Psalm and saying a prayer in my office and band room. Why? Because where else would I go, and to whom else would I turn? To all my friends out there, I ask for your prayers for me and my music room, that it may be a place of refuge for those who are hurting. That it be a place where they can channel their joys, sorrows and frustrations into making beautiful music. And that in all things the Lord will be glorified by everything I do and say therein! Soli Deo Gloria.

And yes John, I will try to do a better job of making posts to keep everyone astride of what Jenn and I are doing.