Two pot stops tops: City leaders consider new rules for medicin...

CRAIG WRITES: "Have you ever sung opera in a math class, BECKY?"

BECKY: Not sure. Probably. Why? Don't you like opera?

DBS WRITES: "My son came home from B40 and told me he had been in A classroom with A "loony substitute" that had decided to "sing opera" in front of his math class. He also told me he never wanted to be in a classroom with her again."

BECKY: My kids LOVE it when I sing opera for them! In your son's case, it was most likely because the kids begged me to do it. I usually tell them a joke at the beginning of the class. The opera is either used a special reward or when the kids beg me for it.(Usually the kids beg to never be in my class again because of my jokes!)

DBS WRITES: "I told him he didn't have to. Like any responsible parent, I'm obliged to protect my child."

BECKY: Protect him from OPERA? It's not like he was in danger! Also, your son was at least 12 years old at the time. A little opera couldn't hurt. Note he did NOT tell you that I failed to teach the math lesson left for me by the regular teacher, I didn't "go off" and scream at the kids, I didn't fail to keep track of all 125 of the little darlings, or fail to keep them safe from harm. Nor did he say that I had failed to faithfully report to their teacher how the day went.

Teachers sometimes have to ham it up in front of the class. We have to be actors sometimes. We have to be performers. It's just part of the job description. Get used to it. If you were honest about it, you'd have to admit I was a perfectly adequate teacher for your son that day, albeit a little "kookie". And sometimes in public education, a little kookie-ness is good. It relieves the boredom. Besides, how often does your kid come home from school and even MENTION the substitute that day? Sounds like I left a lasting impression on your son.

thanks DAN, I always like to hear feedback from when I was subbing.

Becky Johnson wrote:

CRAIG WRITES: "Have you ever sung opera in a math class, BECKY?"
BECKY: Not sure. Probably. Why? Don't you like opera?

It's inappropriate and has no place in the classroom. Math for math class, opera in music class.

Why would you do such a thing? To make the children like you? Are you still trying, at the age of 55, to get school kids to like you?

DONNY B WRITES: "I would not want you teaching my child."

BECKY: Well, if you live in McLean, Virginia, it's a moot point, right? Don't you think that if I was a bad teacher, I'd have been weeded out after 9 years? I have hundreds of positive evaluations from teachers I've subbed for. I've worked in six districts before literally thousands of students.

Yet you, a complete stranger, who has never seen me teach for so much as a minute, can, in a public forum say "I WOULD NOT WANT YOU TEACHING MY CHILD." As though you have any reason whatsoever to question my ability as a teacher or my responsibility to adhere to professional standards in a classroom. Do you understand that, coming from you, your words are poisonous? You INTEND to do harm to my career with your words. You say them out of spite even though they have nothing to do with the topic being discussed here.

Becky Johnson wrote:

CRAIG WRITES: "Have you ever sung opera in a math class, BECKY?"
BECKY: Not sure. Probably. Why? Don't you like opera?

I have several kids in SC schools and when they have a sub I typically ask who it was and what they are like. If BJ was ever brought up as the sub assigned I would be at the principals office within say, 10 minutes, demanding her be removed and the rest of the parents supporting me. Her views expressed on several topics in this forum alone warrant separation from children, a case easily made by her own writings.

CRAIG WRITES: "Have you ever sung opera in a math class, BECKY?"
BECKY: Not sure. Probably. Why? Don't you like opera?

CRAIG: It's inappropriate and has no place in the classroom. Math for math class, opera in music class.

BECKY: Who says I didn't teach math in the math class? In fact, I'm sure I did. The opera I sing takes about 2 minutes time and is really a filler. And it's fun. The kids love it. BTW I rarely teach music. I have no musical talent.

CRAIG WRITES::Why would you do such a thing? To make the children like you? Are you still trying, at the age of 55, to get school kids to like you?"

BECKY: Because it's fun. And the kids enjoy it. And it reduces stress in the classroom. Kids can't even learn in a stressful environment. When I come into a class, the kids are already stressed because their regular teacher is not there. The quicker I can establish rapport with the kids, the sooner we can get back to business as usual in the class. MY goal in subbing, always, is to have that class be as much like a regular day in the student's life as possible---as if their regular teacher was there---so that my appearance in that classroom doesn't become a "dead spot" in their educational progress.

I've made all sorts of mistakes and had good days and bad days, but I am totally dedicated to each and everyone of my students from the minute they arrive until they leave.

Becky Johnson wrote:

DONNY B WRITES: "I would not want you teaching my child."
BECKY: Yet you, a complete stranger, who has never seen me teach for so much as a minute, can, in a public forum say "I WOULD NOT WANT YOU TEACHING MY CHILD." As though you have any reason whatsoever to question my ability as a teacher or my responsibility to adhere to professional standards in a classroom. Do you understand that, coming from you, your words are poisonous? You INTEND to do harm to my career with your words. You say them out of spite even though they have nothing to do with the topic being discussed here.

BJ... I've already posted my rationale for not wanting you to teach my child. That's my opinion and I'll stick by it. As I previously stated, readers of this and other forums on Topis read and evaluate the post and posters based on the content of the posts. If you have numerout commendations and positive evaluations for your work over the past nine years then, congratulations. I'm happy for you. I'm still entitled to my opinion.

Donny B wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm happy for you. I'm still entitled to my opinion.

In my opinion, you're an idiot.

Wish I had a teacher named BJ.

WESTSIDE DAD WRITES: "If BJ was ever brought up as the sub assigned I would be at the principals office within say, 10 minutes, demanding her be removed..."

BECKY: Please don't call me "BJ". I find it offensive. Please stop. So how do you expect your children to comply with your dictate? Are they to raise their hands and ask to go to the principal's office because I'm "inappropriate?"

Have you left a list with each of your children's teachers of all the people you don't like so that they will all be banned from being in your child's presence?

And what makes you think my comments in here as an adult citizen expressing my points of view on dozens of subjects have anything at all to do with my job performance?

What you want is known as the "heckler's veto".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler%27s_veto

It doesn't look like the law is on your side. As long as I am a legitimate hire, I've fulfilled the proper credentials (DOJ check, fingerprints on file, in good standing with the district, tb test on file, 4yr college degree, CBEST taken and passed, no serious pending charges) the school may authorize you to take your child home, but it's possible they would have an unexcused absence as a result. Saying you don't "like" the sub is not a legitimate reason to remove your child from school.

The ORIGINAL Sum Dim wrote:

<quoted text>
In my opinion, you're an idiot.

You're living proof that manure can grow legs and walk. My opinion, of course.

Becky Johnson wrote:

Have you left a list with each of your children's teachers of all the people you don't like so that they will all be banned from being in your child's presence?

No, but I have notified the Superintendent, and the Principal that I refuse to allow my child to sit in any classroom you are assigned to.

Becky Johnson wrote:

BECKY: Who says I didn't teach math in the math class?

I do.

Well, I think it's a safe bet you don't teach real math to the students. We've all been subjected to your "version" of math. You've given us all great examples. Like when you stated that 3% of 54,000 is 3000. That was a real good one. Then there was the infamous 2000 is 1%-2% of 54,000. That was a knee slapper.

You don't teach "math" BECKY. You're not smart enough. The closest you come to "math" in the classroom is when you have to count the number of students attending on the day you're watching the kids while the real teacher is sick.

Becky Johnson wrote:

...No, it was on the National Teachers Examination---the equivalent of the bar exam for lawyers. I needed to take it in order to be issued my teaching credential.
I scored 94% in communication skills (which means that 6% of my communications suck)
and 97% in GK so, that means that I am wrong 3% of the time.
That is, if you believe in tests.

And yet still you haven't obtained a valid teaching credential. Sad.

My opinion: You may test 'wrong' 3% of the time, but you preach 'wrong' a vast majority of the time, at least on this forum.

DBS WRITES: "No, but I have notified the Superintendent, and the Principal that I refuse to allow my child to sit in any classroom you are assigned to."

BECKY: So what did they tell you they would do?

BECKY: Who says I didn't teach math in the math class?

CRAIG WRITES: I do. Well, I think it's a safe bet you don't teach real math to the students. We've all been subjected to your "version" of math. You've given us all great examples. Like when you stated that 3% of 54,000 is 3000. That was a real good one. Then there was the infamous 2000 is 1%-2% of 54,000. That was a knee slapper.

BECKY: I'm glad you have so much fun in here. But my math skills are quite intact, thank-you, and if DBS's son was in a math class, I undoubtedly followed the lesson plan left to me by his master teacher and taught math. Even DBS doesn't say his son wasn't taught math. What's interesting is that his son even mentioned that I was there that day. I must have made quite an impression for him to have told his dad what happened in class. Oh, BTW, I don't believe DBS when he says his son asked to not be in my class ever again. I'm sure if he holds that position, it is due to the negative influence of his father. I'd bet the farm on it.

CRAIG WRITES: You don't teach "math" BECKY. You're not smart enough. The closest you come to "math" in the classroom is when you have to count the number of students attending on the day you're watching the kids while the real teacher is sick."

BECKY: CRAIG, you are babbling incoherently again. I DO teach math all the time. I'm happy to take math classes and did very well in math when I was in school. I also excelled in science. I'm sorry you think I'm not smart enough. What you think really doesn't affect the facts of the situation, does it. In fact, I was in a math class last year at one of our local high schools. I was there for a couple of days and the kids were really struggling with the material. I just kept putting examples on the board and solving them for them, explaining each step as I went. Several of the students thanked me profusely and told me that they had not understood it when their teacher had explained it, but once I did, they finally understood it.

How much college have you had, CRAIG? Oh, yeah. I forgot, you tried to have my post deleted the LAST time I asked that. But you think it's just fine to state that I'm not smart enough to teach math. At least I have a bachelors degree from college and a certificate, and a graduate degree. Oh, and I did it while I was on welfare too!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Becky Johnson wrote:

I'm sure if he holds that position, it is due to the negative influence of his father. I'd bet the farm on it.

There goes the lying whackjob fabricating "facts" again!!!!

Hey Becky, a loser like you, hasn't got anything to bet with.

Certainly not a farm.

Becky Johnson wrote:

I DO teach math all the time. I'm happy to take math classes and did very well in math when I was in school. I also excelled in science. I'm sorry you think I'm not smart enough.

If you're soooo great at math and science, then how come you're too stupid to count calories?

Are you size SEVENTEEN yet?

Maybe you could count how many chiffon pies it would take you to get there?

Hey - guess where the DEA has been hanging out:

"First U.S. marijuana cafe opens in Portland
Sat Nov 14, 2009 Reuters"

"PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters)- The United States' first marijuana cafe opened on Friday, posing an early test of the Obama administration's move to relax policing of medical use of the drug..."

"The cafe -- in a two-story building which formerly housed a speak-easy and adult erotic club Rumpspankers -- is technically a private club, but is open to any Oregon residents who are NORML members and hold an official medical marijuana card."

..."I still run a coffee shop and events venue, just like I did before we converted it to the Cannabis Cafe, but now it will be cannabis-themed," said Eric Solomon, the owner of the cafe, who is looking forward to holding marijuana-themed weddings, film festivals and dances in the second-floor ballroom."

Now, what could be better for the struggling Santa Cruz economy & high crime rates than to open some cannabis clubs - maybe in the same spots that the worst bars now occupy?

Just imagine: "Amsterdam-by-the-sea " - I bet the City Council & Chamber of Commerce will drop a few million into the right advertising campaign, too.

Becky Johnson wrote:

BECKY: Who says I didn't teach math in the math class?

CRAIG WRITES: I do. Well, I think it's a safe bet you don't teach real math to the students. We've all been subjected to your "version" of math. You've given us all great examples. Like when you stated that 3% of 54,000 is 3000. That was a real good one. Then there was the infamous 2000 is 1%-2% of 54,000. That was a knee slapper.

BECKY: I'm glad you have so much fun in here. But my math skills are quite intact, thank-you, and if DBS's son was in a math class, I undoubtedly followed the lesson plan left to me by his master teacher and taught math. Even DBS doesn't say his son wasn't taught math. What's interesting is that his son even mentioned that I was there that day. I must have made quite an impression for him to have told his dad what happened in class. Oh, BTW, I don't believe DBS when he says his son asked to not be in my class ever again. I'm sure if he holds that position, it is due to the negative influence of his father. I'd bet the farm on it.

CRAIG WRITES: You don't teach "math" BECKY. You're not smart enough. The closest you come to "math" in the classroom is when you have to count the number of students attending on the day you're watching the kids while the real teacher is sick."

BECKY: CRAIG, you are babbling incoherently again. I DO teach math all the time. I'm happy to take math classes and did very well in math when I was in school. I also excelled in science. I'm sorry you think I'm not smart enough. What you think really doesn't affect the facts of the situation, does it. In fact, I was in a math class last year at one of our local high schools. I was there for a couple of days and the kids were really struggling with the material. I just kept putting examples on the board and solving them for them, explaining each step as I went. Several of the students thanked me profusely and told me that they had not understood it when their teacher had explained it, but once I did, they finally understood it.

How much college have you had, CRAIG? Oh, yeah. I forgot, you tried to have my post deleted the LAST time I asked that. But you think it's just fine to state that I'm not smart enough to teach math. At least I have a bachelors degree from college and a certificate, and a graduate degree. Oh, and I did it while I was on welfare too!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

BJ... We've been through this before. You DO NOT have a graduate degree. You have a certificate issued by the UCSC Graduate School.

Degrees and certificates are two totally separate and distinct programs. If you're looking at the ranking of degrees and certificates, a certificate awarded by a grad school is more than an undergraduate degree, but less than a graduate degree.

I know you won't believe anything any on Topix says about this, so call the University UCSC Grad School Registrar and ask them to explain the difference between the certificate programs and the degree awarding programs.