Getting Childhood Wants

Kids in America are "branded;" they do not desire winter boots, sunglasses, or sweatsuits. Instead, they desire Uggs, Ray Bans, and Juicy Couture sets.

When I was a kid, there certainly were material items that I desired. I recall wanting this ridiculous (in retrospect, of course) pair of cowgirl-style boots. They were white, white white fringe and small pseudo-turqouise embellishments. I have no idea as to what compelled me to desire those boots.  I remember they were expensive for the time, either $50 or $100...and I remember splitting the cost with my mother...probably with monies from a birthday or a holiday.

There were tons of other items that I desired, but never got.  The amazing thing is that those items that were expensive, in the early 90s, are now being sold exponentially cheaper at "deep discount" chain stores. It's amusing because, if desired, I could get all of those items that I desired in my youth for similar 1990s-esque prices. Kind of like some weird nostalgia time machine.

Brands that come to mind:

Airwalk shoes and sandals--now sold at Payless

Goofy JoeBoxer prints--now at Kmart

Starter athletic apparel--now at Walmart

OP-- now at Walmart

Mossimo--now at Target

I have yet to find a store that sells HyperColor clothing though:(

Metaphors for teaching in 2012

It isn't that there have been more meetings than usual, but it just seems lately that the union meetings and board of education meetings leave me feeling upset. Often, midway through the meeting, i'll take my index and middle fingers and check my pulse. My pulse is usually racing, frustrated, angry, and a myriad of other emotions intertwined. 

This leads me to metaphors for teaching in 2012:

1. Every day that I teach, I walk on a tightrope.

2. Every word that I utter is analyzed, microscopically, from each child in the room. They know how "sue-crazy" and PC-minded that our society is, to a fault. 

3. With all of the emphasis on testing and scores, I am basically an educational robot.