Lest the wealthy give to the homeless,,, it could only be a win/win situation

I've learned a lot these last few weeks about the squalor in which too many of the homeless lived in former grand hotels in Manhattan in the 1980's/
Families of 3,4,5 and 6 lived in 1 room with vermin crawling around. The children missed more school than they attended, fell asleep on their desks from hunger, were ostracized by their peers and
not treated as equal to their peers by teachers and had no quiet place in which to do their homework.
A family might live on the 14th floor and have to walk up flights of stairs because elevators weren't running. They feared guards who sold drugs and raped girls. I have read that these hotels are no longer "shelter' for the homeless. and homeless families live in better conditions than years past.
It killed me to know that the reason these hotels "housing" families thrived for so long was because the affluent owners were often part of corporations who gave huge contributions to the government who paid the rent. They paid approx. $3000 per month for room and board per family; however, for half that, the government might have loaned or subsidized these families to live in decent apts. or not to have had their own homes foreclosed upon because they couldn't afford expensive necessary repairs. But, they didn't, so these families got caught up in the system, demeaned, made to wait for their welfare checks for hours often losing total dignity. And if your children are starving, no one in the family having their own space, and if you are all cold and not well- cleansed nor dressed, you might get desperate and steal.
I've heard, but have not yet researched that these hotels have closed and that the homeless are living in more respectable dwellings, but are they all? I wrote to citizens in my city asking whether any would be interested in working with my husband and  me to really help the homeless feel worthy.

Christmas Carols in Public Schools??? Silent night??

Jesus Christ was not my savior. It is not a holy night for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and people of other faiths. Teachers had a luncheon in school yesterday, as usual on the last day before "Winter Recess". I am the only Jewish teacher. They claim that it is the  "holiday luncheon" because it is the "holiday season", and it is not a Christmas lunch. With a huge tree in one classroom with a star atop, paper plates and plastic table cloths adorned with the colors of red and green and Christmas symbols, a "Secret Santa" grab bag, and carols such as "silent Night' playing in the background, I feel uncomfortable every year. I don't partake in Secret Santa" but I give a donation to a children's charity. Call it a Christmas party and invite me. I'll feel more convivial. Don't tell me that Santa, A tree, tinsel, lights, and a star atop are not Christmas symbols. They may not be religious symbols but they would not be used as decorations if it were not  Christmas. Also, the teachers wore sweaters and Santa hats depicting Christmas scenes.
What bothers me most is that they insist Hanukkah is part of the "Holiday Season", and equal in Jewish Minds to Christmas in Gentile minds. It isn't. I politely explain that our "holiday season comes in September and October", but it is the rare teacher that even acknowledges my holy days.
Christmas is a beautiful holiday. I make special efforts to drive around to admire the decorated homes, but, it is not an American holiday. It is a joyful festivity for Christians. 

Wishing those who celebrate, a Merry One."

the "Holiday Season at the Psychiatic Hospital"

December 2013, 2012, 2011etc, is the holiday season for Christmas, and perhaps Kwwanza. Kwwanza is not a religious holiday; however, Christmas, no matter what the logic expressed by Gentiles, has not become a secular holiday. The Christmas tree is a symbol of Christmas. Only after Thanksgiving does one see decorated evergreens in homes, shopping centers and even schools. Yake a look in windows in April, and I'll bet your money and mine that you won't see any tinsel hanging from a dead tree in someone's living room. Christmas is a "holy" holiday, and "Chanukah" is not. Gentile people feel more comfortable insisting that it is an important religious holiday for the Jews. The word :Chanukah" means rededication of the temple by the Jews that was regained from the Syrians' Greeks via military action led by Judas macabee.
More tomorrow.

his moods keep getting in the way.

sometimes, I feel I don't belong. I've never been fully accepted by any clique. I've always been in the periphery. I don't really have anyone whom I can count on. I doubt everyone, even my husband. he wants to be even tempered and kind, but his moods keep getting in the way.

teacher in a psychiatric center. It's hard to say good bye

She told you she was scarred by life’s betrayals

She begged you to listen

And not to say, “I understand”

Because you can’t..

And because you don’t.

 

 

She said sometimes she felt she was living in an abyss

And there was no way out.

Please don’t say, “I can identify”.

You’ve not walked in her shoes.

 

She told you everything you wanted to hear

Except what she really felt

Lest you began to judge her

Or whispered “She’s not normal.”

 

Kept still though you doubted her words

Her eyes spoke to you

“I’ll be fine. Let it go.”

The expert of self-deception

 

 

You spotted her skipping down a road

Filled with tomorrows and days ahead

But, years of impulsivity wore her down

No surprise, she disappointed.

 

 

Too many times she’s sought advice

“But they all read from “scripts”.

 Maybe it’s ‘cause she didn’t hear

 What she wanted to hear.

 

 She’s found a guide, who recovered

 From her own hell, and brought

 concern for a world outside herself.

Two steps forward, one step back.

‘Til forward wins the race.

 

 Real friends, an education, determination

 Root for her as she “Passes go’

 And collect the rewards well earned

 Small steps pulled her down

 Small steps will bring her up.

 

 

 

Be Careful What You wish for....

Be Careful what you Wish For...
I had wished for a competent ed. supervisor who was knowledgeable about working with Psychiatrically impaired adolescents, who would support teachers and have compassion for the long hours we work.  Instead, we got an ego who wants the teachers to do his tasks and rule our roost the way he sees best, so he can look good in the eyes of the State. He considers us a "school" , not a "school within a hospital." can't in and he struts like he knows what he doesn't.. Wishin' on a star!

"putting a dog to sleep" Our Golden Retriever Mickey

Why do they call it sleep? Who are we to say when a dog is ready? I guess it depends not on his quality of life because that comes from the owner of the dog or the vet/ Maybe the dog doesn't want to die. My mother had cancer and though the Hospice nurses and oncologist gave her no hope, she still had it and as long as he was alert, to her family she was a person. It is never time to say good-bye.
Please, Mickey, rally..

Liar!!!!! What a kiss up does to keep her job..

... always say, "Yes" to your supervisor even though the task you are  being asked to do is not within your tasks and standards.
bring him home cooked meals
Tell him how handsome he looks in his hat
tell him he is the most intelligent man you've ever met

report cards to students in psychiatric hospitals?

Strengths, Weaknesses

 

We are not teaching the same curricula in any subject areas as schools within a district. Upon what would the numerical grades on report cards be based? With what other children could we compare a child’s achievement or progress in any content area? How do we know how much they gained if are not continuing to scaffold education based upon what he was studying before hospitalization? We have no baseline with which to measure progress. Furthermore is it fair to assign numeric grades based upon achievement in an in-patient facility? We teach psychiatrically impaired patients.  I think grading our kids, would be best if we stay with a therapeutic model. It would be more realistic and helpful to avoid numeric grades and benchmarks of achievement, but offer narratives or comments based upon interpersonal development, behavior, ability to stay on task, level of engagement, self control, attitude, and strengths and weaknesses.  After all, how could we pass or fail a psychiatric patient because he is not stable enough to be in school? Anyway, he/she is not studying the exact subject matter as his cohorts in public schools? Would we grade a dancer who had broken a bone in the same way we would grade a performer in perfect physical health?  I think if we stressed to guidance counselors that we are not a school district;  therefore, any grades we give are not transferable. We could instead send a report card

Too Old to achieve Greatness

It doesn't matter how well I age, but lots of people my age and younger seem to listen to the voice of youth rather than the voice of knowledge from experience and research.
At least, I'm becoming resigned that I will never achieve greatness.

invisible and old and no kiss up am I

I can relate the many details of how I felt invisible during my young years, esp. with interactions with adults, but was nothing like that feeling I experience too often as I age.
I notice at work, though I may be in better shape and prettier, ore energetic and more knowledgeable about educating hospitalized youth than woman twenty or more years my junior, the younger ones are invited to participate in special projects, not me, though I may be much more innovative than they.
I also know that they get greeted by their younger cohorts, no matter what the dept. than I. There is an exception. Ms. "D" is a few years older and any pounds heavier than I, but she wears expensive clothes, gaudy gold jewelry and her finger and toe nails and hair are always perfect, he always smiles and agrees with what her supervisors say, so she is a favorite- not much up on education, but what a kiss up.

have i always been invisible? Part 1

**when I was about 9 years old, I was assigned to sit at the dais with friends and close family of the Bar mitzvah boy, my cousin Michael, and last to arrive at the table, I went to find a seat, but neither was there a plate nor a chair for me. After seeing me floundering for a few minutes, my dad got a waiter to bring an extra table setting and chair.
**A few months later, my mom sent me to the bakery, which was three blocks away to purchase a half  a rye bread sliced with seeds, a cinnamon and a prune danish. They weren't taking tickets because it wasn't a busy time, but the clerks after finishing with each adult customer, asked, "Who's next?" Every
time I raised my hand, they helped someone else/After at least 10 minutes, I finally spoke up and told a female clerk with orange hair and lipstick, freckle covered arms with sagging muscles smiled and asked me what I wanted.

follow this blogger...

....I don't have a clue how to get a follower.

isn't anyone interested in sharing thoughts about the care children in psychiatric hospitals receive?

there is so much to talk about. let's do it.

I hurt

What did i do differently than my peers? i have no life long friend that is interested in maintaining contact. I always thought I was a good person and a loyal friend. Nobidy likes me.

Age is not just a number

i may be healthy and fit, look years younger than I am, be as firm as someone twenty years younger, but it doesn't change the year I was born.

retirement without getting older??

wouldn't that be nice??? I am getting older, much older, in fact, i'm of retirement age, but neither do i have the time in nor the money to do it.

the homesless- do we have responsibilty?

Of course, we do. How can any american, especially those who can afford million dollar homes, designer clothes, cruises, vacations abroad, fine jewelrone y and spend 200.00 on shoes for a child, pass by someone, likely mentally ill, and perhaps throw him a bone or a buck, and think, "I gave through charities. I got my write off, and that is a win-win siutation. IT is not. These street people obviously did not get a big enough piece of a donation for sustenance, so they are asking for more. Don't you think it's degrading for them? Think of the as human beings who might have been productive citizens at one time ubtil tragedy struck.

what did i see at the cemetery? How did I feel at the cemetery?

outlines of graves made from grass. didn't experience much emotion. i dream about my parents as they looked before they died- lovely people with flesh over bones and voices that complimented and gave advice and with arms that hugged.=

religion

Jason was wined and dined for three days by an elderly Jewish philanthropist. He had approached Jason two years ago to come work for one of his organizations. At the time, Jason was comfortable and very content as being an equal CEO of a not for profit Jewish website, of which one of his prime responsibilities was fundraising. It was no wonder with his affable personality and devotion to the site that he was extremely successful getting sizeable donations.

His colleague was an egotistical young man, not nearly as vested in making the website supreme. Jason was in the office working productively most evenings long after Dan went home. Jason was advised a few months ago that Dan would quit if he was not given the title of CEO and be given full responsibilty that they had both shared, so he was granted his wish, and Dan forbade Jason from doing his favorite aspect of the job. Dan is a graduate of Yeshiva University and keeps the Sabbath.

Jason, feeling very unhappy, now- the older man renegged onhisoffer and dan ended up screwing Jason and firing him.

have you ever?

Have you ever disliked someone so much that even at the slightest glance their most prominent feature becomes more distorted? I do. When she purses her painted scarlet lips and nods in agreement with policies introduced by administrators who she doesn't realize are using her, and that she must knows will not benefit those we serve, I must look away. the KISS UP.

everyone is afraid- of the BULLY or followers unlimited or let the supervisors just walk over us

The teachers with whom I work inthis psychiatric hospital think that if they speak up for themselves or the children, they will be treated worse than they are now.
supervisors should be watching over us -looking out for employees not bullying us.