Author: sjr2000

Hello everyone welcome back to my blog! Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy with the coronavirus going around. Please remember to wash your hands. Yesterday, after I got home from school, I sat in my living room with my cats and had a cup of some Earl Gray Tea, when I stumbled across “Should Sex Work Be Allowed in Canada?” by my favorite blogger, William Martin (click on the link to access his post. You should really check out his blog if you haven’t already, I write about it alot. Anyways, I read this post and I’ve been thinking about sex work and sex education a lot because of it, I am an educator, after all.

I personally believe that sex is a special and sacred thing that should only be shared between two people who love eachother and are married. However, I do recognize that not everyone has this belief, and I am, by no means, saying that everyone has to. I am just saying that I would never be comfortable selling my body, but if other people want to I think that they should be allowed to. Anti-prostitution laws are just another attempt to control women’s bodies, much like abortion laws, and are therefore oppressive against women. I think it is totally fine if two adults consent to and have sex, even if there is money involved. However, I find it hard to believe that prostitution is always consentual when there is a business involved, like the one in the article. Business always exploit their workers, and in this case that would mean the sex maybe is not always consentual. I think it is important to move away from an abstinence-based sex education curriculum and move towards a more diverse and inclusive curriculum, one that includes a conversation about consent. It is important to teach children consent so that they know when they are being exploited. I think this will help eliminate sex trafficking as well, having more nuanced conversations about sex. I just care about my students so much I don’t ever want anything bad like this ever happening to them. 

One of my students went to Japan on a scholarship over the summer to study abroad. I asked them about their experience, and I learned a lot of interesting things about relationships in Japan.  Apparently, over there, there is a large gender imbalance. There are far more men than women, meaning that there are a lot of single lonely men in the country. To combat this loneliness, there are services in Japan where you can “rent a girlfriend”. Immediately I thought that this was a euphemism for prostitution. However, there is no sex involved. You can rent somebody to pretend to be your girlfriend for however long. You can go on dates with her, take her to a party or as a plus one to a formal event or anything else. In fact, clients are forbidden from having sex with these girls. They are just to pretend that you have a girlfriend. How crazy is that! 

Well, thanks again for stopping by. If you enjoyed this post be sure to subscribe and leave a comment below. Let me know what you think about the legality and morality of prostitution and sex education in the United States, as well as of the psuedo-prostitution that occurs of Japan. Have you heard of anything like it before? Would you ever elicit such services? Why or why not?

Hello everyone and welcome back! I’m so happy that you’re back. Sorry I haven’t  posted in a long time. My students in my AP history class recently took a practice AP test, so I’ve been grading essays all week. Students aren’t the only one with homework! School is hard for teachers too. It’s honestly so exhausting sometimes, but hard work always pays off. The AP test is coming up soon in May, which is only two months away. When I see my students come out of the test smiling and confident in their performance, I’ll know I’ve done my job right.

I read another interesting post by William Martin (I’m sort of a big fan now), this one titles “Scandalous College News” (the link will give you access to his work) and this post is just some of my thoughts and reflections on that. Basically, some students in the student governing body at Ryerson University abused their power and charged $250,000 of personal expenses on the school’s credit card. This was very inappropriate and in response, the school shut down the student government and took control of it themselves.  

Like William, I also think that the response of the school was inappropriate. I don’t think dissolving the student governing body is the solution. The solution has to fit the problem and the problem is the lack of responsibility in a couple of students. All of the students in the governing body should not be punished for the actions of a few. This is called collective punishment, which is actually a war crime as dictated by the 1949 Geneva Convention. (not that anyone asked, sorry I’m a nerd :)). Instead, a better punishment would be disciplinary action against the few irresponsible students to make sure they don’t do something like this again. These students need to understand that there are very real consequences for their actions. This was no small mistake, this was a $250,000 mistake. They spent other students’ tuition money. These hooligans need to be dealt with in a strict and appropriate manner. If not, they might not realize the severity of their mistake and commit a similar crime in the future. One time, a couple of years ago, I was directing a production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast as our fall musical which opened in November. One day, we came to rehearsal and we realized that Belle’s iconic yellow dress was missing. After a couple days, we managed to find it. It turns out that somebody in the technical crew stole the dress to wear as their Halloween costume. The technical director, production manager, and I all unanimously agreed to drop that student from our production and forbade them from participating in any of our productions for the next 2 years.

I think our swift and harsh punishment was very effective. Not only did it prevent that student from stealing again, it also set an example to the other students in the production. We had no other incident after the theft of Belle’s dress, and that was years ago. But even students that were not in that production know that story and they know that we are no-nonsense directors. Although a stolen Disney dress is very different from a stolen $250,000, I think that Ryerson University should adopt a similar swift and strict disciplinary strategy to prevent anything like this ever happening again. What do you all think? How were you disciplined as a child? Did it work? How should we control deviant behavior in the youth? What is effective and what is not?

Hello William! I don’t think we’ve met before. I just happened to stumble across your blog this morning while I was getting ready to go to school. Its kinda weird to think about the fact that you are only a few years older than my students. I teach at the high school level, and I really enjoy it.  Anyways, this morning I happened to read your post titled “Another Disappointment in American News” and I just have to say, it is a disappointment indeed (For my readers, I’ve attached the post for your reference. Just click on the title of the article). I currently work in California, in the same town I was born (I won’t be saying where due to privacy reasons). Thankfully, over here, I never really have to worry about injustices like this happening. But it is still disheartening to know that they are happening in other places in the very country that I love. It is the 21st century. Why are we still discriminating against minorities? How does it benefit anyone?? Who benefits from the disenfranchisement of others? If someone wants to adopt a kid who are you to stop them? 

If gey couples are allowed to adopt, it actually helps society in two facets. One, it takes a child out of the foster care system. I have had a handful of students who told me that they grew up in foster care, and they often had negative things to say about it. Some students did not ever really have a stable home base, they often bounced around from house to house, whatever their case worker told them to do. Some foster parents do not take good care of their children, some are only in it for the money. The system is so overfilled and understaffed that it’s easy to drown and not get the help that a child needs. To force a child to go through the foster care system instead of letting them be a part of a happy home is just cruel. Your prejudice is actively hurting the lives of so many people. Additionally, gay couples help with overpopulation. Gay parents do not add another human on this planet the same way that heterosexual couples do. The more gay couples that adopt, the better, if you ask me. So many of my students are LGBTQ and many of them want to have families and it makes me sad that they legally cannot, in some places. My students are just absolutely amazing and many of them would be amazing parents, if they so choose. 

Additionally, one thing that bothers me is when bigots use the bible to justify their discrimination. As a deeply religious person, it is offensive to see my holy text used in such a way. Like you said William, just because I follow a certain faith doesn’t mean that everyone has to live their life accordingly to my beliefs. The church and state are separate for a reason. Who are we to say what is right and what is wrong? Only God can judge us. Mark 12:31 tells us, “Love thy neighbor as yourself”, and I intend to do exactly that, no matter who my neighbor is, and I hope you all do the same. Anyways, thanks to all my readers for following my blog. Be sure to hit subscribe if you enjoyed this post. I look forward to reading all of your comments!

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! I am so happy that you’re here. Today I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind a lot recently and that is voting. The California primaries took place recently, on March 3rd. This day was actually referred to as “Super Tuesday” because there were so many states holding their primaries on that same day. The primaries continue on–there were actually some yesterday. Why can’t all states just have their primaries on the same day, like we do for the presidential election? If anyone knows why please share down below. Currently, Joe Biden is leading in the delegate count for the democratic party nominee. 

A lot of my students said that they support Bernie, like I did. I’m glad there’s still things that I can connect with my students outside of theatre. Intergenerational connection is really important, if you ask me. However, I read somewhere that the voter turnout for younger folks was really low, which made me a little upset. This is YOUR future that we are voting for, why aren’t you interested in shaping what it looks like. I won’t have to live with the effects of this election as long as you all will. I might be rolling in my grave, but I won’t have to live with the effects of this election, or any election, for that matter. Especially with Trump in office, EVERYBODY should be voting to get him out! 

Not all of my students can vote, since not all of them are over 18 yet, which is understandable. However, some of my students are older than 18 and citizens of this country and yet, they did not vote. I don’t know what it is with the apathy of this younger generation, but it really bothers me. Especially when minorities don’t vote, like women and black people. People suffered and fought for your right to vote, and you are just taking that for granted by metaphorically throwing away your ballot. A lot of young people say that them voting won’t change anything. Especially since a lot of my students are liberals, they say voting doesn’t matter since they already live in a blue state. However, my conservative students also don’t vote! Their reasoning is that their vote isn’t going to count or matter because the state they live in is so blue already. If they were in a swing state they definitely would’ve voted. I think both of these arguments are just excuses. Even if you believe your vote doesn’t matter, you might as well do it anyways, since it doesn’t matter whether you do it or not.

A common argument I hear from people my age is that 18 is too young as the national voting age. They say that kids are too stupid to vote for their own futures. They are not informed voters, they are just sheep and do what everyone else is doing. I disagree with this argument. I think that my students are more than qualified and capable of shaping their own future. Also, I know so many older, dumb, uninformed voters. Being older does not automatically make you more informed. You still have to do your research and put in the work. 

What do you all think? How impactful is voting really? Should the voting age be lowered/raised? If so, why? Let me know what you all think; I’d love to hear all your wonderful thoughts. If you liked this post be sure to subscribe for more content like this. See you next time and have a wonderful week!

Hey y’all, welcome back! It’s nice to see you again. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy in these trying times. It’s hard to ignore the chaos, panic, and fear surrounding the coronavirus. My students are talking about it all the time. Today we talked about how Tom Hanks and his wife recently confirmed that they both have coronavirus. My students and I were really saddened to hear this. Tom Hanks is one of the best actors of all time. He’s in all of my favorite movies: Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Saving Mr. Banks, Sleepless in Seattle, and Cast Away. Oh and the new one was really good, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. It hurts to even think of anything happening to someone who has such significance in not only my life, but the lives of so many people. I remind my students that having coronavirus is not a death sentence. Although he is older, he is a rich American with access to healthcare. My students laughed at that, which made me feel good.

The kids, they’re often making jokes, as kids do about such things. And I do too, like my Tom Hanks joke. Some students have even shown me coronavirus memes. However, I feel like the younger generation is not taking this whole situation as seriously as they could be. Perhaps it is because they are young and full of youth, and have a sense of immortality that I lost long ago.  Coronavirus is a dangerous disease and must be treated as such. My students were toying with the idea of traveling and going on vacation, since flights are so cheap due to travel restrictions and just general safety precautions advising against unnecessary/leisurely travel However, since the tickets are incredibly cheap, my students decided to go somewhere anyways. I told them it might not be the safest thing, to which they responded that they are healthy young adults with strong immune systems who would survive coronavirus, if they even contracted it. They also mentioned that the places they were looking forward to going to did not have any confirmed cases of the disease. I told them, like I am telling all of you now, that it doesn’t matter if you think you will survive coronavirus. You might carry it and pass it on to someone who is not as lucky. Older people, pregnant women, and people with autoimmune disorders or compromised immune systems are very susceptible to contracting and dying from coronavirus. I am just especially worried about my mom, who is turning 89 soon. She obviously is really old and could not handle being exposed to coronavirus. 

Additionally, I am worried about my husband. This is something I have kept from you guys for a long time, but it’s only because it makes me really upset whenever I think about it, and I wanted to spare you guys the sorrow. The thing is, my husband is currently undergoing chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer. It’s never easy when the person you love gets cancer, especially for them. Its just so hard to see someone you love in so much pain. Anyways, I am just extra worried about him now with this whole pandemic because his immune system is already compromised. To make things worse, I am a teacher, which means I have to physically go to work everyday. There are a lot of people I’ve heard that have started working from home, because their jobs allow and encourage it, for safety reasons. But I can’t do that as a teacher. I still have to show up to work, every single day, where I am exposed to hundreds and hundreds of people. 

Thanks again for stopping by, and stay as healthy as you can. I put out hand sanitizer and clorox wipes in my classroom, and I hope you do the same in your work space, whether that be at work or at home. Be sure to subscribe! See you later!

Howdy partner!

I just stumbled across your blog, and it is such a delight! I’ve never met a trucker before — but I’ve always wanted to. I find the trucker life to be so different from mine. I have so many questions: Is it hard being away from family for such extended periods of time? My family is so important to me I don’t think I could ever be a trucker. My daughter only lives a couple hours drive north from me and that already feels its too far. How and when do you eat and sleep? How did you end up driving trucks for a living? I feel like no child dreams of being a trucker when they grow up, no offense. But I am speaking from experience. None of my students have ever mentioned driving trucks as part of their post- high school plan.

Coincidentally, I also went to Seattle this past week, how crazy is that?? We might’ve seen each other, maybe. The reason I went was to go meet my new grandchild! My youngest daughter had her second son about a month ago and so my husband and I went to go visit him. We left our house keys with Carol and Linda, our neighbors, so that they could feed the cats while we were gone.

I really want to visit the Great Plains now. The photos you posted are so beautiful! I really don’t travel enough – I’ve never even left the country. I’ve only been to six states, Washington, Nevada, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, and, of course, California. We usually stay in California for our vacations and only really leave the Golden State for special occasions, for example, the birth of my grandchild. Its no secret that teachers don’t make a lot, and so its not easy paying for airfare. Its hard to get days off of work too. Honestly, its easier to show up to work than it is to prepare plans for the sub. Plus, subs never do things right and I have to play catch-up the next day anyways. But its amazing that you have a job that allows you to travel so much, for free! I bet there are some “hidden fees”, though.

Another perk of trucking is the opportunity to meet people from all over, when you pick up hitchhikers. Craw seems like a really nice young man. Thanks for sharing that story. It really is inspiring, hearing stories about people like him, doing the Lord’s work. I have not experienced loss as devastating as his, but I did lose a student who would have been a part of the class of ’07. That was a huge loss to our community. There is a lot of opioid use in parts of Northern California, where my mother lives. She knows a lot of folks that have died from drug use.

Anyways, thanks again for your wonderful blog post! I really enjoyed reading it. I hope you’ll check out my blog and subscribe! Have a nice day!

Hey y’all! Welcome back to my blog! Hope you all had a good week, I know I did. We came back to school this week, and so far, this semester is off to a great start. It was so nice seeing all of my students after so long. I learn from them as much as they learn from me. I eavesdrop on their conversations and get a glimpse into their world. A hot topic these days are the presidential candidates. The democratic debate happened a couple days ago and one issue that came up that really interested my students is the cost of higher education. Elizabeth Warren proposed to make college free. Obviously, this idea thrilled many of my students, any of whom are starting university in the next year or two. I know I would have really appreciated free college. It took me almost 10 years to pay off all of my student loans. Not only would I have saved a lot of money, but I also would have spent less time in college. It took me 5 years to graduate with my B.A. in English. This is because I had to work part time on top of being a student full time in order to afford going to school. I couldn’t take as many classes as I wanted to each semester because of my job. I also failed a couple classes and had to retake them, which further delayed my graduation. Having free college would have removed the stress of working, which would have improved my academic performance. I’m sure this is still true today, especially with the rising cost of tuition.
However, not all of my students thought making college free would be a good idea. Some of them thought this idea was not feasible and even naive. They said that there’s no logical way to fund the education of every person in America. Others refuted this idea, pointing out the government overspending in different sectors, such as the military. Although I think the United States has enough money to fund free college, I do not think we have enough cohesion and unity as a country to pull off such a task. First off, not everyone agrees that college should even be free. Even if we did, not everyone agrees on how to pay for it. Taking funds from other sectors means that everyone agrees that access to higher education is more important than say, the military, for example. Raising taxes makes a lot of people mad, and not everyone agrees on taxing the rich (especially rich people). I want to know what you guys think? Should the United States provide free higher education? How could we go about doing this? Will making a bachelor’s degree free reduce its value? Does a bachelors have inherent value or does its value come from its rarity, from the fact that not everyone have one? What impact do you think this would have on the job market? Be sure to subscribe and comment below!

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog! Something I’m really excited for this year are the 2020 Oscars! Every year my husband and I throw a huge Oscar-viewing party. We invite all of our friends and some co-workers to our house and we all watch the Oscars together. People get here in the afternoon around 4 and we all place bets on who we think is going to win each category. We do a similar gig for the Superbowl, since my husband loves football. I love watching movies, which makes sense since I love theatre and acting, and so the Oscar party is my thing. One thing though that really bugs me about the Oscars is the lack of women nominated. This isn’t a problem just this year either. Lack of diversity is a consistent problem the Oscars have. This is the second year in a row that there are no female directors nominated for the “Best Director” category, even though there were amazing films released this year directed by women. For example, Hustlers, Little Women, Queen and Slim, Booksmart, Frozen II, Captain Marvel, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and many more. I brought this up to my students, many of whom are aspiring movie stars themselves, at the beginning of class. My students shared much of my sentiments, of the need for more gender representation in the Oscars. They also told me about a hashtag that was trending on social media a couple years ago called #oscarssowhite, which highlighted the lack of racial diversity in the Oscars. This was something I had never thought about before. As a white woman, I noticed the lack of women nominated in different categories but not the lack of people of color. My students asked me about who decides who wins the Oscars and I told about the Academy, which is the group of people that votes and nominates people/films to win Oscars. You have to be very good at what you do to be invited into the Academy. Best Picture is the only category that everyone votes on, otherwise people vote for the category that reflects their profession. For example, only directors vote for best director and only actors vote for best actor. My students asked who these people were, and it turns out the Academy has historically been made up of straight men. They said that the solution to the lack of diversity at the Oscars is to increase the diversity of the Academy. I thought this was a very logical solution. Another solution that came up in our discussion was to increase the number of women and people of color both cast in films and working behind the scenes. Let me know what you think below. How can we increase diversity in not only the Oscars, but the film industry as a whole? And not just gender diversity, racial diversity too!! Be sure to comment and follow my blog! Thanks for stopping by! Have yourself a super day : )