Even though I don't have a solid teaching job for the next year, I'm still going to all the different conferences that I was requested to go to.
The first one in the middle of June was a business conference. It covered some of the stuff through MultiMedia, but mostly it was a waste of time. It seemed like it was geared more towards middle school teachers and specific secondary education teachers. Luckily enough, there were vendors at the conference and the great thing about that is I can order free textbooks. I guess that is one good thing about being a teacher. But luckily it was about a 30 minute drive, so it didn't seem all that bad.
The second conference--which is one I'm at right now--is the TV Broadcasting/Video Production one. I thought this would be the best one of the summer. I could get good ideas and network with other teachers in the state. Not so much. The majority of people who speak are those who have been teaching for a long time and aren't all that current with what is going on. They just want to continue with what they've been doing for years and when someone "newer" says something that contridicts what they have to say, they get defensive. It is mostly geared towards the Broadcasting side of things and I wasn't teaching that this past year and I don't know what--if any--studio stuff will be availabe with my new job (when I get one). There have been a few other things that have been said that I've enjoyed and I got to see an old friend from the industry who stopped by to say/show something. They also did two different "make-and-take" sessions that I enjoyed. Even if I don't teach this next year, at least I've got stuff for me personally to use.
But if I was in charge of the conference, I would be doing things a lot differently; that way people can pick and choose what they really want to come to and what is going on. I would also ask more people than just the "directors and hosts" what they wanted to be seen during the conference.
Oh well, at least I'm getting credit.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Summer Break
Well, it is now over and done with. The school year ended without too much fanfare. I didn't have any students come to challenge me about my grading; which was nice for a change. I went to graduation because I was required to go, but I went with some rebellion: I wore the colors of the rival school, Green. It was interesting to see how this subtle trick took hold. I looked incredibly nice and put together, I just wasn't wearing the colors of the school and that is what made a few people nervous. Interesting how that happens.
I went to the faculty breakfast the next morning because I was, again, required to go. I didn't eat anything--it all smelled disgusting anyway. But the principal had decided to allow each of the departments who had someone leaving a chance to say something in front of the faculty. My "chair" (i.e. the one who had been spreading nasty things about me) got up and started talking. She made me get up as well. I stood there with my face in a pleasant look and I just watched her. I didn't look out at the faculty because I wanted to see her talking pattern. You can tell a lot about a person and what they're saying by watching their body language. While she was talking, she said things like "an asset to our department, she will be missed" and she looked at the floor while she was saying that. She also said "kindhearted person, driven, and hardworking" and she was looking left and down, which also means lies and deceit. When she tried to hand over the gift she had for me, her hand was shaking and I let the gift hang in the air for a little to show her shaking to the entire faculty. Then I took it, but I left it in my office with a note saying "Sorry, it just doesn't fit" which can be lead to mean a bunch of different things. I wanted to say something in front of the faculty to call her out, but I decided that I was going to be the bigger person in all this and just let it be. She'll get what comes to her eventually.
But I did have an interview, but I didn't get the job. They went with someone who had a better "fit" as they told me. And the Principal didn't even call me himself. He had his secretary do it. I hate it when people push tasks like that off to the secretaries.
But I'm still looking around. Now I've just got to find almost anything.
I went to the faculty breakfast the next morning because I was, again, required to go. I didn't eat anything--it all smelled disgusting anyway. But the principal had decided to allow each of the departments who had someone leaving a chance to say something in front of the faculty. My "chair" (i.e. the one who had been spreading nasty things about me) got up and started talking. She made me get up as well. I stood there with my face in a pleasant look and I just watched her. I didn't look out at the faculty because I wanted to see her talking pattern. You can tell a lot about a person and what they're saying by watching their body language. While she was talking, she said things like "an asset to our department, she will be missed" and she looked at the floor while she was saying that. She also said "kindhearted person, driven, and hardworking" and she was looking left and down, which also means lies and deceit. When she tried to hand over the gift she had for me, her hand was shaking and I let the gift hang in the air for a little to show her shaking to the entire faculty. Then I took it, but I left it in my office with a note saying "Sorry, it just doesn't fit" which can be lead to mean a bunch of different things. I wanted to say something in front of the faculty to call her out, but I decided that I was going to be the bigger person in all this and just let it be. She'll get what comes to her eventually.
But I did have an interview, but I didn't get the job. They went with someone who had a better "fit" as they told me. And the Principal didn't even call me himself. He had his secretary do it. I hate it when people push tasks like that off to the secretaries.
But I'm still looking around. Now I've just got to find almost anything.
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