East Oakland Quotes of the Day: Journals

Here are some letters to me that made me smile:

Dear Ms. ______

My day will be Awsome because I will talk camly to everyone today. Sincerely, B

Dear Ms. ___, ... Oso (also) in the homework you put coloring... I like to do homework from Ms. __. It's sow fun to do your homework. I like to do stuff fun in the homework like the speling I like the words. [some spelling fixed; some too charming to fix]

Dear Ms. __, This year I like 3 grade because we do a lote uf math. And I like math because you can learn like 2+3 you can learn that from math. And now I am teaching my brother math.

Dear Ms. __,  I love how you are my teacher and how you teach us new big words and numbers. How you give us jobs and how you make sure our work is done. You make us smarter every day. You're the smartest teacher ever.

Dear Ms. ___, I like when you teach us thank you Ms. __. ... Today I happy becase you are the best teacher in the worl. Sincerely, A

Dear Ms. __. ... I like this school. This school rocks. I love writing. Love, Y

Dear Ms. __, I like 3th grade. :-) When I grow up I want to be a great teacher just like you. I love you. :-) love, V

Dear Ms. __, Thanks for being my teacher. I am glad I am on your class. You are the best in the class. I love you. :-)

Beyond the Reach of Satan's Pow'r

The most touching moment of the Jolly Memorial Singing was a song led by a young woman whose friend Nate was killed in a terrorist bombing in Uganda. Our singing is more than music. It becomes a vessel for our joy and our grief.  

The Christian's Hope

A few more days on earth to spend,

And all my toils and cares shall end, 

And I shall see my God and friend, 

And praise his name on high.

No more to sigh or shed a tear, 

No more to suffer pain or fear;

But God, and Christ, and heav'n appear

Unto the raptured eyes.

Then, O my soul, despond no more:

The storms of life will soon be o'er,

And I shall find the peaceful shore

Of everlasting rest.

O happy day! O joyful hour!

When, freed from earth, my soul shall tow'r

Beyond the reach of Satan's pow'r,

To be forever blest.

To Earthly cares I bid farewell, 

And triumph over death and hell,

And go where saints and angels dwell,

To praise th' Eternal Three.

I'll join with those who've gone before,

Who sing and shout, their suff'rings o'er,

Where pain and parting are no more,

To all eternity.

East Oakland Quote of the Day

Some of my colleagues post their EOQDs: those horrifying things out of the mouths of babes that we have to laugh at before we cry instead.  But for everyone one of those comments, there are at least ten that remind me that these kids are regular kids, though I suspect them of  having bigger than average hearts. Here are some overdue quotes from their Mother's Day cards:

Dear Mom,

You are the best mom, because you make the best food ever. ... Mama, you are the best in the world because you make me cakes and you teach me a lot... With Love, J

Dear Mom,

You are a great mom because you are always by my side. If someone is messing with me, you solve the problem. You are also great because you cook for me. My favorite thing is when you make us crabs. The most important reason you are a great mom is that you raised me. You teach me to better in school. You teach me to have manners and to respect people. Happy Mother's Day. Love, D.

Dear Mom,

You are a great mom because you are great at cooking. You are also great because you make pizza. The most important reason you are a great mom is you wash my clothes. Happy Mother's Day! Love, K.

Dear Mama,

You are the best mom because you work hard. You are a good mom because you care for me a lot. You take care of us when we are sick. You care for us very well. I love you, dear mom, O. complete with many hearts drawn in the margin.

Dear Mom,

You are a good mom because you love me with all your heart. Also because you make me food. The most important is that you help me with my homework. Happy Mother's Day. I love you, Y.

Replete with many heart balloons drawn around the entire letter.

Dear Mom,

You are a great mom because you always buy me stuff I want. You are also great because you help me with my homework. The most important reason you are a great mom is you take care of me. Happy Mother's Day. Love, O.

Dear Mom,

You are a great mom because you cook good food. You are also great because you buy me toys. The most important reason you are a great mom is  you love me so much just like I love you. Happy Mother's Day. Love, H. I love you mom so much.

I have my bitter and my sweet

Before I rant, let me say this: I love the Oakland Public Library, and most of its employees are lovely people. However.

Last Sunday, I checked out The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Langston Hughes and Roy de Carva. Sweet little book, by the way. I noticed later when I checked my record online that the book had a due date 3 days after the checkout date, which struck me as odd. I brushed it off, though, and figured I'd get the book back during the grace period anyway (4 days after due date) by returning it this Saturday.  I checked my record today to discover I had been charged $4. The only materials that cost $1 per day late are audio books and movies, so I was rather stunned. On today's visit to the library, I told the clerk today about the problem, and she had to get someone more senior to deal with it. And here is where the crazy begins.

Petty Idiot Library Lout (PILL)*: Yeah, you owe $5- $4 for the book and $1 for a movie.

Me: Yes, I did return the movie late, so that charge is fair. But the fee for the book is not.

PILL: OK, I can waive $3 of the fine, you pay $1.

Me: Why $1?

PILL: It's a reference book and it was late. You shouldn't have been able to take it out in the first place. We gave you the notice.

Me: But no one called my attention to this, it was in the regular stacks, nothing has a due date of 3 days, and only videos and audio books cost $1 per day (okay, how scary is it that I can recite the library's policies, when I haven't worked there in over a decade?). 

PILL: Okay, you pay the $1 you owe and I waive the rest.

Me: I don't have money on me, I'll have to pay the dollar later.

PILL: You have to pay it today. If you don't pay today, then you'll have to come back later and do this all again when you have the money.

Me: No, that's not fair.

At this point, PILL goes off for reinforcements, thankfully in the form of a Sane Librarian (SL). 

SL: What seems to be the problem?

Me: I checked out a book on May 30, returned it this Saturday, and was charged $4.

SL: (checks record online) Oh, I see. It was a reference book that probably shouldn't have circulated. That's our fault for letting it go out, so we'll go ahead and waive the entire fine.

I don't think I imagined the "WTF, dude!?!" thought bubble above his head as he glanced at PILL.

PILL waived the fine with poor grace while lecturing me about checking my receipt. I did not laugh at him, I did not call him an idiot, I did not respond at all. I just kept saying to myself, "Shut up. You're getting what you want, so just SHUT UP so you can get out of here before sunset." Finally, he called the first assistant over to finish checking out my books.

 "I don't blame you," she whispered to me.

*Yeah, the irony of pettily complaining about pettiness is not lost on me.

For they shall be called the children of God

I went out on the yard today to speak with a coworker.  My most challenging student happened to run by, and so I called out, "Hey, handsome, how you doing?" OK, I don't usually address my students as "handsome," but he was wearing a school-appropriate shirt for the first time in weeks, and I wanted to be encouraging. He came right up to me and let me put my arm around him, and then I saw that he was on the verge of tears. His chin was down and his hands were balled tightly into fists.

"What's up? I can see you're upset." 

No words yet. Then an older boy from the other school that shares our site came over. "What's up, D?" the other boy said as he looked gently into my student's face. He took one of D's hands, gently smoothed out the fist, and did the same with the other hand. "You all right, man? OK then." And he ran off to get in line to go to class.

Another student of mine came up and said, "What's wrong with you?" which sounds a little harsh, but he said it so gently that D didn't seem to mind. Then he finally told us that someone in his family had been in a car accident. We talked a little more about it, and then the boys ran off to play a little before the bell rang.

Blessed are the peacemakers.