Farewell, Benita

A Second Chance for MIC

With help from two of the assistant superintendents, Dr. Polia Griffin and Ms. Charlotte Seals, transportation was arranged, and the second time around had a lot more schools and teams.

The caterpillars were hiding for the most part, but we did find a few.

Pictures of the day.

In spite of all odds, the MIC Project begins

Debriana and Wendy after we collected caterpillars in the heat

As I have told my colleague many times, teaching should not be this hard. Getting a project going should not be this hard.
I am not referring to the effort at making plans to teach and delivering the many forms and vicissitudes of instruction. That kind of hard work is expected and often exhilarating and what keeps me at it each day.

I am referring to the unnecessary hard work of getting the resources needed and personnel engaged to teach and, in this case, to carry out the MIC project. I tried to get audience with the principals of the Madison County School District to present my project so that I could get the twenty four teams of three students and one adult sponsor from the Madison County School District schools. The superintendent suggested a mass email to the principals since they had a packed agenda. The is what I did. Then some genius in Nigeria or somewhere managed to hack my email and it got shut down for the two weeks prior to the project. In spite of my filling out work orders and sending emails to important people from my other email account and going to my principal, my school email and main means of communication for the project was still not working on the day the project began. To complicate things further two schools that I tried to contact did not work out. Further there were no more POs allowed after noon on Monday before my project so I had to improvise for some supplies which involved returning some items and doing other creative exchanges and purchases.

So Saturday arrived, three plots were marked in the woods for collection caterpillars, the food for lunch was purchased, a student was asked to run the equipment for the presentations and, most importantly, our indomitable janitor was hired to open everything up and to cook the hot dogs for lunch.

As I drove up an hour before starting time the mentor for the project, Dr. Richard Brown, turned in the school drive from the other direction at the same time. Off to a good start. Mr. Day, the janitor showed up and then a student from the middle school and before it was over four of my teacher colleagues all showed up on time and ready. Nine of the eighteen students from Velma arrived at various times, another student from the middle school and three from the elementary and the projectionist.

Dr. Brown brought some awesome samples of butterflies and caterpillars to put on the lobby table and hooked people's interest right away.





His presentation was excellent and when he gets permisssions I will post it on the wikipage. After we got the paperwork straight and instructions given, we went into the woods to collect caterpillars. Here are the teams:
Ms. Curette, Ms. Towner, Ariel, Fred, Wendy, Kenya
Michelle, Ms. Dickerson, Afrika, Kierra(second row), Jamaica, Jaylen, Brittany
Mr. Hamblin, Michael, Anthony, Ms. Taylor, Debrianna, Lonnie


Two Velma Jackson supporters let us use their land right across the street for the MIC Project. They were not home but let us come anyway. We walked past a pond, through a golf course that he is developing, through a cow pasture and through an open field to the three plots marked for the project. Here are some of the teams at work:





The best news is we were successful and several commented on how much fun science is and how this is what science should be - hands on, minds on.

Here are some of the caterpillars:





We got back to regroup and someone had locked up the hot dog buns for lunch so we were delayed but one of the teachers, MS. Dickerson, who just one a NIssan Grant for her local culture clas, printed out butterflies on her commuter and had the kids coloring as we waited and others got to discuss the project.

All in all it was a very successful day with a lot of learning taking place - great quality though far short of the 96 person quantity planned for.

Good things come to those who wait

Even in 100 plus degree heat, the oasis delivered these.



Easy rider on the hydragea



Day One



Second Row: Jessica, Brittany, Jaylan, Kenya holding RJ, Ms. Towner
Front Row: Justin and Wendy

After not a lot of sleep, I rushed out to Velma Jackson to meet some folks rounded up by our spirited PTA President to help clean up my room that I left pretty much in a disaster. At least that is what I thought. I got there just before the scheduled 10:00 am appointment for disaster relief and no one was there. When I asked one of the front office people if they had seen anyone, she said, “She will not come.”

Oh yea, of little faith, about 11:05 in walks the president and her crew, her daughter, Kenya, her daughter’s friend, Jessica, (both will be in my physics class and they scored some serious brownie points) and her two younger children and their friends. They all needed volunteer hours for 4H and I needed some serious help - great combination.

They all jumped right in and we cleaned hamster and gerbil cages, moved Eduardo, the guinea pigs pen and cleaned up some not so pleasant waste material that he left behind and threw away clutter, moved out all the desks and cleaned them and mopped the floor and sorted clutter and generally gave zoo 122 a make-over. All I had to do was work along side them and encourage and cook hot dogs on my George Foreman grill.
Thank you.

As if that three-hour stint was not enough. They agreed to come back on Monday to take on the greenhouse.

Day Two Crew
Jaylan, Ms. Towner, Jessica, Kenya, Chris
Wendy, Brittany
Justin

This time I got there early and there was knock at my door and it was the new principal and his assistant. They introduced themselves and were dressed very professionally with pastel shirts and striped ties and I was standing there in my shorts, T-shirt and clogs. I said I did not get the memo about dressing. The principal was very supportive and the assistant nodded smiled and nodded a lot, and they willingly took the tour of my room and the greenhouse. Then the principal asked who was in charge of the school fountain – it had become a tremendous eyesore over the summer without any maintenance and the once beautiful flowers were smothered by three foot high Bermuda grass. I said the last administrator and I never really came to a good understanding. The kids really need a lot of support to keep it going and some money for supplies occasionally. He asked if I wanted that in my program. I said yes and he said I had his support.

I told him it would probably be Monday or Tuesday before I could get people to do it. He thought that would be great. And then my help showed up again in force and besides Kenya and Jessica who worked tirelessly, creatively and without complaint on Wednesday another student who will also be a senior, Chris, showed up and joined forces.

I got the fourth grader, Justin, started on the fountain area and he immediately had a good understanding about getting the roots up and not having to do it again. I interrupted the principal from a meeting to tell him a young man was out there working in the heat and could really use a pop at some point and to test his support. He passed later with a pop and two bananas.



I also enlisted Chris on the fountain and put in some serious time myself to which Chris said to Justin, “I cannot keep up with Mr. Banks, this heat does not seem to bother him.”


He did alright.


I ride without AC and the windows down to condition and to simulate motorcycle riding.

At any rate we got it finished and when I told and showed the principal who graciously gave me his cold water, he said UPS couldn’t deliver like you. I said just call me UPS and we are off to a good start. Mr. John Sullivan will be fine as our new principal - he recognizes persistent passion that you do not have to wait overnight for.

I hope for a good year. After serving hot dogs to all I went from there to surprise our former assistant principal who is now the head principal of East Flora Elementary with a farewell gift. She told her secretary to be careful about whom she let in, but was really glad to see me even though I thought the picture on the wall was a tomato and it was an apple. She was very encouraging of my career and told some good lies about my ability and intellect to her secretary. Fare very well, Dr. Robinson.

I snapped this clandestinely.

She showed me the morning glory.

I was having my coffee


on the patio


and deep in thought and enjoying the cool morning. Then Heckle, one of my hummingbird buddies, started her dance from flower to flower and to my great surprise stopped at a morning glory leaf. My biology sense knew better so I looked closer and to my surprise after a month of waiting there was my first morning glory bloom.

Can you find Jeckle at the feeder?


And here are the two in tandem fight flight

I will AP, but next year.

Looking into crystal ball for answer.


After all the drama, it came down to my choice. The powers that be discussed and rescussed and as I suspected if I wanted to teach it I would have to give up the block I was given to carry out the MIC Project. I considered the offer for about fifteen seconds and decided to turn them down. As I had told the super and assistant super I am passionate about teaching but not crazy.

I will live to try again. This time we will start the planning early, and being the wide-eyed visionary that I am cursed sometings with being, the Velma Jackson ambassador core may actually become a reality where a very sharp core group of ninth graders can be the face of Velma Jackson in the advanced courses, in the academic competitions across the state and in hosting visitors to the school.

I will keep all two or three of you that read this posted.

AP or not to AP?

I was really doing a lab - really.

I am in my second week of recovery from AP Biology training and the ups and downs of my school and now district’s decision to offer or not offer it in the fall.

The week was quite intense and presented by a very capable, energetic and a good geeky youngster such as I – more on that in a moment. It got off to a rough start. I had not heard anything from my school or AP about the training, but I knew it was from Monday to Friday from 8-5 or at least I thought I knew that. When I showed up at Millsaps at 8:01 the room was full and they were in full tilt. Jane, the presenter, said you must be John. Now how did she know that?

I was the only person on the list that had missed the introductory session on Sunday night. Then the AP police chief met me at the door. I am not sure of her name but she is the Millsaps person in charge of the AP institute for all the subject areas and somehow she just sniffed me out. She told me emphatically that I would not get continuing education credits since I missed the one-hour introductory session that cannot be made up. Wow and good morning to you. I told her I had not gotten any communication –well, we sent it to the address on the application. (Later I realized it went to my other address that I had not checked). I explained that I had no need of continuing education credits since I had my national board certification.


My lab group who welcomed me and made the week very enjoyable. Liz, a Harvard graduate and Teach for America teacher at Humphreys County High School, Mark, a steadfast, star teacher and coach of the year at McComb for 33 years, and Antoine, a Jackson State graduate and creative, dedicated International Baccalaureate Teacher at Jim HIll High School.

The participation certificate so I could get my license upgraded was all I was interested in. She said I probably could get that. Probably? If not I will just leave; I have other things to do. I hung around for several days before they finally said I would definitely get my certification. Life is good. On the last afternoon session, Thursday, before we were to be dismissed early on Friday, I found out some startling news. One, I emailed my assistant principal who was standing in for our principal who euphemistically left for a better opportunity in another state. I inquired about books and who would sign the required AP audit form. She emailed me to say we would not be offering AP Biology in the fall. Not offering? You mean I rushed back to town to be able to attend this weeklong workshop for no pay and battled credit and now I will not be able to give our students this awesome opportunity.


The second best lab group who sat in front of us and worked with us on some labs and were a lot of fun.

As soon as I left on Friday morning – don’t tell the AP police chief but it was 10:15 not the scheduled noon, I headed straight for Velma Jackson (Our fearless leader had us going for days without the fifteen minute morning and afternoon breaks and by my count that was two hours so I took most of them and took an early exit – with my certificate, I might add). I came in with both guns a blazing for the assistant principal, whom I really like and respect, and the counselor, ditto. However, I gave them the full bluster – this is my last year. As soon as I find another job, even if it is in December, I am gone.

Now stop your threats, Mr. Banks, she said in her calm professional way. (I hate that she is leaving us for a principal job in an elementary school – but happy for her). And as for the counselor, I continued I will say happy whatever day it is as I always do and be cordial but professionally I will be very, very cold. (I was kidding but not happy that she had more or less promised I would be teaching AP Biology). Any way it was a great interchange and after the dust had settled. The Assistant Principal said she had ceded to the counselor’s insistence on an extra conference period to administer the grant. You have to give him something since he will not have AP. She agreed but warned her to just tell me no for if you say maybe Mr. Banks will work away at you until he gets what he wants. I confessed that was true but I had to for the kids.

Back to the other surprising news on Thursday afternoon. Since I missed the introductions I asked the presenter where she taught. Jackson, Tennessee at University School she replied. Oh really, I am not familiar with that I graduated from Lambuth College. Really. I did too. What year did you graduate? 76. Then it was clear to her why she had asked if I had been to one of the workshops before earlier in the week. I did too and gave her maiden name and remember I had long red hair. And, of course, she was biology major also – I barely remembered her but that is not unusual I do not remember most people from the distant past except abusers and superstars. Go figure. In the next class she told everyone this. I said I was hot (ha-ha) and she said yeah I was one of those guys who she hoped would speak to her (yeah right). Then I said I did not run with her because she was Greek –she thought I said freak. And everyone got a chuckle out of that.
Here she is the Vanna of Biology presenting our data from a five-day transpiration experiment.



And I thought it this AP thing was all over until I was meeting with the superintendent. His secretary had emailed me to say he wanted to meet with me about my grant and the possibility of presenting at the principal’s meeting. Wow – a meeting with the big cheese about the grant – this is finally getting somewhere. Then as I just got my throat cleared and we started talking strategy in walked the curriculum director and she asked me about AP Biology. He gave the green light to talk about it and I gave her the full picture and how I thought it was the one AP course that our kids had a chance of making a 3 or 4 on and a whole lot of other pedagogical and personnel ideas that I will leave for another time and place to share. In short the superintendent and her and my counselor will have a brief summit today to decide AP or not to AP. Isn’t life interesting?


This was outside our classroom and I am already working on a grant to have this in my classroom wall to be maintained on the classroom side and enjoyed by passersby on the hallway side.

Days Nineteen and Twenty - R and R and Home, Did I say Home!

In my sister's pool before the last leg of the journey.

I am home to my Chick-fil-A morning office (where they have free wireless), and it is good to have a long, fulfilling trip complete. Now I have many projects to do but I will take a day or two for rest and recovery. Thanks to all who made this possible.

I got to pass through Alabama again and see that awesome Saturn rocket at the rest stop and talk to my first African American in person since Darla on the elevator (Day 12)– I just shook Cassandra’s hand in gratitude for being home. And here at my office, I saw Mr. Towner, a Velma Jackson friend, and parent of one my students. Welcome home, Mr. B.

3300 miles, two long bike trips, several long runs, a lot of good food and other and, most importantly, many new friends for life and many gifts of new understandings and insights to walk the way of wonder the rest of my days. Life is good.

Days Seventeen and Eighteen - 25 hours on the road in two days

Martinsburg, WV A team

Saturday. I pushed on from Amherst to finally collapse in Woodstock, VA for the night - I left at 10:30 from Amherst after spending about three hours on my blog and bidding a proper farewell and putting my pastoral blessing on everyone in the group, I think. I had a wonderful lunch in an off the road town of Mt. something, NY and took a couple shots.


And supper at Mickey Dees somewhere along the way and my last stop before a 11:45 arrival was Martinsburg, WV whose name had to be repeated twice (I was in a coffee coma) by two very energetic teenage servers at yet another Macs. At another in the day the wireless did not work and they got a frigging F. What do we get they querried enthusiastically, An A. They started telling everyone, “We got an A!”

I could do brain surgery to pay for my trip since I stayed in an overpriced Holiday Inn Express with the worst coffee and breakfast on the planet.

Sunday. After getting up and just pushing myself I had a serendipity by finding Joe, my great longtime friend since seminary days, was still in Abingdon and offered a wonderful lunch of quiche and salad at 1:30 where Betty said we waited on you like one dog waits on another. Bless you. I also got to meet Luke after hearing about him for nine years and see his bride, Rachel, Joe and Betty's number one, who has a really cool blog, Yestertime. And see Noah their son again who got to play with Benita for a bit.

I stopped about an hour after that exhausted and wondering if I could make it to Franklin. I had two cups of coffee and again no Mac wireless and got so juiced I drove for almost five hours straight to make it to Franklin at 8:30 EST (after leaving at 8:50 am). My young friend who likes to text (aggrevated me with culinary cruelty as she texted details of their family cajun potluck fourth party) and a very timely cello piece (a precocious 12 year old on "Over the Top" on NPR)texturing the smokies musically as I passed by lifted me onward to Franklin where my dear sister had ribs which I ordered by text (along with accurate directions) ready and then fireworks and yes bed. As my friend said when I texted, “here!” - wonderful, you need to park your rides (truck and bike) for a very long time. Indeed.

Day Sixteen Summer 2010 - Farewell, Amherst, and Nano Friends

A flower of Amherst in tribute for my time in Amherst.
And now I say farewell to Amherst after a very quiet afternoon with a bike ride to see the Sun Circle at the south end of the football stadium where I met Judy Thomas and she told me about putting the circle together with a small grant from UMass and another from NASA and a bigger one from NSF to total about 30,000. Each of the stones was purchased from a quarry in Otis, MA for about 2 grand each. Three things were quiet different than expected – one, Judy’s picture on the web is from 1996

And here she is 2010
two, I thought it would be on the quad of campus (UMass has a pond with three fountains as the amoebic center of sorts)



and three, the stones were granted (no pun on their granite nature) large but not compared to the vast stadium across the street

and the tallest library in the world as Jenny referred to it. Nevertheless it was impressive and Judy is trying to get one on the National Mall. She was very gracious to return my email and meet me there to discuss her ongoing passion and future book.

And after that I got to go to downtown Amherst at last and had a wonderful light supper with a kim chee wrap and hot green tea at a place called Fresh Air and then some raspberry and vanilla Italian ice cream after seeing the majestic yellow house


and lot of one of my favorite poets, Emily Dickenson, and the majestic church

across the street which was across from Emily’s brother’s house (next door to hers) who was on the building committee in 1868.

We presented our posters about our lesson plans during the morning after an awesome pinch hit lecture by Jonathan on Nano-medicine.

And here are the people and a few posters, Farewell, Nano friends.

And first price to an tall,quiet spoken chemical and biological wiz, Anthony who teaches AP Chemistry in Easthampton, MA and has a company that tinkers with proteins to make them act in the lab like they do in the cell so drugs can be assayed.



And second prize for very innovative idea.


By Laura who teaches astronomy and geology at Ipswich MIddle School in MA and who generously gave me a ride to the Barbecue and who schooled me on my smart mouth.



And second prize for artistic merit


Farewell, grant guru, Antonietta who teaches in the "Fame" High School in NYC.


And pretty darn good from Jessica.



May you and Ben continue to do well in teaching and contracting.

And farewell, Deidre, who commuted on bike from Northampton everyday and made me jealous and who teaches Physics, Technology and English.



And farewell to the two participants who completed online course work while also doing this workshop.

Sharri who is a fireball of a teacher in Mansfield, MA and reminds me I met her husband and dog the first day soon after arrival (and I have no recollection).

Her poster

Mo who teaches after a successful career in industry and sponsors a First Robot team.

And to two other captains of industry before going into teaching

Tom who teaches in Merrifield, VA and cuts right to the point in his skillful analysis and whose picture and poster I have somehow lost.

And Cooper car Robert who got his spot in the sun as an expert on diffusion, who authored the Donelson metaphor of industry cited earlier in the blog.




His poster.

Penney's poster

And to Penney who does not like to be photographed. May you continue to thrive even when you read the directions or especially when you do. Thanks for keeping me on track.

And to Marie whose cool poster about the scale of things from cells to seed to roots and stems and leaves I have managed to delete. May you continue to enjoy life and teaching and family as fully as you do now. Thanks for your well wishes.


And to Stacey even though you are a Yankee fan. I want to learn in your class.May your students realize how lucky they are and may you have many happy cruises through life and your career.


Her Poster.

And farewell, Jared and Ilana who both teach at Framingham High School, MA. May your love continue to nourish you.




Jared's poster

Ilana's poster

And to those friends who escaped my camera

Curriculum Catherine may you find new nano knees soon.

Robert who came in with the big guy (with the number one poster each day) - I kept my promise and did put your poster on the web.

And to Laurie who out clevered me on many cases. May you keep keeping folk inside and outside the classroom on their toes and you made me feel right at home by calling me, Mr. Banks, with sarcasm as rich as mine.

And to Bryna, pronounced like China, who grew up in my favorite city on earth, NYC, and gave me new energy and direction for making kraut and pickled beets and such and a cool cooking tool, a mandolin. May math and life continue to be exuded from your happy self.

And to Paul with the reassuring math Peele principle for your students. May you give them academic and other assurance each day.

And to Bob with helped me process the day walking back to the dorm. May we get to run together sometime afterall, may your young Dominican friend make you forget all about learning communities.

And to those friends whose pictures and bios have already graced this blog

Joanne, may all the math symbols make sense and may the crown you earned for putting up with me as gel lab partner on the Jteam gleam always.

And hubby and wife team, Scott and Anita, may you find that perfect place to retire.

Michael, keep the gentle farm boy spirit and understanding you have so you may share it so gently with others.

Bruce, thanks for the pulled barbecue sandwich and a whole lot of physics insight. Keep sharing it.

Sarah, may you spoon again soon.

Buzz, the other Buzz (Aldrin) has nothing on you. May you and your company flourish.

Rich, you are the consummate gentleman. May your life continue to be as good as the pierogis and ride we shared.


Keep the fire, Nina. She shares her immense talent, energy and life and academic understanding to fortunate inner city kids in Hope Valley, RI.


Take care buddy. Andrew Angle, roomie and excellent physics and chemistry teacher and knowledge ninja and teacher at a fine private school, The Watkinson School, in West Hartford, CT.

And an added treat from my wonderful friend from Ireland who went over the top when I asked her to offer a greeting to my Mississippi friends.


And to Mort who made it all possible and Jonathan and Mark and Rob and Jenny who continued to dazzle us with their understandings and to Holly who kept us all on track.