Velma Jackson MIC Project Students at Mississippi Museum of Natural ScienceI finally was beginning to come out of the eclipse this year – the sun and light and hope have been largely hidden from view, and then . . .
There have been bright spots for sure along the way but I have been so busy trying to change a dismal school situation that I may have missed some. Finally I came to terms with it and realized if I could not change the culture and climate of the school put under shadow by changes in “leadership” at the school, I could change myself and my attitude and perspective.
And then after a couple of weeks of extreme fatigue and chest pain and pushing myself to go to school each day, I reluctantly went to the doctor and he thinks I have pneumonia! I had already scheduled a field trip for my caterpillar project, which has had fits and stops along the way (more on that later) for Tuesday so I soldiered on to school.
I was very glad I did. The bus (which was yet another struggle to get arranged) showed up on time and got us back on time. We had to detour along the way to pick up one of the vo-tech students, navigate a busy McDonald’s for a quick lunch in route since no food or drinks could be brought into the museum, and scurry in with just a few minutes to spare. It was all worth it.
The mentor of the project and noonday speaker, Dr. Richard Brown, recognized us before the group, one of my students asked a very thoughtful question during the question and answer period about how butterflies got their color (and another in private which I wished he did not think was stupid – the only stupid question is one not asked, I told him – but his question got to the heart of the lecture and I was glad he was listening and understood). By the way except for blue which is a virtual color due to diffraction of light on the scale pattern (like the “rainbows” you see on DVDs when you tilt them in the light) colors are seen due to packets of pigment in the scales of wings which have “viewing” holes in them which can be seen with an electron microscope.
Anyway the director of the museum was so excited about us being there and about our project. She even suggested we might present some of our results sometime. That may not happen now since I was looking for her after we left the lecture quickly to go release butterflies in the butterfly garden – it was so cool. They had been shipped in little envelopes and chilled. As they thawed out and careful, inquisitive students (and teachers)gently opened the envelopes, the butterflies were launched.
I checked in the library where they were having lunch and asked if Darlene was in there. They all looked at me quizzically. Darlene? I do not know where I got that name from – I do not even know any Darlene’s. Her name is Libby Hartfield. Oh well. While there making a fool of myself, I did manage to give one of our caterpillar samples (extracted from an acorn in my laboratory classroom) preserved in alcohol to Dr. Brown
for him to identify back in the lab.
Later I did find Libby and apologize in advance before she saw the other group who would surely tell her some absent-minded teacher was looking for Darlene.
There two good signs here. We made it on time and learned a lot in spite of all obstacles and, two, I could laugh at myself instead of ruing the darkness. I think I see the light breaking around the bend. More catch up blogging to come.
Later I did find Libby and apologize in advance before she saw the other group who would surely tell her some absent-minded teacher was looking for Darlene.
There two good signs here. We made it on time and learned a lot in spite of all obstacles and, two, I could laugh at myself instead of ruing the darkness. I think I see the light breaking around the bend. More catch up blogging to come.
