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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What a difference a day makes

When I posted my little tirade last night, I was not implying that all teachers these days are irresponsible and disrespectful.  It was just the group of five that I encountered yesterday.  Stephanie’s call to the school yesterday had some very positive results.

Before the next batch of fifth graders arrived today, we received an email from Stephanie that she had forwarded from one of yesterday’s teachers.  It was an apology for the behavior of the students yesterday.  It seems she didn’t quite get that we were upset with the teachers, not the students.  Eventually, she did admit that she should have set an example for the other teachers by moving along through the stations with her students.  Do you think so??  Anyway, she assured us that things would be different today and tomorrow.

And they were.  Astoundingly different!  Apparently both the students and the teachers had been read the riot act before coming today.  Each class shouted ‘Thank you!’ at the end of each session, and there was always a teacher with the group.  They even participated with the kids.  These teachers said they were very embarrassed by what had happened yesterday, and hoped they could return next year.

Those kids must have had quite a lecture on the bus coming here, as the first group or two seemed almost scared to say anything.  It was a little comical to see.  There were no lost students, no students squirming to visit the restroom, and everyone left with a smile on their face; us included!  Today was the way these programs should go.

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Since this is my last week here, I have to admit that I’ve got a bit of a short timers attitude.  So each afternoon after the kids leave, instead of working, I’m just taking time to enjoy my favorite places on Anahuac.  I did a slow roll around Shoveler Pond on Monday, and yesterday and today I spent some time at Jackson’s Woodlot.  I just relax in the photo blind, and wait for the birds to come to me.  Every time I’ve been there this mockingbird has sat on this exact tree branch and given me the stink eye.  I’ll be gone pretty soon you little opera singer!

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Time for a little bird quiz. Nerd smile  Can you guess the name of this bird?  I’ll let you know at the end of this post.  The photo blind is a great place to let all the excitement and challenges of the day drain away.  This is our busiest visitor week at the refuge, and birders were trudging around all over the woods today.  I’m not so good at trudging any more, so I prefer to sit and wait.  No one joined me in the blind even though there was plenty of room to do so.  Maybe I was exuding vibes that told of my need for some personal space?  Who knows… This little guy came skulking through the reeds singing his heart out.

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After all the birders went on their way, I had a brief glimpse of a second year male summer tanager.  Older males are solid red, but this guy has a mixture of red and yellow feathers.  Photos of my feathered friends are a challenge in the dense greenery. 

When I got back to the rig, I had an email from my older brother Carl with this link: http://marcbrecy.perso.neuf.fr/history.html    I don’t usually include these kinds of links in my posts, but I found this one worth watching.  You’ll have to pay close attention if you view it.  It is only two minutes long for those of you that have GB limits.  I have a 5 GB limit too, but I’m glad I watched it.

Have you got your guesses in mind for the mystery bird?  Since I had heard its song, I already knew what it was, but when he turned his head around it clinched the ID!

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                                                            A Common Yellowthroat!

Tomorrow the last batch of fifth graders will be upon us in the morning.  I hope it goes as well as it did today.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

17 comments:

  1. Glad to hear of the great improvement in the performance of the teachers and students today, Judy. This is the type of conduct that I've grown to expect and receive from the overwhelming majority of teachers in our public schools.

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  2. Witchity, Witchity.... one of my favorites! So glad your kids (and especially the teachers) were better behaved today.... you give so much of your time there it would be sad to leave on a sour note.

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  3. I'd say your pictures among the leaves and branches are terrific. So glad to hear that the riot act was read and everyone is now behaving themselves. I guess they owed you guys an apology. But alls well that ends well. Oh BTW, I wasn't exactly a trouble maker but I do have trouble with rules that make no sense or are just for the sake of having a rule. The Florida passport book is great fun. I've put pictures of it on the blog before but I'll do another one just for you!

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  4. A wonderful resolution which should makes your last few days much nicer. Stink eye for sure!

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  5. Your photos touch the heart - as always.

    Good for you. Bitching gets results. Sometimes good ones!

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  6. Fabulous that you got good results. . .love the pics!

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  7. I am betting that next year they will be on their best behavior out of the gate:)

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  8. Glad today was a big improvement. You deserve some relax time to enjoy the refuge before you leave.

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  9. The video was absolutely stunning & so was the change in teachers AND students! And you have definitely earned the right to slack a bit these last few days--what are they gonna do? Fire you?

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  10. I can hardly beLieve this is your last week....time just flies by doesn't it? I am happy to hear that you had some down time and enjoyed the birds in the last post as well as the pictures I today's post.

    It's a good thing the teachers got their act together and today was a better day!

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  11. Happy to hear that you are enjoying the day before you leave the place. Wonderful bird captures!

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  12. Excellent video. We have a mockingbird who sings to Grace and I every morning when she is doing her early morning business.

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  13. Glad to hear someone took charge and fixed the teacher/student issues. I bet you do have short timers syndrome!!

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  14. I'm glad things improved today. It would be a shame if such a wonderful volunteer as you were discouraged by a rowdy group. I have a sis ted who was a teacher for a long time. I felt she almost hated kids by the time she was finished.

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  15. Glad to hear the principal kicked some butts. Now the kids actually learned something.

    Short timer's attitude? You're now so short you can dangle you feet off the side of a dime! :cD

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  16. Well, that was nice to read that the teacher at least knew she did wrong, but it should have never happened!

    I love the photo of the tanager.

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  17. Glad your day went better with all those kids. We worked ourselves ragged today!!!

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