Shootings and Ebola

The news of an Ebola case in Dallas has overshadowed two school shootings today - one in North Carolina and one in Kentucky.

Thank God no one was killed.

Six Word Saturday

I want to adopt all strays.


For more Six Word Saturday participants, click here.

I know it isn't possible, but I want to.

When I see a stray dog or cat - or kid - I want to gather them up and take them home.

Today, on my way home from a place I didn't even want to go to, I saw 2 big dogs by the side of a very busy road. I stopped - with some vague plan of coaxing them into my car.

Animal control pulled in right behind me and I asked her if I could help. She allowed as how she didn't want me to get bitten (sounds like a plan) so I followed her on the shoulder as she tried to coax these dogs to come to her.

One sort of ambled away - a big black old dog. The other panicked and bolted into the road and was hit.

She managed to stop traffic and get the dog off the road before anyone else hit him but I am sure that by now he is dead.

The other dog then came to us and she put a leash on him.

By this point, a man had stopped, blocking the outside lane so we and the dogs would not get hit. (Did I say busy street? It is an interstate and the major truck route into Atlanta.) And the woman who hit the dog had stopped and joined us.

Animal control backed her truck up. The man helped lift the dying dog into the truck. The woman kept saying "We couldn't swerve." That would have caused a major, major accident and would have resulted in injury or death. Love dogs, but she is right, she couldn't swerve.

The man lifted Smelly, the big black dog into the truck. We all hugged - because it was devastating that the yellow dog couldn't trust us enough to let us help.

On the way home, I called animal control and told them that if Smelly's owner doesn't claim him, I want to adopt him. So they have my name and number.

This is so symbolic of the kids who daily throw themselves in the street rather than let us help them.

I wish I could end on a happier note. As the Animal Control officer said, through tears, you never get used to it.

Teach the tool not the skill

This week I was basically told I am not there to teach math. I am there to teach CALCULATOR so the kids can get the right answer on the standardized test and the data will show growth.

NYC Educator said it better.

I look forward to the day the pendulum swings the other way. I hope it happens soon.

We have done these students such a disservice.

With a Brooklyn Accent is addressing this as well.

There is a method

I find that God sends people into my life to teach me lessons I am still trying to learn: patience, giving up control, and letting go.

It is going to be an interesting year.