The Blogger Expounds on Writing, Words, Memories and the English Town of Shrewsbury

Cybill Shepherd around the time I "remember" us being in a relationship 

Writing is a release. It lets out things you’ve been keeping bottled up. It’s also a great means of self-discovery. When it’s really flowing you end up revealing things about yourself that you didn’t realize were there.

They come out. Some good. Some not. Some words are just that, but others have meaning behind them sometimes beyond what you can grasp. Our minds can be limited in what they perceive the first time you try to understand something. But they also can unlock worlds.

Brains are funny things. Great tricksters they are at times. Our memories are/can be faulty. It’s said that when we think about something in our past we remember our last memory of it and not the incident itself. I suppose that’s different if you hadn’t thought of something since it happened. It’s best not to put complete trust in our memories. For example maybe my memories of making love to Cybill Shepherd in the mid 1970s are faulty. Maybe it wasn’t a daily event for several months. Could it even be that it never happened? Similarly are my memories of  sexual encounters with Linda Ronstadt in 1973 based in reality? Or Stevie Nicks in 1972? Diane Keaton in 1979? Then there was Lola Falana in the late Sixties. And in the 1980s I had an on and off thing with Heather Locklear -- if memory serves.

I’ve digressed as I’m want to do. Writing is like that. Either you have a laser like focus or you meander and when the latter you can't trust where you might go. But as long as it’s somewhere it is — as they used to say — all good. I guess some people still say “all good.” Do people say “mad respect” anymore? Did they ever? I’ve wrote before about how I miss “funky” and “jive turkey.” Bring those back. “Right on” and “power to the people” left us too soon. Groovy was around just as long as it need to be. Same with “far out.” Both very much of their time. When I was kid things we liked were “boss” or “keen.” You know what’s always been around (not literally always, but since the late 1920s) is “cool.” And I mean in it’s present form. Although now we also use it for “are we cool?” Like is everything okay between us or do you now understand what I was saying.

I remember about ten years ago two of my colleagues were using “cute” for something that would be normally be called “wonderful” “really nice” or “terrific.” I didn’t approve of this and was grateful that it never caught on. But just the other day another colleague used it but was called out by another. Let’s keep “cute” where it belongs: describing puppies, toddlers and girl’s haircuts. Thanks.

The British have more interesting expressions than Americans. We say “thanks.” They do to, but they also say “cheers” and the informal, “ta.” Three ways as opposed to our one. I also like things being “a bit of a muddle.” In sports we say a team has won six in a row or six consecutive games. The Brits say those to, by they also say “six on the bounce,” “six on the trot” and “six on the spin.” Three extra ways of saying it. British sports announcers put their American counterparts to shame.

An American: “and we’re tied!” British: ‘the two sides are back on level terms.” American: “he’s hot right now!” British: “he’s very much the man in form.” 

Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve never understood the day’s popularity aside as for an excuse for amateur drinkers to get plastered. You’re expected to wear green. Why? I’m not Irish. Most people aren’t. Are we really honoring Irish culture? Don’t think so. March 16th was Saint Urho’s Day. I didn’t insist that anyone wear blue and white or drink blue beer. It’s a silly holiday — just like Saint Paddy’s day. 

I thought I was finished writing but then I thought: what will happen if I start another sentence? Let’s see where it leads and here we are with no place to go and plenty of time to do it. Empty space being filled by words strung together. Like the time I got on the wrong train as I was going from London to Wales and ended up in Shrewsbury. That’s where I realized my mistake and got off the train. For some reason I held my error against Shrewsbury and have always rooted against their football team. Looking it up as I just did I discover that it’s not a bad looking town (I only saw it at night). In the West Midlands. Has a rich history, is by a river and hosts a two-day flower show and the annual Shrewsbury Folk Festival. Then there’s this: “The Old Market Hall cinema opened in 2004 in the prominent Tudor market hall positioned in The Square. The independent cinema features daily screens of films from around the world along with a cafe and bar.” Sounds worth a visit. As for that footie team that I referenced, Shrewsbury Town have never played in the top flight of English football nor have they ever had a as many as 20,000 fans at any home match. Not a glorious history but they’ve pulled a few upsets over the years and had a few players who went on to stardom — elsewhere. 

So how’d I get to Shrewsbury? (Funny answer: by train.) It’s what happens when you have no direction. What’s the old saying? Something like: if you don’t know where you’re going you’ll end up somewhere else. 

That’s for sure.

The Banality of Evil As Seen on TV --- Descriptions of Sitcom Episodes

My Three Sons, Precursors to the Manson Family

Courtesy of the Decades TV network -- "Catchy Comedy."

The convent inherits a prizefighter who hates to fight. — The Flying Nun 3/14/68

Thelma plans with her African boyfriend despite Florida’s objections. — Good Times 1/19/77

Dan’s colleagues question his ulterior motives when he proposes to an awkward heiress. — Night Court 2/21/85

Ralph gets asked to do a candy bar commercial, but must first get rid of a toothache. — The Honeymooners 9/25/54

Wally uses a psychology test to trick Rick into going on a blind date with his cousin. — Ozzie and Harriet 1/14/59

Chip’s baffled when he’s assigned to write a composition about his mother. — My Three Sons 11/30/61

When Marcia is cast in the school play, she gets a swollen ego. — The Brady Bunch 10/29/71

Jesse and Joey want Stephanie to apologize to a boy she has been teasing. — Full House 10/13/89

French contemplates marriage to raise his professional esteem. — A Family Affair 12/23/68

A fun time is had by all when Grady serves his friends, including two policeman, a salad made with marijuana. — Sanford and Son 11/29/74

Archie tries in vain to keep a black family from moving into the neighborhood. — All in the Family 3/2/71

Bilko tries to help a buddy get an inheritance. — The Phil Silvers Show 11/27/56

Brooks, Conklin and Boynton investigate when Mr. Bagley, the mailman, suddenly quits his job and leaves no forwarding address. — Our Miss Brooks 1/15/54

Donna fights city hall to save a carob tree. — The Donna Reed Show 11/11/65

Lucy rents Viv’s room to a pair of bank robbers. — The Lucy Show 10/19/64

Ted is stricken by a mild heart attack and undergoes a personality change — The Mary Tyler Moore Show 10/23/76

Problems develop when Rhoda adds a few unwanted pounds just as Brenda becomes slim for the first time in her life. — Rhoda 11/1/76

A scratch on Rob’s brand-new car brings on a domestic crisis. — The Dick Van Dyke Show 3/25/64

Felix and Oscar’s bowling team is pitting against the Kingpins in a championship game. — The Odd Couple 9/19/74

KAOS has brainwashed Agent Maxwell Smart so that he will kill the chief. — Get Smart 2/19/65

Stephanie is furious when she discovers she will not be participating in a beauty contest. — Newhart 3/26/84

Dobie’s investment in eggs goes sour — The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis 2/27/62

Toody and Muldoon devise a plan to keep Officer Schnauzer and his wife from fighting. — Car 54, Where Are You? — 2/18/62

Tony Bennet stars as Danny’s cousin, who refuses to work in his father’s dry-good business. — The Danny Thomas Show 1/12/59

Ann is stuck in a faucet just before opening night. — That Girl 1/8/70

I Share News About My Job and Thoughts on Being a Successful Teacher I Also Give Advice to People Apply for a History Teacher Job, Rules for Teachers From the 1800s Are Appended

Last week I was made a permanent employee at the school where I’ve been teaching these past six months. This comes with a raise and paid sick days. This has made me happy. 

Since I became an EFL teacher (that’s English as a foreign language which is technically different that ESL in that our students are neither children nor for the most part people residing permanently in the US) I’ve been at three schools. I left the first because I’d grown weary of the commute. I left the second because it was falling apart at the seams. I then returned to the second but it closed so I’m now on number three. I’ve liked all three a lot. I’ve liked about 95% of my co-workers. At my current place of employment that total is 100%.

Unlike when I was a public school teacher, I’ve found site administrators to be reasonable, supportive people who make teachers’ jobs easier. This has been most welcome for someone who regularly crossed swords with principals and vice principals and even those odious creatures who worked as district administrators. In turn I’ve been respected and appreciated and have had infinitely less stress. Indeed, teaching English to people from other countries is as stress free a job as one can imagine. 

While both being a middle school history teacher and an EFL teacher are in the same ballpark (teaching is teaching) they are miles apart. For example when I form groups in my current job no one yells: “I can’t work with him!” Indeed there are no cases of one student loudly accusing another of farting or a student insisting I tell another to “stop messing with me.” There are no fights in class, no name-calling, virtually no interruptions. After teaching thirteen-year-olds this job is a stroll in the park.

It has been brought to my attention that I’m quite a popular teacher and I’ve been asked what is the root of this popularity. I suppose the best way to address that is through advice:

Be yourself

Be prepared

Be sensitive to your audience

Be personable

Be patient

Be cheerful

Be encouraging

Be creative

Establish certain routines but don’t be afraid to mix things up from time to time

Don’t talk too much

Be professional, dot your i’s and cross your t’s with things like attendance

Don’t get carried away with yourself

Remember that the class is about them not about you

The best thing you can do is accumulate a lot of experience without burning out in the process

Make that the second most important thing you can do, number one is: work hard, have fun

On a not unrelated topic I a friend of mine is applying for a position as a high school history teacher. Having both been interviewed for a lot of positions and having also been an interviewer, I offered to give some advice. My friend took a chance and accepted.

Here’s what I told him:

Emphasize your love of history and the depth of your knowledge and how you’re a life-long student of history. Tell them you want to instill an appreciation of history in your students, particularly as a way to understand the present and look to the future. You’ll constantly be making connections between the past and today as a way of emphasizing the importance of the class.

Talk about how you want to make the class interactive and student-centered. You’ll often be in the role of facilitator leading class discussions. Student voices will be integral to your classrooms. Thus you want to guide student learning, not be the center of it. Students will be encouraged to develop their own opinions as you stress critical thinking skills. Beyond recitation of facts you’ll expect students to put forth their own opinions but ones based on facts. For example on a test you might have a  questions like: What do you think were the three main causes of the Civil War? Be sure to support your opinion with relevant facts.”

You intend to get to know your students as individuals so you can better help them through the learning process. By having a familiarity with them you can better assist those who are struggling and better challenge those who are excelling. 

You’ll also be aware of classroom dynamics and note that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work with some classes. You’ll occasionally have classes that tend to be quieter and more passive and need a bigger push and others that are more energetic and maybe need to be reigned in a bit.

Mention your flexibility and adaptability and how you are skilled at “calling audibles” that is altering lessons depending on the needs of the students on a particular day.

As a teacher your most valuable tool is a mirror. Anytime a lesson goes poorly or students don’t do well on a test you’ll look in that mirror to remind yourself of who’s responsible. A bad day, or a bad class or a bad interaction with a student is an opportunity for you to examine how you could have done things differently. A good teacher never blames students for being bored or confused, they figure out how they could have done things differently. 

You know that teachers have to learn and grow constantly.

You will look to and learn from your colleagues, especially those with more experience. You believe in collaboration and collegiality. You know from sports that it’s important to be a team player. You’ll take advantage of in-services, professional developments, conferences, seminars etc. to enrich your professional growth.

Also talk about the school and why you would be a good fit for them. Ask them questions about the school, the history department, the curriculum etc.

When you can, answer the question you want to answer and not the one they ask. Let yourself get across the points you want to emphasize.

Though it may sound contradictory, try to appear confident, relaxed and enthusiastic. 

Emphasize those work and even life experiences that most relate to the position your seeking. 

You’re less likely to stress over it if you’re prepared and have thought about what you’re going to say.

Any prospective history teachers out there may feel free to use this, or not.

As an added bonus (is there any other kind?) to this post, here are rules for teachers from the 1800s. Don't let the current administration see this as they may elect to enforce them.

ules for Teachers in the 1800s

1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.

2. Each Teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session.

3. Make your pens carefully.  You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.

4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

5. After ten hours in school, the teacher may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.

6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

7. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a good sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity, and honesty.

9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

My Top 30 Films From 1975-1999

Manhattan (1979) Allen

Astute readers of this blog (I'm looking at you Forsyth Tanglefoot of Helena, Montana) doubtless recall that at the beginning of last month I published a list of my top thirty films from the first quarter of this century. I have since struck upon the idea of listing my top thirty films from preceding twenty-five year periods. So for  this month I offer my top thirty from the last 25 years of the preceding century. In April I'll publish my top thirty from 1950-1974 and will conclude the series in May with thirty from 1925-1959. You're welcome. Not surprisingly it was much more difficult to narrow down the many films I love for this list than the previous ones, principally because the time period includes the last five years of the Seventies, my favorite decade of films. You will note that nine of thirty films come from the that half decade. There are three films from Woody Allen on the list, four from Martin Scorsese, two from Aki Kaurismäki and -- amazingly -- the other twenty-one are all from different directors. There were some terrific films that didn't make the list, indeed too many to mention. Here are the ones that did.

1. Manhattan (1979) Allen

2. Goodfellas (1990) Scorsese

3. Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987) Malle

4. Stalker (1979) Tarkovsky

5. Taxi Driver (1976) Scorsese

6. Europa (1991) von Trier

7. Fanny and Alexander (1982) Bergman

8. Heaven’s Gate (1980) Cimino

9. Tess (1979) Polanski

10. The Ice Storm (1997) A. Lee

11. Apocalypse Now (1979) F. Coppola

12. Annie Hall (1977) Allen

13. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Lumet

14. Dead Man (1995) Jarmusch

15. Radio Days (1987) Allen

16. Raging Bull (1980) Scorsese

17. The Big Lebowski (1998) Coens

18. Rushmore (1998) W. Anderson

19. Ariel (1998) Kaurismaki

20. My Own Private Idaho (1991) van Sant

21. Barry Lyndon (1975) Kubrick

22. La Haine (1995) Kassovitz

23. Local Hero (1983) Forsyth

24. Pulp Fiction (1994) Tarantino

25. Come and See (1985) Klimov

26. The Age of Innocence (1993) Scorsese

27. Beau Travail (1999) Denis

28. The Match Factory Girl (1990) Kaurismaki

29. Das Boot (1981) Peterson

30. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Weir