Retirement

I really don't believe in retirement, yet officially I retire next year. I started my teaching career in middle age, albeit a young middle age, 36 years old. I have been teaching for 23 years- not counting 3 years teaching adult education in the seventies. I have decided to take a $20,000 incentive to "retire" early from this district. Beyond that I am looking to teaching some classes at the Junior College level, play and perform more music and do a bit more painting. Along with a modest pension I hope this will be enough to bring me though the next - how many years? It's a mystery.

Last night was our retirement dinner. One woman, now in her seventies, had been teaching kindergarten for 44 years. Another man went to the same high school where he had taught for 40 years. Only six years of his life from the age of 14 to 60 had been in the same county to get his degree and teaching credential. I cannot imagine having my life take place all in one place. Part of the reason I took retirement was to force me into another change. Another part of it was the desperate lack of funding for education in California. This lack of funding places more and more pressure on teachers to grade more papers, to manage larger classes and to dip into their own pockets for the odds and ends of teaching.

I applied for my first new job yesterday. Empire College has an Information Technology Program and my hope is that I can teach one of their information technology classes. I will look into other programs also such at Santa Rosa Junior College and University of Phoenix. I have some music skills, some artistic skills and some technology skills. Perhaps I will piece together some combination of those to supplement my income. So beyond my trip to Europe this summer the future is an adventure and a mystery.

My Voice in the Press

(Bruce Robinson)

Yesterday I got a phone call from Bruce Robinson at KRCB radio (Click here to listen- Airing Friday, May 21st broadcast)in Santa Rosa. He interviewed me as the President and chief spokesperson of the West Sonoma County Teachers Association. He first interview Keller, our superintendent, then me. He started with a question about our "free day" tomorrow. It is a more complicated question than it appears at first glance. Our teachers voted last year to work a day without pay as a contribution toward balancing the school budget. This year at negotiations both the superintendent and our teacher's association agree to have this day specifically to demonstrate the problem of budget cuts. The day because a day "off" to help balance the budget as opposed to a day when teachers worked for free.

Bruce asked if teachers liked the idea. I said that teachers don't like the idea of their pay being cut. In fact we have negotiated for both this year and next five fewer days to work. It amounts to a pay cut of 5.5% for next year and the year after. I also brought up the fact that with increased work loads because of bigger class sizes teachers are working harder than ever. At the same time few days means that teachers must teach the proscribed state mandated curriculum in less time. He then asked if students like it. I said that I am sure that students like a day off, but I am not so sure that their parents like it.

He asked if I saw education in California getting better in two or two and half years. I said that I didn't see that coming and it was one of the reasons that I decided to retire so early. I said that there were political forces out there out to destroy public education in California. Of course after the interview I think of all the things that I could have said. I could have told him that we have seen a progressive rollback in funds to education until now. In 1978 when I arrived in California, Proposition 13 that cut property taxes, was passed. California had a model school system at that time: kindergarten through University. In K-12 California is 48th or 49th. Mississippi generally fares worse.

A week ago our local paper, the Sonoma West Times and News, interviewed the superintendent, a representative from clerical union and myself. The story at first blush was to be about the cooperative way that the unions pitched in to help relieve the budget crisis. The downside, of course, is the severity of the budget crisis. Since our district opened the books for us this year, we saw that there indeed was a severe deficit. Everyone including administrators took a cut to relieve this crisis.

War in Afganistan

I just showed two excellent pieces from Frontline about the war in Afghanistan. Obama's War shows how the Taliban both in Afghanistan and Pakistan have a great deal of public support. In Pakistan the security services actually support the Taliban. Yet many of the people from the countryside appear just to want to be left alone. Many of the spokespeople for the military talk about building connections with the people. But the then I see the military with their guns and uniforms trying to communicate with the poor of the country, and getting angry when the people do not understand. They are worlds apart and standing next to each other. None of the Americans speak Afghan. They have weapons and a translator. It appears to be a futile exercise.

Two American opinions emerged from the show. Some in Washington and in the military believe that the United States can actually defeat the Taliban and have a Western style democracy that has the support of the people. Another view states that if the majority of Afghans want the Taliban in power, they should be allowed to have it. But this radical form of Islam suppresses a woman's education and a woman's rights. Their fundamentalism seeks to destroy anything culturally valuable that they deem conflicts with Islam. Witness the destruction of the giant and ancient Buddhist statue in 1999.

The other film, Behind the Taliban Lines, shows the war from the Taliban side. They look pretty much like the Afghan people, speak the language and treat the people in villages with respect. As fighters they are committed, even if their goals are radically opposed to the way I see the world. As technicians and organizers they appear bumbling with lots of infighting. I strongly recommend both of these films and they can be watched on line.

House Abuzz

My daughter, Anna, has been home for about two weeks. She is a ball of energy and keeps us laughing too. She asked if I had a book on fixing household items the other day. I brought her an old Reader's Digest Book of Household tasks. She loved it. She even gushed over a diagram of a car engine. She just wants to take things apart (and maybe put them back together. She often has her good friends over Naomi, Krista and Noel. I find them all fun in their own way.

She has decided not only to paint the bathroom but to change the faucet parts and vanity. We're back to a one bathroom family. She must do things her own way, though. The other day she was taking apart the old vanity and wanted to pull it out all in one piece. I suggested that she pull it apart piece by piece. At midnight when I went to bed she was still working at it. The next day when I got home I asked her about it. She said that she finally did it my way.

When she isn't working she nests in front of the TV with the most syrupy romances. Most everybody clears the area.

Also it's nice to have another musician in the house with a crystal clear voice. A slightly related side- last night after dinner Donna was playing guitar and singing Red River Valley. Joey came in on the kazoo and did a dramatic solo. Very funny. (The photo of the bathroom I place above is not our bathroom. pity.)

Saturday with my Children

Am I Busy Yet?

This week, this week... Things are supposed to get easier but not so. Yesterday after school I had to run over to the post office to mail all of my retirement papers, then drive to Santa Rosa to set up and work a demonstration for teachers. We had participants writing postcards to their representatives in Sacramento. Then I had to leave the demonstration at 5:30 PM to arrive at School Board Meeting. I had a dual role at the Board Meeting. I took my informal notes for the membership. Then I was one of eight retirees to be honors with a glass pyramid (a paper weight) with my name on it. Also I had to speak before the board in behalf of the teacher's union. The meeting went on until 10 PM. I came home and made myself some leftovers and chatted with my daughter, Anna and her friend Noemi about anthropology and rocks. I still was not ready to go to sleep. I read my New York Times and worked on my laptop- finally tired at 1:30 AM.

Up today at the usual 6 AM. (What is that four and a half hours sleep?) I am in sixth period now. At 3:30 today I have a meeting with the superintendent and press about our contract. Then at 5 PM I help give out student award for an hour or so. Then at 6:30 PM - Back to School Night. It runs till 9:30 PM.

OK, I was mistaken. Back to School night ran until 8:30 PM and I left at 8:00 PM. The halls were clear. I had already met about 30 parents and previously given out awards. The interview with the West County Times seemed to go well and we will see when the paper comes out next week. I walked home and actually had a couple hours to relax before bed. -I did find out that US Airways Mastercard has totally screwed up my bank account. I guess that I try and fix that today.

Where am I? Friday- Regular classes, then after class our Union has its Spring Social where I am the schmoozer. Then I found that my friend Sandy is giving Donna and I tickets to the Smother's Brothers Concert at the Luther Burbank Center (Now named for an unscrupulous financial institution).

Tomorrow my nephew, Garrett, is scheduled to visit us. But the Maker Fair is happening in San Mateo. I would like to drive down with my son and daughter and make a day of it.

Butcher, Baker, Candle Stick Maker

I have taught high school for twenty two years now. Last year my school district offered a retirement incentive- $5000 per year for five years if those with more than ten years of service in the district, retire. I figure that I probably have another 10 to 15 years of work in me, but that work will probably be part time. Since we have two children still in college, it is necessary that I work. But here are some of the options that I have considered from most likely to least likely.

When I got my Master's degree five years ago, the purpose was to move into another direction. At that time I talked to someone from Empire College, both a law school and vocational college, were looking for a computer skills teacher. I have done that for ten years and feel pretty well equipped to do it. Also our local Junior College may have some Adjunct positions open. The economy and the job market lags, so the availability of these jobs may be scarce.

My father-in-law who gave me the task of selling the 1921 baseball cards (See that previous blog.) has several hundred postcards from the teens and twenties. Unfortunately those card don't fetch the kind of prices the sports memorabilia fetch. Nevertheless 200 cards going for between $2 and $100 each could on the average help me earn a few thousand dollars.

When I come back from my summer trip, I go to Google Headquarters for a conference on technology and education. Since my Masters is in that field I plan to do some networking and see if I can come up with some tech related employment. The trick will be to make it part time or at least not a job and a half as I have now. Also Sebastopol is home to O'Reilley Publishing. It is a largest publisher of technology books in the United States.

I have put off getting my uncle's web page up to date for years. I would like to have art works for sale there. Perhaps I could even buy and sell painting by others on the sight. I have a good eye for art and for a bargain in art. I am a excellent at doing research and have some good art connections. Plus I have a basement full of art, not only John Lynch's, my own and art by many other semi-known artist.

Having been trained in classical realism, I am a pretty good realistic artist. I have thought of combining both the realism that I do with abstraction and getting in the art market again. I would prefer to sell on the Internet, but I would need a regular time and place to do the work, as I know my distraction level. A friend of mine teaching a photography class at the Santa Rosa High School Arts Magnet. I could teach a drawing class.

I would like to join a band. Ideally they would play swing and jazz and I would be the lead singer. The problem is not so much getting into a band but getting into a band that works regularly for pay, a band that gets along with each other, a band where I do not have travel so far to practice or gig. Most of all I need a band that pays. I have toyed with the idea of working on a cruise ship. They hire several different kinds of musicians. Those that can solo and play an variety of pop material. This I have done and can do again. Nevertheless there are songs that I detest and my repertoire of more modern pieces is minuscule. They also take members who play in house band of three to six members. They can use charts and I do need charts for the majority of jazz songs that I play and sing. Ideally I would love to do a cruise with my son, Joey. He plays great drums, some piano, guitar, accordion and sings. It would be a great summer experience for us both.

One thing that I thought about it teaching English overseas. One of my fellow teachers in a former job visited many of the International schools. She spoke of an American International High School in Moscow. She said that it is an excellent school. At the time she was there, they needed an English teacher. I love the city of Moscow and have discussed this possibility with Donna. She is open to me living there for a couple of years but not with her. Also I have to think about whether I can handle the winters.

I have looked into teaching English on line. There are many posted jobs, but all pay below $12 per hours. It appears that credentials are not so important.

Finally I think the thing to do is to keep my options open. My experience as President of the Teachers Association has served me well both on paper and in experience. Perhaps it is time for me to take some more ambitious kind of job. Only time will tell.

A weekend in Auburn

Along the North Fork of the American River sits a house that overlooks Robber's Roust, a giant rock that once hid bandits who sat waiting for the stagecoach to pass. My friend, Stuart, has a house there overlooking the river and the rock. Every year he invites friends to perform. Every year he also invites a magician or two.

This Saturday night we met at this house in the hills north of Auburn to celebrate and share music. I must admit that I was a proud parent. My daughter, Anna, played guitar and sang a song, "The Littlest Bird". Joey played an accordion piece from the movie Amelie. And I played and sang an old Nat King Cole song, Teach Me Tonight. Truckee opted out of performing, but has a good knowledge of magic and engaged our two magicians in conversation. Ken runs the magic shop in Santa Rosa and George is his student.

How can I say this without bragging? Ok, this is a little bragging. I am so proud of my children. Anna has a unique and wonderful voice, but also sings with her heart. I have heard it said by several in the know that she could be a professional if she wanted. Having done music myself for my whole life, I know what professional means. It meaning traveling from gig to gig for not so much money. I can mean making a happy interesting life doing what one likes. There also is the possibility of fame, but that happens to few people. Just to know she has the talent is enough for me. Her job now is to do well in school. Joey is a tireless musician. He will pick up any instrument and try to play it. He has taken piano, played didgeridoo, drums, guitar, accordion and dabbled on many others. He is shy but has an easy friendly manner that will take him far. Truckee also plays guitar, accordion and sings but is less willing to sing for a crowd. He is extremely smart and can carry on an intelligent conversation with just about anyone.

One More Roma Story

I was hitchhiking through Europe in 1973. I had just taken the boat from Corfu to Brindizi and had arranged to meet two young women in Pescara. It was only a spot on the map, a little north or Brindizi. Once off the boat I had no trouble getting a ride just outside of town, but then proceeded to wait for hours in the hot sun for another ride. I heard some music at what looked like a small pub, maybe a quarter mile away. I entered a covered porch and 30 or 40 men were there and welcomed me in to eat watermelon. I spoke not a word of Italian at the time, but they were friendly and welcoming and I was grateful for the break.

I set out on the road again. After a ride of about one kilometer I was on a deserted stretch of road surrounded by farmland. I stood in the heat with hardly a car passing. Then an Italian military man came walking up the road, put his thumb out and was immediately given a ride. I waited another hour or more and I saw a train of about twenty cars approaching. They were beat up- full of dents and scratches and moving slowly. I put my thumb out.

About the sixth car in the caravan stopped. Then almost immediately the ones both in front of him and in back of him stopped too. A man of about 30 years was the driver and he was with his son, a boy of maybe 3 years. I got in the back and he wanted some money as he started off. He spoke neither Italian nor English. We drove for maybe four minutes and the caravan pulled over to the side of the road again. I was the center of interest for the entire caravan. All of the people crowded over to the car where I sat asking the driver who I was. They all wanted to get a look at me.

We somehow communicated and I found that they came from Yugoslavia. They were traveling looking for work. We drove slowly then one of the cars gave a signal to stop. All the cars pulled to the side of the road. It was an automobile grave yard. Everyone got out of their cars. A few more came over to see me. Most of the women and children stood in groups. The men fanned out over the large field of junked cars.
They were equipped with wrenches and screwdrivers and soon they had pulled a couple of parts from some of the cars. A group of about four went over to one and proceeded to tinker with the malfunctioning automobile.

Someone gave and imperceptible signal and everyone got back into their cars. We started off again at the same slow pace until about five minutes later another signal was given. It was a gas station. Two of the cars got gas, but mobs again exited the cars and gathered around a little soda machine. It was back in the cars and off we go again. Less than ten minutes later the cars pulled over again and of course some of the children had to take a pee.

We traveled for ten more minutes and the caravan again pulled over the the side of the road in sync. This time it appeared that they were looking for a place to camp for the night. I took this opportunity to exit the car and walk away from the caravan. The sun was beginning to set and the field around me had all been purposely burned by the local farmer. We were just outside the city of Bari.

I walked up the road and thought myself that it might be a good time to find a place to spend the night. I didn't want to enter the town for I knew that it would delay my journey that much more. I walked along the side of the road for about 15 minutes with not one car passing me. Then I saw in the distance the line of cars that I had left behind on the road again. I was determined not to let them see me for I did not want to be picked up again. I hid behind some large rocks. They passed. Then in fifteen I once again saw the cars parked in a line and people setting up their cloth tents. As I walked past they did not notice me.

By this time it was getting dark. I saw a deserted gas station at the top of a hill and in that gas station parking lot was an abandoned seatless car. I decided to spend the night in the back seat of the automobile. I could hear the sound of a crowd and a party. The band played "My Girl". Sometime in the middle of the night a car pulled next to the car where I was sleeping. I could hear a young man and young woman talk in Italian, giggle, then it was silent. After about fifteen minutes they drove away and I fell asleep.

Don't Say Gypsy

Most people use the word gypsy as a normal part of English. Few people realize that it is an ethnic slur. It has become so common that even people who identify with this particular ethnic group call themselves "Gypsies". This is the so in the band named "Gypsy Boys". Two guitar players with a fiery style who played the Roma Festival. And in fact the people of whom we are speaking are the Roma people. These days they live all over Europe with larger concentrations in places like Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Bosnia.

We are blessed to have an annual Roma Festival in our town. This year it was the 14th Annual California Herdeljezi Roma (Gypsy) Festival. Note that even the Festival puts the word "gypsy" in the name. Few would identify these people as Roma, and indeed their language has Latin roots. "Gypsy Jazz" is a style of music developed by one such Roma, Django Reinhardt. These people are known for their passionate style of playing acoustic music, especially guitar and violin. They are also widely discriminated against in all of Europe as many keep to themselves. They are also among the poorest ethnic group in eastern Europe. They are known to be thieves and con artists, but as with any ethnic group it is only a very small minority.

When I was in Florence, Italy two summers ago watching the final game of the World cup, I had my camera snatched by a young pair of Roma teens. I saw them and I should have known better. My camera was visible through the netting. I saw both of them, small and dark skinned. It was the perfect event for a robbery as the crowd was thick. Also I almost became the victim of a scam in Paris last summer. A woman comes by and points on the ground to ring. It looks like a wedding ring- gold. She tells me that I can have it. I smelled trouble. I read later that this is long known scam.

I volunteered the entire day in the alcohol booth. I managed to put off my first drink until three thirty PM. But the offer of free drinks (and food) was too good to pass up. Mix that with the good company of the other volunteers, the incredible music and good weather- a glorious day.