The Kindest People in the World at One Another's Throats

Back from taking my brother David out to the restaurant of his choice  (unfortunately Applebee's, where the food is not nearly as good as the servers, who are always so kind and friendly--aware that David has serious physical and mental problems and willing to accommodate and help him and us as much as possible--so, hey, who am I to complain about the food?).  I never got around to writing about yesterday partly because I was getting together with Vicky for Foodies, and got caught up in listserve messages before going out.  I adore the people in the ESL Department, and I think the faculty at CCSF are among the most wonderful people in the world, but people who share my views ARE intimidating and don't realize they are, and this bothers me.  If people express a dissenting point of view, they ARE ostrasized.  Right now the dissenting point of view is about the 5% cut in pay.  Obviously no one wants it.  But some faculty honestly believe that it's necessary and have suggested that it be put up for a vote, and instead such "evil" suggestions are ridiculed--in other words, shouted down.  The Good Guys are the ones who (like me) support the Union.  There couldn't be anyone lovelier and more sincere than Alisa Messer.   But people ARE intimidating people who don't go along with the Union.  It reminds me a little bit of the misrepresentation of the forum when almost no one but Karen Saginor, Rose Aguilar (the moderator), William Walker, and Nanette Asimov, who was insulted by a student, who said, "You don't know nothin' and you don't have no right to be here."   That was back in early September 2012, for Yourcallradio, and the rude student was written up in the Guardsman as a hero.   I really want to protect Unions, and I know that teachers unions are the last with any power, so organizations like ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) would love to see us go under.   But shutting people up when they have an idea not sanctioned by the Union doesn't seem like the way educators should go about protecting the rights of workers.  Just reading the exchanges on the listserve makes me aware of tones that intimate.  Why shouldn't we put the 5% cut to a faculty-wide vote?

As for Friday classes, we actually went beyond the business of attendance cards and information sheets.  My ESL 142 students met with their groups/partners, learned how to prepare note cards, and what to include in their Miss America-like 1-minute presentation:  Name, country, languages, the most interesting thing about them, and their favorite fable.  (Welcome to mine, "The Tortoise and the Hare.")  My ESL 140 High Intermediate Students got my letter of introduction and received instructions on how to write their own acknowledging something I said with a noun clause:  I was sorry to hear that...I'm glad that...It's interesting that SV.  We reviewed vocabulary and learned the difference between paraphrase and interpretation.  (Paraphrasing is a form of torture.)

But now Javier, whose birthday we're celebrating this weekend, wants me to join him in the living room, so I'll close.  Tomorrow, while he's still sleeping and before I go to the Y, bathe, and join him, I hope to get messages out to my classes:  The Miss America self-introduction and the message I sent out before everyone had enrolled.