Vortex, one of the problems is that we have a limited range of consequences, basically sending them home without pay, which doesn't seem to have much of an impact, and termination.

ah, I see. I think that you all need to work some carrots into your system. It doesn't work as well when it's all sticks. (which is, in fact, one of my pet peeves about this job)

I wouldn't mind if it were grieving I don't think.

Forgive me for this, but I got to the part about the King Tut memorabilia, and I thought, "I wonder what the contact information is for possibly getting that . . ."

Kudos to your uncle for having really nifty stuff.

He did really cool stuff to get the nifty stuff, to her it's just nice looking shit she can sell.

It sounds like my mother's reaction when I wanted Daddy's class ring. It's heartbreaking when others don't understand that stuff has meaning other than monetary--or think that's the only value you put on something.

edit: In an interesting aside, I finally looked up the hallmark on one of the rings I found in Mother's jewelry box, and it turns out to be from a particularly collectible maker from the 20's and 30's. The ring is probably worth between $200-500. I wonder if she had any idea.

No, DJ, thats totally frustrating. That's something that should be discussed within the family.

erika, don't sweat it. We all have moments of self-pity, and if we only showed our best selves on here, then what would be the point? And sometimes it is the small everyday stuff that gets to you rather than the heavier loads that we shoulder, who knows why? And random things/shows just trigger sometimes, and it sucks. I'm sorry. Also, you're a Buffista: your hair is awesome. Comes with the territory.

smonster, I wish I had some awesome advice to give you, but it sounds like the system isn't really set up for success. Like you were saying, the rewards and consequences they have set up don't really work, at least not for most of them. What you need, like you've said in the past, is for them to have a set of graduates from the program working alongside them, so that they can see people like them who have come through the program successfully, and see them doing the work, or at the very least have a construction crew on-site, so that they can see how a fully functional crew works. Until the higher-ups get that, they are going to have limited success rates at best, and it's got nothing to do with any failing on your part.

Still thinking about and vibing hard for Andi and DCJ.

About the cultural thing: be willing to be a honky who doesn`t get it. Kids can see through you anyway, so be the honest you you already are. Admit when you don`t understand things.Express when you are having trouble communicating. We`ve been in the cultural field where we work (and lived) for over a decade and we barely understand. But the kids respond to us because we try to come in with respect and humility. You have access to resources and experience that they don`t. It`s that you`re trying to share, not the cultural stuff. You don`t have to be them for them to relate to you. And they don`t have to like you for the experience to be successful.

I agree with Liese. I think my most memorable teaching successes came out of being different from my students, not trying to be similar to them. Kids like sincerity.

I don't act like a teen or even underratand them all the time, but I think that is why I donwel wig them. Are there things like preferred jobs or tAsks that they can earn, smonster?

I'm not fixing the stuff my phone put up there

that is why I donwel wig them.

I don't know what it means to "donwel wig" someone, but I bet you do it well.

Actually, I think posting my best self keeps me in touch with her/it, but I can't always do that.