Hello Again Everybody
Aug. 25th, 2005 05:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
paulonleaveGosh, it's been a long time since I wrote in my livejournal. For those who have expressed concern about my well being, I thank you. I'm doing okay, apart from the occasional searing flash of anquish that darts in at unexpected moments and then darts away again before I can finally weep. Although I have cried a little, I know that it hasn't bee the great cathartic wailing-fest that needs to come along. I am confident that my Bob will be there when it happens, as he always has been for the last couple of decades. It won't be pretty, but it will be salutary.
As for whether I will continue to post here, now that my year off is over, I think that I will probably stop writing as "paulonleave" and start a new journal with a new user-name, one that better reflects my current situation. [By the way, I have signed and returned my contract for another "Four over five" leave, so that means I only have to work for four solid years before I get another year off.] If I do start a new journal, I will post my new user name here and invite anyone who is on my Paulonleave friends list to migrate to the new journal. I have really enjoyed blogging for the past year, and getting to "know" some people virtually, and I think it would be rewarding to continue.
This year at school I'll be teaching three English classes -- two Grade 11s and one Grade 12. It has been a few years since I taught English, and I'm excited about it, although I'm very disappointed that my school isn't offering Philosophy this year. I mention it here because I am thinking about making all of my students start Livejournals as part of the course assignment. If I do, of course, I'll have to make a separate "school" journal to link with the students'. I welcome any thoughts anyone might have about this. [Just bear in mind that the kids do have to write, and that writing journals is a pretty orthodox assignment, so it would only be the livejournal element, and the attendant inter-active possibilities, that would be experimental.]
Bob and I just got back from seeing four shows at the Shaw Festival, and as usual, the quality was excellent. I can recommend Gypsy, Happy End and The Autumn Garden. We also so the "new" Ann-Marie Macdonald play, Belle Moral. If you saw the earlier version from circa 1993, called The Arab's Mouth at the Factory, you will recognize, and perhaps be disappointed by, Belle Moral. But that's a longish story I won't go into now.
I guess this is sort of a miscellaneous odds and ends kind of posting. I have a number of ideas for more unified pieces, but I haven't gotten to the point of writing them yet.
As for whether I will continue to post here, now that my year off is over, I think that I will probably stop writing as "paulonleave" and start a new journal with a new user-name, one that better reflects my current situation. [By the way, I have signed and returned my contract for another "Four over five" leave, so that means I only have to work for four solid years before I get another year off.] If I do start a new journal, I will post my new user name here and invite anyone who is on my Paulonleave friends list to migrate to the new journal. I have really enjoyed blogging for the past year, and getting to "know" some people virtually, and I think it would be rewarding to continue.
This year at school I'll be teaching three English classes -- two Grade 11s and one Grade 12. It has been a few years since I taught English, and I'm excited about it, although I'm very disappointed that my school isn't offering Philosophy this year. I mention it here because I am thinking about making all of my students start Livejournals as part of the course assignment. If I do, of course, I'll have to make a separate "school" journal to link with the students'. I welcome any thoughts anyone might have about this. [Just bear in mind that the kids do have to write, and that writing journals is a pretty orthodox assignment, so it would only be the livejournal element, and the attendant inter-active possibilities, that would be experimental.]
Bob and I just got back from seeing four shows at the Shaw Festival, and as usual, the quality was excellent. I can recommend Gypsy, Happy End and The Autumn Garden. We also so the "new" Ann-Marie Macdonald play, Belle Moral. If you saw the earlier version from circa 1993, called The Arab's Mouth at the Factory, you will recognize, and perhaps be disappointed by, Belle Moral. But that's a longish story I won't go into now.
I guess this is sort of a miscellaneous odds and ends kind of posting. I have a number of ideas for more unified pieces, but I haven't gotten to the point of writing them yet.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 12:06 am (UTC)As for your concerns about revising on livejournal, I have two comments:
1) You would still be writing essays and so on independently and handing them in, so the livejournal stuff would be only a part of the course work.
2) There are programs you can download, called "clients," that allow you to save and revise draughts before posting. I use one called "Semagic" which I find very helpful.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-25 11:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 12:03 am (UTC)Good to hear you're doing alright. Somehow the world just doesn't seem right with you not teaching English in it.
The livejournal idea sounds cool but I agree that access to computers would probably need to be offered during class because not *everyone* has denpendable internet service or even service at all.
Don't let that dissuade you though I'm sure you'll figure out a way around it.
Mary Ann
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 12:09 am (UTC)Nice to hear from you.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-27 02:48 am (UTC)Mary Ann
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 01:34 am (UTC)I know that the anonymous comment is from MAB because she signed it Mary Ann. She is a friend of mine who is very smart and charming.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 01:31 am (UTC)Every single one of my students has loved whatever Shakespeare play I have taught them because Shakespeare is a brilliant writer and I am a brilliant teacher.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 02:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 02:16 am (UTC)I REMEMBER GRADE 10 DRAMA and grade 11 philosophy.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 09:28 pm (UTC)Speaking of Shakespeare (as Harry was) Vanessa is taking a course at Oxford in Shakespeare and really enjoying it...so not all my former students claim not to have enjoyed Shakespeare. Vanessa often asks me to say hi to you, by the way.
See you soon.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 09:31 pm (UTC)I was there on Monday and today. Probably I'll be there next Wednesday or Thursday as well.
By the way, what novels do you use for Grade 11? Miriam recommended Life of Pi, which I haven't read.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-26 09:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-28 10:19 am (UTC)In June, someone (not sure if it was office staff or teachers) was on work-to-rule. This prevented us from getting us from getting good copies of our report card mailed to us. We only recieved transcripts.
Is this labour situation still continuing? I ask because usually we get a letter saying what time to be there on the first day.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-30 02:02 am (UTC)It would be nice to have proof saying we finished high school. Also, if we have to go pick it up, I'm going to have to wait until May to do that.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-30 08:14 pm (UTC)Beginning again
Date: 2005-08-31 08:39 pm (UTC)