It's not a popularity contest. their voting by you're qualifications
Recently, I was nominated for my school’s teacher of the year. Not really a big deal, just someone else in the building must think highly enough of you to nominate you.
Although I had no delusions of winning, this being only my third year and first eligible year to run, I submitted my application for candidacy, complete with three very well written essays. My writing received compliments from many who read my submission. (As well it should have – I worked and reworked those essays until they met with my total satisfaction.) I was quite proud of the results, and despite my inexperience, the literary masterpiece held its own as it was posted on the wall with the other nominees’ submissions.
The eclectic crowd of contenders included my air-headed department chair (who turned in her application complete with grease stains), an art instructor, a health teacher, a literature teacher, a PE teacher, and the two language arts teachers who made it to the run-off.
Again I reiterate that I had no delusions of actually winning. (Despite what some might call my clear verbal superiority…) I must also mention that I am quite sensitive to the mutilation of the certain grammatical basics. For example, I cringe when I witness the likes of “your cool” or “it’s you’re turn.” It physically pains me. I’m also not rather fond of the “there, their, they’re” triple threat that baffles far too many of us.
In less than a week before the elections, one of the language arts candidates sent an email proclaiming “your the best.” I cringed and sighed, and tried to shake it off as what was hopefully a fluke. A few days later, the second language arts candidate sent an email to the entire faculty mentioning that “students should be in there classes” after a certain time. The author of the latter error ended up winning the honor.
Did I mention that they were language arts teachers?
I had actually decided to vote for the art teacher, as it is most likely he’ll be moving up to administration next year, and this was his last chance to win. (That, in addition to the fact that he’s a fantastic teacher, and goes far beyond the call of duty in his services for the school…) Ironically, shortly after I cast my vote this morning, he alerted me to the winner’s egregious grammatical error that I would find when I checked my email.
I knew I liked him. I’m glad I voted for the art teacher. If nothing else, at least he has his grammar.
Although I had no delusions of winning, this being only my third year and first eligible year to run, I submitted my application for candidacy, complete with three very well written essays. My writing received compliments from many who read my submission. (As well it should have – I worked and reworked those essays until they met with my total satisfaction.) I was quite proud of the results, and despite my inexperience, the literary masterpiece held its own as it was posted on the wall with the other nominees’ submissions.
The eclectic crowd of contenders included my air-headed department chair (who turned in her application complete with grease stains), an art instructor, a health teacher, a literature teacher, a PE teacher, and the two language arts teachers who made it to the run-off.
Again I reiterate that I had no delusions of actually winning. (Despite what some might call my clear verbal superiority…) I must also mention that I am quite sensitive to the mutilation of the certain grammatical basics. For example, I cringe when I witness the likes of “your cool” or “it’s you’re turn.” It physically pains me. I’m also not rather fond of the “there, their, they’re” triple threat that baffles far too many of us.
In less than a week before the elections, one of the language arts candidates sent an email proclaiming “your the best.” I cringed and sighed, and tried to shake it off as what was hopefully a fluke. A few days later, the second language arts candidate sent an email to the entire faculty mentioning that “students should be in there classes” after a certain time. The author of the latter error ended up winning the honor.
Did I mention that they were language arts teachers?
I had actually decided to vote for the art teacher, as it is most likely he’ll be moving up to administration next year, and this was his last chance to win. (That, in addition to the fact that he’s a fantastic teacher, and goes far beyond the call of duty in his services for the school…) Ironically, shortly after I cast my vote this morning, he alerted me to the winner’s egregious grammatical error that I would find when I checked my email.
I knew I liked him. I’m glad I voted for the art teacher. If nothing else, at least he has his grammar.
posted by Flipside at 10:17 PM
3 Comments:
Being "Language Arts" teachers, they were simply showing off their "artistry" of language usage. Perhaps if they returned to calling them "English" teachers, they would not take such creative liberties with language...
Anyway, where the heck have you been?
Hmmm... it's not like i'm the only one to ever take an extended leave of absence...
I'll get better, I promise!
Touché. I know how it is. Sometimes that thing called "real life" just gets in the way of writing about it...
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