Oops I Did It Again
Will any of my readers be surprised when I reveal that I have taken on another school related project? Hmmmm? Oh come on now – practice your dramatic skills.
"What? Sunshine Wolf has taken on a school project?!? How odd!"
That’s right. Humor me.
Sigh.
Backgroun info: Our school is the benefactor of a grant which is geared to increasing the awareness of our rather low-income student population to options for supporting themselves in the big wide world in the post-high school years. Many of our students don’t even consider college, which is a shame. For those that are clearly not headed for college, there is a shocking lack of realistic expectations regarding what sorts of things they can do to earn a living. This grant is to give students skills and choices. The areas of concentration are math and foreign language. Yeah, yeah. I know. I don’t "get" the foreign language connection either. Still….
This grant paid for our summer program this year. Over the summer the grant liason stationed at our school and I put our heads together.
I am ALL about teaching practical life skills. These students are not the privileged upper class. Some will go to college. Many will not even finish high school. ALL of them need to know how to take care of themselves and earn a living. They need to know that "What’s up, my nigga" is not the appropriate way to address a prospective employer. They need to know that while showing off perky boobies and all the skin that is legal can get you SOME place, it may not be the BEST place. They need to know that the life that the Rappers laud is not necessarily everyone’s life. They need to know that the correct answer on a job application to the query Sex: M F is not YES. Call me cynical, but that’s the truth as I see it.
SOOOOO. My point is – we came up with a plan. Most of our faculty/staff drink coffee in the morning. Many more drink tea. Are you with me here? Yep. A morning coffee shop. It would operate before school and sell only to faculty and staff. We will offer coffee/latte, tea, herbal tea, and some sort of home=made yummy like banana bread or cinnamon rolls. The students will develop the marketing plan, perform cost analysis, inventory, production, customer service….you name it. It will become self-sustaining. This is not about making profits – it is about teaching entrepreneurial and business skills.
The liason presented the idea to her boss….and I have to develop a business plan for tomorrow to get approval. Yep. Tomorrow. That’s why I’m here now. *grins*
Oh yeah – I almost forgot. I am also going to have my students grow their own herbs this year. Ahem. That’s HERBS as in basil, thyme, oregano…. not HERB as in a smokeable plant. I already begged some old tireds from Sears. We will use those tires as containers for our garden. Oh – did I mention I have a black thumb and NO CLUE what sort of soil mix to put in the tires or which ones grow at what time of year? Crap. Any ideas out there??????
Business plan. Yep. That’s where I am. Better get to it. And then I am going to practice meditating with my new mantra: Look before you leap. Look before you leap. Look before you leap……
Don’t bother with the mantra. You won’t listen anyhow! What a great idea you have though. Real life, making real opportunity out of nothing, I’ll bet Starbright will have many good suggestions about growing things, she of the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen. LOL. You go, Wonder Woman!
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Those kids are so lucky you became a teacher.
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I did take drama in jr high, so maybe I can pull off surprised. *smile* I think it’s a wonderful idea to give the kids some practical, hands on experience in real life. Someone needs to nominate you for teacher of the year!
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It sounds like a great plan! I’m sure those kids will learn so much.
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well I have a black thumb also, so I’m no help there. I’d just dump some dirt in there and throw the seeds in and hope for the best. There, try that. 😀 RYN: and I did almost tag you for that odd survey, I thought, and thought, and then wondered if you would be too busy to do it. So I think you should do it also! LOL 🙂
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Oh my gosh you sure keep busy that is for sure!
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you say you have a black thumb, but you also said you were a terrible cook, and look where you are now! You are so great, those students are lucky to have you. If I ever become half of the teacher that you are, I’ll be in tall cotton.
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OMG that is such an awesome idea. I am so excited for you. For THEM. This would be something they could use when they are applying for jobs in a year or 2! I started working in 8th grade lol. Anywho, totally! Awesome.
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I just bet you some enterprising student WILL try to grow something beisdes the recommended herbs! LOL Hugz
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GASP! no way! say it isn’t so?! What has the world come to?! You have taken on aother school project?! Not freaking possible. Why, it’s,it’s totally inconceivable! Not possible. I don’t believe it for a second. Which is why I don’t believe the rest of this entry. Why, why, oh why are you trying to deceive us this way?! Woh is me.
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I have 12 tires. I can grow and herb garden in them?????? Hmmm
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What a great idea that will really give these kids a sense of accomplishment. Good luck! As for planting herbs, just use a good garden potting soil mix available at Home Depot. As for what and when, check out the internet 🙂
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What a KICK-ASS idea! I can’t wait to hear how it goes…best of luck to you and the kids!
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My thumb is blact, too, but my wife’s (gone 9 years) was lush green. She grew lots of herbe. Tires used for raised beds would have more soil depth than needed. A shallow board frame on the ground with potting soil should work ok. Check with a knowledgeable nursery person. Don’t be surprised if some of those plants come up looking like ferns (marijuana).
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What a great idea; you are such an incredible teacher and those kids are so lucky to have you. Best of luck to you all!
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Cool, very cool about the business plan. There do have to be some paths for people who have no money and no chance at scholarship. I always thought school should be grade school for reading, math, speaking, and writing, high school for apprenticing in the real world. These days especially and moreso exponentially. And libraries should have copies of programs like Illustrator and Photoshop so
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kids who can’t get into the trade schools can still learn it on their own.
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Thats a fantastic idea, and I bet it will be successful. At work everyone has to have something in the morning to get them going.
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You are a genius, my friend. What a marvelous idea for teaching life skills. IÂ’d love to be in your class. IÂ’m not familiar with gardening in Florida but I would think you could grow herbs all year long if you keep them cut back to prevent flowering. Then if they get too lanky or woody, you could plant new ones for a fresh supply.
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If you use the tires, I suggest filling them with regular potting soil from Wal-Mart or your garden center. These would be outside, right? Why not dig up a larger plot somewhere in the school yard and grow herbs for tea as well? You could serve chamomile, lemon balm, spearmint and hyssop in the cafe, (if you grow spearmint, keep it in a large pot because it is invasive).
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Will you be buying plants or sowing seed? Some herbs do well indoors in a sunny window. While I donÂ’t know specifics about growing herbs in Florida, I can answer all your basic growing questions. Just let me know what you have in mind. If anybody can make a difference in your studentsÂ’ lives, itÂ’s you.
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Marvellous idea! Now, if only the school gives you a time allowance to develop this – and maybe also a bonus in pay…. (And pigs will fly, too, no?)
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I LOVE IT!! I don’t know how this would go over, but when we keep a garden we use homemade fertilizer, 1 part urine to 3 parts water. It’s a great, sterile, and cheap supply of nitrogen. Floridata.com should provide some good plant info. Our first year here we successfully grew tomatoes planted the end of March. Growing season is long, but check to see what needs shade vs. full sun.
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You know, I had some great teachers, but not one was as fantastic as you are. Amazing.
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