Piranhas and Country Roosters

This past week, I've kind of felt like I was the elephant in the movie Tarzan who tried to convince the little elephant that "there are no piranhas in Africa." Of course, immediately following is my favorite line . . . "MY BUTT!!" Yes, there was a "piranha" in Africa, and there are "piranhas" in the education world. I've been interviewing for a new job, and I was reminded once again how much I hate interviews. It's like you become a piranha . . . trying to convince the various principals that you exist in the education world and that you are WAY better than the other guy (or girl) in a "teacher eat teacher" endeavor. And then they expect you to work as a team. Of course, this year, the tables are turned. There is a MASSIVE teacher shortage. Therefore, the principals have become the piranhas . . . each trying to bite a potential employee before we climb out of the pond all together, convinced that there are no piranhas in Africa. Well, I am happy to announce that I do not have to climb out of the pond an unbeliever. I've been bitten and am thoroughly convinced that yes, there are piranhas in education!! Feel free to join me as I cry "MY BUTT!!" and skulk off to a new school to a new piranha . . . who is hopefully nicer than the last one.

And as long as we are discussing the value of animals in education, enjoy a little ditty about a country rooster that my students just ADORED. You've got to love the humor of 11 year-olds.