It's been an odd kind of year. I've done far less writing than I usually do and I've missed it, but haven't seemed to be able to make the time or effort to do more than the odd poem here and there. There were considerable work problems that had to be overcome and now I wonder if that was all worth it as my contract wasn't renewed. The government funding cutbacks to TAFEs have been draconian and reprehensible.
On the other hand, I received an Australia Council grant to spend three months in Paris this coming June, which I'm incredibly excited about and, although I haven't been writing, I have been thinking about writing consistently. Of course, I've also written a lot of lesson plans - but does that count? I also changed my approach to fantasy and began a fantasy verse novel that I'm enjoying, although I haven't been seriously working on it. I may well begin seriously working on it in the near future.
2012 in no particular order:
The Accountant and I went to New Zealand.
Star was published.
I lost nearly six weeks from the year by getting pleurisy.
The Accountant retired and has been super-busy ever since.
My eldest step-daughter moved back in with us, causing a good spike in vegetarian cooking.
I knitted my first top-down cardigan, but it does need some fixing up.
The old dog got a little older.
I gave away nearly four bags of yarn stash - thanks to the Decluttering Fiend.
I had the best haircut I've ever had.
I cleaned up my study so it is far more user-friendly.
The street now has a regular Friday night knitting group.
The Wish Pony came out as a Vintage Classic.
I have consolidated some friendships and made a very dear, new friend.
I was inked - and I'm still happy about that!
A blog where I talk about the reading, writing, post the Tuesday Poem and, sometimes, show some knitting.
Showing posts with label TAFE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TAFE. Show all posts
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Tuesday Poem - Aerial Acts
In my dream, to teach
or learn,
I had to jump
three floors
from a railing
on to a small table
from there
down another floor
to a smaller table
and finally
on to soft sand
through which I trudged to class
only to find I had a no pen
and had used my task calendar
to make notes.
A student lent me a pen
and I found a diary
in the Mary Poppins bag I'd clutched
carefully as I leapt.
When I woke, reality was no different -
government cutbacks
five remaining weeks of paid work
education an aerial act
without a safety net -
but no one can lend me a pen
and my diary order was cancelled.
Catherine Bateson November 2012
I have decided to do a number of dream poems. Unfortunately, as stated in the poem, this dream was merely a more surreal version of reality.
Yesterday I received the official phone call informing me that my teaching contract would not be renewed due to government cutbacks in the TAFE system. Of course, I'd been expecting the phone call. It's happened right across the TAFE system - hundreds of people now without employment. Instead of saying 'hundreds of jobs lost' I think we should saying 'hundreds of people without jobs' - the former makes it so impersonal.
So lets make it more personal. In my TAFE a whole department has gone. GippsTAFE no longer has an Art and Design Department. Where will those teachers who taught painting, photography and ceramics be employed in the LaTrobe Valley? Where will students study who wish to learn painting, photography and ceramics in the LaTrobe Valley? This is happening right across Victoria, despite protests from parents, students and teachers. We are living in a state without any long-term vision of a viable future. We are living in a country which has no long-term vision of a future that includes education, art, literature - lets face it, that includes culture and civilisation. It's all about the money, folks!
But, down at the Tuesday Poem Blog things are different. We're here for the poetry, folks, so leave your wallet at home and saunter across to read some poems.
or learn,
I had to jump
three floors
from a railing
on to a small table
from there
down another floor
to a smaller table
and finally
on to soft sand
through which I trudged to class
only to find I had a no pen
and had used my task calendar
to make notes.
A student lent me a pen
and I found a diary
in the Mary Poppins bag I'd clutched
carefully as I leapt.
When I woke, reality was no different -
government cutbacks
five remaining weeks of paid work
education an aerial act
without a safety net -
but no one can lend me a pen
and my diary order was cancelled.
Catherine Bateson November 2012
I have decided to do a number of dream poems. Unfortunately, as stated in the poem, this dream was merely a more surreal version of reality.
Yesterday I received the official phone call informing me that my teaching contract would not be renewed due to government cutbacks in the TAFE system. Of course, I'd been expecting the phone call. It's happened right across the TAFE system - hundreds of people now without employment. Instead of saying 'hundreds of jobs lost' I think we should saying 'hundreds of people without jobs' - the former makes it so impersonal.
So lets make it more personal. In my TAFE a whole department has gone. GippsTAFE no longer has an Art and Design Department. Where will those teachers who taught painting, photography and ceramics be employed in the LaTrobe Valley? Where will students study who wish to learn painting, photography and ceramics in the LaTrobe Valley? This is happening right across Victoria, despite protests from parents, students and teachers. We are living in a state without any long-term vision of a viable future. We are living in a country which has no long-term vision of a future that includes education, art, literature - lets face it, that includes culture and civilisation. It's all about the money, folks!
But, down at the Tuesday Poem Blog things are different. We're here for the poetry, folks, so leave your wallet at home and saunter across to read some poems.
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