Things I've Learned About Myself Whilst on Strike for 8 Days

This week I have had to come to terms with several aspects of my personality that I find cringe-worthy. I blame the strike for pushing me to my limits and showing me what I am (and am not) made of.

Without further delay, here is my list of:

Things I've Learned About Myself 

Whilst on Strike for 8 Days

1. Should I ever desire to go on the Discovery Channel show, Naked and Afraid, I would be that person who freaks out on day 3 and has to be emotionally "carried" by the other, more mentally astute person the remainder of the time. I admit that on approximately day 6 of our strike I had a mini mental breakdown. Something in my brain snapped and I just freaked. I got very, very, very sad and couldn't stop crying.

"But the kids still get 180 days of school," my teacher friend said.

"You're doing this for the right reasons," my husband said.

"Go work at another district," my almost 12 year old said.

"Pasco needs you," The internet stranger I only know via Facebook, said.


Nothing anyone said helped, I just felt sad. And eventually my brain liked the sad feeling, and then it wouldn't go away. I'm currently being "carried" by my husband, who understands that I hate everyone, but I hate him the least; my bff, who knows how to commiserate and cheer me up with memes; my school family, who know the value of laughter; and 25 kids, most of whom I've never met, who I long to share my day with.

2. The worse I feel, the better I look. It's true. I've gotten many a compliment after a good two week bout of the stomach flu or strep throat.

"Hey, Mari, you look really great!"
"Thanks! I haven't eaten in 5 days!"

"You look fantastic! What's your secret?"
"Thanks! Just going through a messy divorce and running 7 miles a day so I don't kill anyone."





At first I felt ok about the strike, like maybe it would be over in the first week. In fact the day before school was supposed to start I still sort of thought there was a chance the two sides would make a deal. (Yes, I am naive.) But then the worse things got, the worse I felt. The second week brought with it body aches, headaches and nausea. I couldn't eat and I started running again (channeling the not killing people thing). Now I'm off sugar and have been taking my vitamins. Why does it take a life crisis to focus my efforts on healthy living? And should I hope that the strike is over soon, or hope that it goes another two weeks because I think I could probably drop a pant size in that time. #Priorities


3. I can be on time for things. An actual work meeting? Put me down for five minutes after. But if we have to be somewhere to picket or walk around the neighborhood you bet I'll be rolling up 5, or even 10 minutes early. I have no explanation for this.

4. "Serenity Now, Insanity Later" is a real thing. So, there is an episode of Seinfeld where George Constanza, in an effort to handle life in a more calm way adopts the phrase "Serenity Now." He tries to calm himself as he goes head to head with his nemesis and rival, Lloyd Braun. Throughout the episode he learns that holding things in and faking that he is calm actually makes it worse until he blows up. A better way of handling life is if you feel like crying, cry. If you want to rant find someone who will listen and not slap you. If you want to write a blog and get all the thoughts out of your brain, then do that. But, whatever you do, don't hold it all in.



5. Much like Baby, Mari also dislikes being put in a corner. I don't respond well to bullies. I wish I could say I punch them in the face and then move on with life. Nope. I am nice to bullies. I try to figure out why they are such jerks and if I can help them in anyway. I look for any possible sign that they are better than the behavior I am witnessing.

But... PSD is using tactics like filing injunctions, accusing teachers of abusing kids by not babysitting them, asking for fines to be collected from the union and individuals in union leadership, and today, the final straw, scheduling a special board meeting with the purpose of suspending compensation and district paid benefits because we won't go back to work without a contract. A contract they have had all summer to work on. A contract they have not been willing to negotiate about. A contract that would hold them accountable for the things they are currently not providing Pasco students. I am no longer looking for evidence that they are not as bad as they seem to be. I am now ready to continue to stand with my union colleagues and say: BRING IT ON. I am not an unruly student you can sit in the corner and force to obey (my parents can attest to that!). The more you push and intimidate me, PSD, the harder I will work to be my very best at the end of summer dance party (Ok, that's where the analogy sort of falls apart... but you feel me, right?)




Will the strike last another few days? A week? Two more weeks? I have no idea. I can only hope that we are all back in our classrooms soon, after having a fun time with our friends in summer camp and learning how to believe in ourselves enough to dance (See! That analogy did work after all!!) :)

Pasco... I Wish I Knew How to Quit You... Top 10 Reasons I'm Staying

I woke up at 5:30am this morning with knots in my stomach. Reality hits me in the face every day as I get up and put my red shirt on and report to my picketing station while crossing my fingers that today is the day we will reach agreement and I will get to be back in my classroom soon. I am surrounded by turmoil all day and then I get home and my kids are wondering why I'm gone so much and why I'm on social media talking to people all the time. They don't fully understand the significance of the stand we are taking, or why I would want to educate people in our community about why we are doing what we are doing.

But with all the stress Pasco teachers are under and all the truth that has come out about our district, people have to wonder, why do we stay? Why not go to Kennewick  or Richland? I know principals in both districts and have the qualifications needed. Why not go? Are we all just gluttons for punishment? Does Pasco just attract "bad" teachers that can't get hired anywhere else?


In the spirit of David Letterman, here are my

Top 10 Reasons I Can't Quit Pasco

10. Pasco has THE BEST authentic Mexican food. Have you been to La Fama or El Sazon? Try it. It's life changing.

9. Dust Devils play at the TRAC in Pasco. Russell Wilson was a Dust Devil. I love the Sea Hawks, therefore I love Pasco.

8. The traffic on Road 68 still pales in comparison to 5 o'clock G Way traffic.

7. It's easy to get to the airport.

6. I like football and I like winning. #Riverhawks #WeAreChiawana

5. I like money. We bought a house with a little over 2000 square feet and I know the same house would sell in Richland for at least 20k more. My parents raised me on a budget and I love a good deal. No way could I pay more than something is worth just for the name brand or label, unless I believed it was truly a better item, which I don't. We have five kids who all go to Pasco schools and three of them will be at the school I'm teaching at this year. Plus also when you do unpermitted work on your house it is harder to sell so we aren't going anywhere.

4. Pasco has some things to brag about... Did you know some of our schools have better test scores than some Richland schools? Did you know we actually have higher graduation rates in Pasco? Did you know Pasco has four STEM elementary schools and they are the only ones in Tri Cities? Did you know many Pasco graduates leave school speaking two languages fluently? We are doing more right than wrong.

3. These are my people. I was raised by a field worker and factory worker. My parents went to school as adults to become a land lord and preschool teacher. They worked hard, and continue to do so everyday of their lives. I got free lunch when I was in school but the rest of what we had my parents worked their butts off for. That is ingrained in me. I'm a teacher, my husband works in IT, we are middle class. My kids wear hand me downs. They didn't all get new shoes for school this year. Pasco is filled with people like me. People who work hard and are proud of what they have.

2. Diversity. There is no better place to be a half Mexican with half Mexican kids married to a borderline albino man and his blonde-haired, blue-eyed kids. There are so many Hispanic people with Caucasian last names and Caucasian people with Hispanic last names. Diversity is applauded here. Plus if you need a pinata, party supplies, or a reasonably priced formal gown, downtown Pasco has you covered.

1. The most important reason... We, as educators, have a responsibility to the parents. Now that the truth is known and we have parents' attention we owe them to see this thing through. We have all heard the complaints and whispering. We know our district is labeled and seen as "failing." We are standing in agreement and saying "Yes, there is work to be done," With integrity, we now owe it to the parents to fix what we are pointing out as broken. I cannot "quit Pasco" knowing I have made this commitment to the parents and community that I call home.