California still has a state science test at 5th grade. Unfortunately, very little of our time goes to teaching science in elementary school. Our house will be paid off in April and we have no other debt. I'd love to go part time, but that would mean a reduction in our travel funds and Thom only gets 5 weeks of vacation time a year. He still likes his job and it's a good gig. I'm too young to actually retire, only going to be 48 this year. Most of the job I still really love. Our population has changed greatly and now we have several foster kids at our school. I have compassion for these kids, but they have a whole host of issues that we're just not equipped to deal with. The general ed kids seem less able to problem solve and have a whole slew of social issues themselves. They can't or don't think. They give up far too easily. I hate to sound like an old grump but I don't know what's wrong with kids these days. Actually I have some ideas - Ten year olds watching The Walking Dead? I have at least 1/5 of my class of 25 watching it. So inappropriate... Many parents don't parent in my school.

Veronica