When I got the call up for Jury Service, I knew it was going to be a juggling act but one I was happy to do. I could have asked for an excusal or a deferral but I chose to complete my Service at the start of the year - even thoufht it was at the start of a new school year. I had my study and moving to take into account. I do consider myself very lucky to work with some incredible educators who helped me out with planning units well into advance and leaders who were willing to catch me up on missed meetings.

Having said that, it was rough. By the time I had a week left, I was counting down the days I had left and praying I didn’t get called in. While I wasn’t attached to any cases and I found the process incredibly interesting, it was draining in ways I didn’t expect.

I began to hate the unknown of whether I would be called in (you’re basically on call for an entire month) and dreaded the 4pm text message the working day before. I haven’t been able to form solid relationships with some of my kids because I have been in and out for the whole month (don't get me started on their names either!). I knew that forming relationships with students would be tricky given the circumstances and I'm very blessed to have classes where they're not holding grudges and willing to work with me to memorise names and are willing to remind me of who is who.

I felt so incredibly rushed at the beginning of the term because I have high standards for my content, assessments, and how I design my classroom and while I was on Jury Service, I did not want this to slip.
I like to think I did fairly well with keeping these high standards but now, at the end of my Service, I am tired. Not just the long, busy tired but the bone-dead, exhausted tired. I’m craving routine, knowing that all I need to do is go to work, not go into the city and not even be called up to serve on a Jury.

Jury Service is valuable, I can see the value in it but I wonder if (given the teacher crisis) it is worth still having teachers as part of the Jury pool or if adjustments need to be made to make anyone employed as a teacher (inc. TRT’s) as part of the excluded professions.

You're a teacher without telling me you're a teacher ....

Sometimes it is the small things! I was humbled to recieve this small note in my pigeon hole during World Teachers Day.

​Thank you, whomever you are!

Everything comes to an end! I'm not sure how I feel about the Year 12's finishing up. In part I'm glad that they are moving on to their new adventures and I'm proud of what they have all achieved; however, I am not used to being a "class down" during Week 5 of Term 4. It's a really odd feeling!

Taking down the display in my Media Studies classroom was bittersweet but I'm forever grateful for being given the opportunity to teach outside of my comfort zone with a group of students who were willing to learn alongside me!

​Now, onwards to Graduation next week!

11/11/2024

We will remember them.

​Now, forever, always.

I bought this a year ago from Melbourne with the idea that I would add it to my senior years (Year 10-12) library. I started reading and immediately thought "this is good, but not suitable for high school students." There a plenty of R-rated and graphic descriptions, particularly of a sexual nature that while I didn't mind, I could not in good conscience have in my classroom. I would, however, keep this as a teacher resource and use excerpts from it in my classes where appropriate.
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Towards the end of the book, I was craving a solid full length story that was more than 5-10 pages so finishing this was rather painful. I'm glad I read it, not sure I would read it again in a hurry.

In writing this review, I fully acknowledge my privilege as a white woman living in Australia. Learning more and as much as I can about First Nations people is a priority, especially as I teach so many incredible young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. I selected "My Tidda, My Sister" because, honestly, I loved the cover, and I also found it so interesting from the blurb on the back.

Having said that, I did find an issue with my reading of the book. I felt that Maree Silva spoke a lot of her own story (which she is 100% entitled to!), but I really wanted to know the stories of the women that we wrote about. I wanted to get in-depth into the stories these women wanted to tell.
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My intention is to put it in my classroom library for my students to read and - hopefully - enjoy!

"It'll be fun!"
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​Yes - it is a table in a tree!