1/20/11 January 2011 Newsletter :
Happy New Year ! & Happy birthday...to me ! January 20 is my birthday and I'm another year older. Born in Iowa City in 1967 where my dad was a preacher in his first church, and my mom was a young housewife with a college degree (teaching degree). I was the third of four. Andrew, two years older than me, & Julia, four years older were undoubtedly very excited to have a new brother, and they continue to adore me to this day (yeah sure, & I'm the pope), God bless them.
Steven, born four years later, became the new "baby' of the family in '71, born in Grand Rapids (MI) where we had moved to from Iowa City so that my dad could continue his work in Christian ministry now as a chaplain at a Christian psychiatric hospital (kind of spooky I thought, later in life). That was at a time when psychiatry & psychology was still evolving, even sometimes controversial (I discovered later as a psychology major; in addition to a later English major, & then a masters-in-divinity). Ironically, later, I myself would work at this same hospital as a "mental health worker" for a year ('89-90) after college thinking I might want to be a psychologist. It was at a time when the mental health industry was going thru radical changes in terms of what they could continue to afford to do because health insurance providers were beginning to drastically restrict how much they would pay for "mental health" issues, especially inpatient care.
I remember suddenly patients who would normally stay for months were now staying only for a few weeks. Shortly after I left, the hospital began making layoffs and the mental health industry has never been the same since that time. Last time I went back to Michigan ('97) and drove thru the spacious hospital grounds where I had worked at the new VanAndel Center (named after the late Jay VanAndel, a co-founder of Amway) there were now cracks on the new tennis courts with weeds growing knee-high where I remember playing tennis with some of the adolescent patients.
Needless to say I never became a psychologist nor pursued anything further in mental health. Actually, I went to Law School after that year working at the hospital. That was my second interest at the time. I had done fairly well on the LSAT (law school entrance exam) and had been accepted to Wayne State Law School in Detroit and so in September of 1990 I packed my little car with what little I had and took the long drive from Grand Rapids to Detroit (seemed long then, fairly short now compared to how much time I spend in the car in California).
I was excited about law school, but unfortunately at the last moment I switched from my original plan to live alone in an apartment to live with a roommate in an apartment. This was a bad decision. At the time I was sort of involved with a Dutch gal from west Michigan by the name of Kim and wish in retrospect I had asked her to marry me right away. Instead, while still remaining in contact with her I moved into an aprtment with this guy who had contacted me from Dordt college (a Dutch Christian college like Calvin College which I attended) who was also starting law school. I don't know how he got my name & number but he persuaded me that I would save money and he apparently thought it would be neat to have a "Christian roommate." The problem was that we were really different people w/ different personalities & interests and suddenly I was in a living situation that felt oppressive, not the freedom I was craving at the time, after having lived with a series of different college roommates over the past few years.
I began attending law school daily but I also was quickly becoming depressed. After a few months I knew I had to make some changes. I didn't feel as if the study of law was the thing for me...in retrospect I wonder if it was the study of law or the living situation that was the problem, but either way, I finally decided I had had enough. In late October, I informed the law school that I was leaving. Then I informed my rooommate from Dordt I was leaving and he could have the apartment to himself. I had already paid my share of the rent for the whole semester.
I packed up my car again & drove back to Grand Rapids (GR) where I had a few things stored. I picked up my remaining belongings in GR and called a few people, including Doug Kosters & Rick Byle, as well as Kim. I stopped by to see each one of them one-by-one. I had known Doug since church nursery days. Their family went to the same church as our until '84 when we moved to California.
Doug had been a friend in highschool and college even though for a few years earlier on in junior high I recall being enemies, or antagonistic (adolescent stuff). By this time Doug was NOT doing well in life. Actually, he said was preparing for seminary, and trying to take Greek (which can be very challenging for some students, especially the way it is taught at Calvin College). He apparently was struggling, although I didn't truly understand how deeply he was struggling emotionally at the time. I just met him for a cup of coffee for an hour and told him I was heading west to California. At the time I was more preoccupied with questions of my own future. I don't think he or a few others I met with that day appreciated what felt like a momentous decision to me: to leave the security of law school & simply "go" out west with nothing planned .
I also met with Kim for the evening. It was at that point that I wished I had asked her to marry me and come with me to California, but I simply told her I was leaving to California. I didn't think I would be coming back to Grand Rapids or that she would still be single if & when I did but that's another story to be continued in a later newsletter... (hint: I did have another chance & did end up back in GR, but it was a few years later & after a lot of changes)
Later, that same day I drove thru Kalamazoo and stopped at Rick's place where he was still studying at Western Michigan Univ. Rick had also been a friend for many years. In fact for one semester (spring, '87-88) after my semester in Hawaii I lived with Rick & Doug in an apartment on Wealthy St while I resumed attending Calvin College & they were attending the downtown college. I first met Rick & his family when I was a paperboy for the GR PRESS and they lived on my route on Hazen St. Later, we attended the same Christian schools, & his older brother was a classmate of my older brother. Rick would later became a teacher in Detroit, but tragically died in a snowmobile accident in 2009, leaving a wife & child behind.
And even more tragic, a few months after I arrived in California, in November of 1990 I received a phone call from an associate in GR informing me that Doug had commit suicide. I was STUNNED to say the least. I sensed he was struggling with Greek when I last saw him in GR but never comprehended the depths of his despair. I flew back to GR for the funeral and that's the last time I've seen or spoke with the Kosters family. Although I send them a Christmas card every year I haven't heard back from them. I hope all is as well as can be for Doug's parents, 2 brothers & sister.
& I will leave it at that for now & pick up on where I left off in the February newsletter ( I will once again have to place the "intersection incident" on hold). Also, as for current events, LAUSD has resumed school again & I am getting called more frequently. I had a good Christmas break and enjoyed the Rose Parade (video of the entire event is being edited) as well as the Rose Bowl game and most recently enjoyed attending the Miss America 2011 pageant in Las Vegas.
I continue to work on a Dutch Audio Bible (see www.DutchAudioBible.posterous.com ) as well as updating daily news at www.theDailyNews4u.posterous.com) and am also continuing my hollywood blog (hw blog) as well as my church blogs (cblogs), among other things. I also continue to hand out my English audio Bible CD to people and attend Catholic daily mass (usually at least morning & evening & sometimes noon as well), while attending the Crystal Cathedral on Sunday (& recently also a Korean church called sa-rang or the "holy wave.".
Baseball season is just around the corner and after all the rain & cool weather I look forward to spring training & opening day. God bless you all.
For the Kingdom
JVK
P.S. I prepared this newsletter earlier today (before 7 am & was going to send it this evening, as-is, but now I have new & shocking news that was just given to me at 330pm today. I was "on assignment" all day at Belmont High and as I was leaving I was handed a note telling me to call a "John Braaschaap" at a 213 # . It said "employee relations" and so I was thinking it was from somebody at PERB (public Employment Relations Board) in regard to the complaint I had filed against LAUSD in December.
However, it turned out to be "employee relations" at the LAUSD. This fellow named "John" said, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but based on our review of your [he may have said "record" or "file"] ...the district has decided to separate you from employment ..." . As you can imagine, folks, I was stunned for a moment & actually wondered if this was for real. I questioned who he was & asked if this was a prank (on my birthday of all days) . Then we lost connection & called back and resumed the conversation with "John." I asked about his title (he said "chief deputy), and asked to speak to his supervisor, among other things. He seemed to be one of those fellows who enjoys doing this kind of call. And for that matter I wondered why I was getting a phone call, and why this was happening almost exactly a month after I filed with PERB .
Was this retaliation ? John thought that PERB didn't have any authority over LAUSD (completely wrong). They have very much authority over LAUSD & ALL public employers in California. PERB governs various issues of public employment, especially retaliation issues by employer against employee (for a myriad of reasons). I know this, personally, because I filed with PERB back in 1997-98 re Coachella USD issues. John, apparently, is like a "bouncer" , not "in the know" or he was trying to pull the wool over my eyes. Anyways, I told John to have Ira call me, but added, "I don't think you give a damn if I die tonight."
An hour later I received a call from Ira Berman who identified himself as a director of employee relations at the district office. I had a long discussion with him. He remained calm & civil during the conversation, and I reiterated some of what I said to John B. An hour earlier. He said he was aware of my PERB complaint. I wondered if this was retaliation. I mentioned that I've been working successfully for eleven years as a substitute, and had ample education (BA/BA/M.Div.) and prior regular teaching experience. He mentioned some ISR's (insufficient service reports) which I was unaware of ...I asked for specifics and he named three schools (Leichty, Audobon, & Youn Oak Kim). I remember three specific incidents at those schools, and in response to all three I had left the campus on my own volition rather than remain after the incident was addressed .
At Leichty I had insisted that the room needed better lighting (it was so dim, they could barely read) and when the AP taunted me ("breathe, breathe" he said in a condescending voice) I told him I was leaving, & he said "Fine." I never heard anything further about the incident.. At Audobon, on the last day before Christmas break, 2009-10 I was treated rudely by the secretary upon arrival (she accused me of "strolling in late" without inquiring as to what time I got called) and informed her I would not stay because of her mistreatment of me. I left & heard nothing further. I was also insulted by another worker at Audobon as I was leaving the school (this is also where the head chef in the cafeteria harrassed me by calling me "sweetie" in a condescending, demeaning manner on a separate occasion). And at Young Oak in the Spring of 2009-10 , a student had asked once to use the restroom earlier in the period & as I occassionally do (to verify if it is really a neccessity or merely an excuse to go walk around for a while) I say, "Can you wait?" Or "Just wait a few moments" Or "Ask me in a few minutes if you really have to go". And I didn't hear from him again. In fact, the kids were doing presentations in front of the classrooml & his group came up a few moments later. They took turns talking & suddenly he began urinating in his pants. I was shocked as much as the rest of the class as seemed to be the student himself.
These students know, or should know, they can walk out even without permission in case of emergency. They are not locked in the room. I don't block the door & if he had asked again, I always say YES the 2nd time. Sometimes students take advantage of the "sub" and I just try to be diplomatic about going to the restroom, especially if too many seem to be going. And also I have had experiences where the administration has frowned upon students going to the restroom, even sometimes locking the restrooms (or so I've been told), and I've also experienced teachers who leave notes saying "students know they cannot use the restroom" or something to that effect.
After the student wet his pants, another student offered to take him to the student center to get a change of pants. They left for fifteen minutes and the boy returned with dry pants. Shortly later, I noticed an assistant principal peek in the door with a strange look on her face, & a few minutes after that the principal came to the door and asked to speak to me. He showed me into an empty office & started saying in a somewhat hysterical manner, "You can't do that.."
Can't do what ? He apparently was under the impression that I had repeatedly denied this student permission to use the restroom. Then he said, "We will work with you..." which was a little nicer thing to say. The administration & regular teachers set the tone for how liberal or strict they expect you to be with the students. Really, I take my job seriously and hope for some sort of "growth" every day in the classroom, but if it was up to me, they could all go to the restroom as much as they want.
Nonetheless, I already felt the sting of what seemed unfair blame, and knew, instinctively, that I should just leave the school right then & there & told him I was leaving. He simply said, "Ok, I'll get somebody to cover..." and that was it. I left. And didn't hear anything further. Now I find out that I received an ISR due to the incident (which happened in the spring of 2009-10).
So that's my explanation for the three events in question...all three of which I thought were "bygones" and didn't know the principal or assistant principal had written an ISR about these events until today when I talked to Ira Berman.
I asked Ira why SUDDENLY these ISR's that I never knew about were an issue ? He said they do periodic "performance reviews" of substitute teachers and I was one of them and that a committee decided I was unsatisfactory. I asked if I had ever been "reviewed" previously and he said he did not know (hmm, strange, You think they would have a record of who they have reviewed if they were trying to be conscientious.). I asked who would know and he wasn't able to answer that either. It was getting more mysterious & strange.
He added that if I want to "appeal" this I can do so in writing directly to him and an independent committee will re-review my file and ISR's. I also called PERB and spoke with the agent handling my case in Oakland and she said I should amend my complaint because this sounded like retaliation by the LAUSD.
So that's where I'm at now as of 7:43 pm on my birthday, January 20, 2011. What a nice birthday surprise. Hopefully by my February newsletter I will have better news. And to think I started drafting this newsletter less than 24 hours ago feeling positive that I was getting calls again for assignments. I never anticipated I would be adding a P.S. such as this by the end of the day. It still feels surreal very dehumanizing.
