Stunt Summer Sessions #7: The Uninvited Guest Is Here Again!

In Episode 80, the Stunt Brothers chat about beating the August heat and mosquitoes. While Roy claims mosquitoes aren't an issue in North Vancouver, Martin strongly begs to differ! Ultimately, the duo agrees that their local bug situation is nothing compared to lake country in Manitoba or Ontario. Talking about unwelcome pests reminds Roy of his #2 pick in the Summer Series, Episode 58: The Uninvited Guest. Join the Stunt Brothers for a tongue-in-cheek look at the sudden classroom surprises that force teachers to pivot on a dime. Grab your Indiana Jones hat or channel your inner MacGyver, you won’t want to miss this one!

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Transcript

Speaker 0:05

Good afternoon, podcast listeners everywhere. Welcome to After the Bell, a Stunt Brothers production. I'm Martin Stuible.

Speaker 4 0:13

And I'm Roy Hunt, and we share your pain, having taught a combined 70 years. 70 years. I know. Wow. So get out your marking, organize your supplies, or just pour yourself a coffee. I think I need something stronger. That's okay. Okay. And listen, engage, and interact with After the Bell, a podcast for you, the hardworking, dedicated teacher who wants free lesson plans, free advice, and a free meal. Well, I always show up for a free meal. All right, so here we are, August 10th. Wow. It's so hot. Wow. It's really hot. My dog is still laying on the ground.

Speaker 1 0:54

He's had those dog moves going on. In front of the fan.

Speaker 4 0:57

I says, She has a bed, and then I know it I know it's hot for her in the evening, but she'll crawl out of the bed and then lay on the wooden floor because it's much cooler. Yeah. And right in front of the fan. Now that's good for her, but when you're laying in your bed and the fan is blowing on your dog, and then that's the air you're breathing.

Speaker 1:21

Yeah. I'm sure there's a lot of fans that have been going this summer.

Speaker 4 1:25

Imagine electric bills get pretty high. Yeah. So you have air conditioning, it's gonna must be going.

Speaker 1:31

Yeah. I mean, I guess some people have heat pumps now, and that is a very efficient way to cool the house. So that I'm envious of those who have that.

Speaker 4 1:38

Yes.

Speaker 1:39

I have a basement which helps. It's always cool down there. That is my go-to place.

Speaker 4 1:43

Well, and and the interesting thing is where we are in in North Vancouver, uh I uh we don't have any screens on our window, so we don't have any mosquitoes to worry about.

Speaker 1:55

Well, there's there are a few of the things that I mean it's been dry to live.

Speaker 4 1:58

If you were in Ontario, you you you couldn't exist without a screen because there's mosquitoes everywhere. But it's rare. I mean we've ever since uh I remember we've always had the windows open and you get the original mosquito, but very few of them. Not like I mean Manitoba, Saskatchewan, uh and lake country. Yeah.

Speaker 2:20

Uh the pickup babies and I've been watching that Jim Green I I bought a farm show. I've really been enjoying it. And he's just it's uh I've learned to appreciate him a lot more than I thought I did, right? And he just he's going, he's trying to learn to become a farmer a little bit. But he's got a he's got a farm in Ontario, but he's the swatting flies constantly. Like, whoa.

Speaker 4 2:42

Well, that connects well with the episode that I've selected for my number two.

Speaker 2:47

You're number two. We're getting close to our number one episode.

Speaker 4 2:50

My number two is from episode uh fifty-eight.

Speaker 2:54

Okay.

Speaker 4 2:55

And uh that would be season two.

Speaker 2:57

Yeah.

Speaker 4 2:58

And the uninvited guest.

Speaker 3:00

That was a hoot. I love you. Oh, tell the gentleman.

Speaker 4 3:03

And the reason why I I I like this one, it's like one of those where you know people say, Well, how where do you get your inspiration for topics? And our inspiration for this episode came from our Manning Park series when we had a red squirrel run across your computer and mess up a recording session. And then we saw the red squirrel again, and it's like we were staring at it, like, what's it gonna do? Right? It's like anticipating something. Yeah, but the squirrel just showed up and and stared us down. And it's almost like saying, feed me or it gets messy.

Speaker 3:40

I'm gonna delete everything, which which the squirrel did.

Speaker 4 3:44

Yes. So we had to improvise, though. We had to improvise, we did that. So it it was great because it was the it it set the stage for exploring the curious and the hilarious world of the uninvited guests to the classroom.

Speaker 3:59

Which we all have in our classroom.

Speaker 4 4:02

From parents dropping in unannounced, administrators wandering into your classrooms, the mosquitoes, yeah. Or a wasp. Oh, all it takes is a wasp on a warm day when everybody's easily distracted and it everybody becomes disregarded.

Speaker 4:18

Doesn't matter what you were planning to do that moment, it you've lost them. Right?

Speaker 4 4:22

Right. So and that's where you have to de be, you know, with all of those things that happen, you have to you have to be flexible and patient and you have to be creative.

Speaker 4:32

Yeah.

Speaker 4 4:33

And we're good at problem solving.

Speaker 4:35

And we yeah, we were at Manning Park, right, for this one. So I uh I think you'll feel our sense of still being on vacation, our calm, our fun, and we hope you get a little taste of that trip and that camping trip that we did to help with the podcast. And if you've heard the episode, I think you'll have fun listening to it again. And if you're a new listener who's just hearing it for the first time, check out the uninvited guest, which is number two on your list of your topics.

Speaker 4 4:58

That is my number two.

Speaker 4:59

Excellent. Well, Mr. Hunt, there's the bell that tells us another episode is going on here. Episode 58. Wow. That would be season two, episode 28. You write it on your hand again? Yes. You're getting good.

Speaker 3 5:16

No, I wrote it on your forehead. I can see it from here. Okay. Great. It's when you're sleeping.

Speaker 5:27

Wow.

Speaker 4 5:28

Well, how's it going? How's it going? Yeah, good.

Speaker 5:31

Yeah. Good.

Speaker 4 5:31

Uh we're into March already. I can't believe it. Yeah. Um we've got Spring is coming. Spring is coming.

Speaker 5:37

Nope. I know people are tired, right?

Speaker 4 5:40

Uh I I but I've been into some schools. Uh right now they're just finished up report cards. They're in the middle of parent-teacher interviews. And you can see crawling to the finish line. Yes. They're exhausted.

Speaker 5:55

It's not even the finish line, but crawling to the I don't know. What do you call spring when it's not the summer, right? So it's not the finish line, but it's just they wish it was the finish. Yes, they wish it wasn't. I think is what it is. But it's expected. Summer is expected. Summer is expected. Spring is expected. Even though you look at the garden and still got the brown, the dark, and you know winter just the doom of all that has been over us, but suddenly there's an explosion of growth. And I find that expected growth is just a lovely time.

Speaker 4 6:24

There you go. And with that expectation comes rain. Yeah. Because we need the rain for for that growth to happen. And it it does uh s bring you down at times because you're like, oh it's good the weather is getting better. And the rain. Yeah. It's hard to do that. But the rain's not as cold as you as sort of our usual winter rain. It's a little warmer, but it's still rain and it's gray and it's cloudy, and we can complain all we want, but that's to be expected.

Speaker 6:54

It's to be expected.

Speaker 4 6:55

Yes.

Speaker 6:56

But last night there was something that was unexpected. There was. You are correct. And I I didn't even really register it until this morning when I heard people talking about it. I heard it. I knew there was a bit of a boom. Something went on around nine, but I didn't say it out loud to my wife or anything because I thought it was I think someone just closed a car door kind of louder than usual. It wasn't like an earthquake that I felt a year ago. But what happened? It was it was something.

Speaker 4 7:21

It was. I've heard people describe it as an earthquake that their home shook. But something entered our atmosphere. Trevor Burrus, Jr.

Speaker 7:35

The meteor hits the atmosphere and then becomes a meteorite and created a bright flash. People have actually a video of it. And now I think over maybe Coquitlam is pieces of it. You know, the rock has probably got particles that have fallen to the earth, so there'll be some unexpected journeys, right, to find those pieces. So it's quite exciting. Yes. But I think of spring, and I think it's coming. And I know people jump into it a little too quickly, especially in the garden. People start planting tomatoes because they see two days of sun and you know, winter could change tomorrow back to winter. That's the best.

Speaker 4 8:06

That's the unexpected part. It is.

Speaker 8:08

So I think to help us get to spring break, we do one of our Manning Park sessions.

Speaker 4 8:14

Yes, one of our summer sessions. Yeah.

Speaker 8:15

We have one left, right, from the Manning Park sessions that we did at Manning Park in September. And it kind of fits with what we're talking about.

Speaker 4 8:22

It does, because in that session, something unexpected happened.

Speaker 8:25

Yeah. And made us think about the uninvited guest, right? Yes. And having a class that could be where you're teaching, and then suddenly someone comes in.

Speaker 4 8:33

Someone, something, something unexpected happens.

Speaker 8:36

Yeah. So to help you get ready, to help you get through this last week, let's have a little taste of summer. The days are getting brighter, and let's check out our Manning Park session and have a little warmth.

Speaker 2 8:47

Wow, that sounds nice.

Speaker 8:49

Okay, there you go. Thanks, listeners. Let's go to Manning Park. Hello, Mr. Hunt. We are having another Manning Park session. So these dropped. Who knows when? This might be Christmas, it might be February, it just might be September because we had to be lazy. Oh no. Sorry, I can't say lazy. No, you can't. I discovered that in the second Manning Park session. I have to say we're extra hard at that time. This is this is sorry, I feel ashamed. It's extra. These are times that we got together, we did our little camping trip, but they might be dropped sometime throughout the year. So thanks for listening, listeners. Yes. We have this episode here, and here we are. You know, it's nice because it no matter what time of year it is, you get to have a little piece of September. The summer's still on, is not, you know, it's September 11th day, uh when we did this Manning Park session, and the weather is beautiful, and it still feels like summer. The mornings are pretty chilly. They are chilly. As they would say in Game of Thrones, winter is coming.

Speaker 4 9:57

Winter is coming. Uh and so the uh the temperature uh by the time we get to the afternoon is quite nice right now. Yeah, we've had some good. Oh, we've got uh a visitor.

Speaker 10:08

The red squirrel has returned. So if you listen to a previous at Manning Park session, you know this fellow who's staring at my keyboard again. Yes, stood all over my keyboard.

Speaker 4 10:18

He wants to jump on the table.

Speaker 10:20

And he did some sound engineering of his own, and that I had to figure out how to undo. And he's like I would call him an uninvited guest right now. Right? Like I just you see the stellar j over there? He keeps wanting to squawk at me because he wants me to feed him some chips. No, you're sorry, you're not invited either. And Mr. Red Squirrel, please go.

Speaker 4 10:41

And you know that we're trying to record a podcast. Why they're here is because someone feeds them. Yeah and so they come uninvited.

Speaker 10:49

I can't believe how like how close. Oh my god, look at him. Okay, stay back. That is just we saw a red squirrel earlier who went for a little hike around Lightning Lake, and he was he was getting like bushes and twigs, and he understood to stay away from us and understood how to forge for his own. Eating organic food. Yeah, this guy eats bacon every day. I I think so.

Speaker 4 11:15

Or bacon scraps. And you're not invited. So so what about you? Um what could you bring up as have you had any uninvited guests?

Speaker 11:25

I have, I have. I um interesting. Yeah, I remember a few years ago I f visited a friend in Fort St. James, good friend Kevin, if you're listening. I know he listens sometimes to the podcast. And I was visiting him, and I it was a nephew of someone who lived in Fort St. James who needed a ride back to Vancouver. So I offered, I mean, I I kind of invited, but I wasn't, it was it was unexpected, right? It was a surprise. And so he drove with me back to Vancouver and then he stayed the night at my house. And that was kind of a uh it turned out really nice. He I believe he was British. He was a British yeah, he was a British man in his early twenties. He was a he had been going to UBC for a special just summer session, but was going back to a a degree to finish in England at the time. And it it it was quite unexpected. He was uninvited. Uninvited, but it was a really neat moment. Kind of things. How about you?

Speaker 4 12:18

Uh well, not uh that long ago, my my brother and my niece were in Seattle, okay, taking in uh a Seattle uh football game, Seattle Seahawks. Right, and Air Canada went on strike. Yes, yes, and they looked for an opportunity to buy ticket to ten thousand dollars back into Canada, and it was not a price that they were willing to pay.

Speaker 1 12:47

Right.

Speaker 4 12:48

So they hopped on a bus and took a bus from from Seattle to uh Vancouver.

Speaker 1 12:53

Yeah.

Speaker 4 12:54

And I got a call and said, Hey, how you doing? Yeah, uh, can you put us up? And you know, my my brother uh has never been to BC before. Yes. And I said, Of course. Yeah, of course. And I was I was happy to have him come. I was so excited for him to to to be here and and have him in our home and my uh niece, and it was exciting because it actually was his birthday.

Speaker 13:20

Oh, perfect timing.

Speaker 4 13:21

So uh he maybe he planned it that way, I don't know. Yeah, uh, so we went out for dinner uh and uh celebrated his birthday, and then my niece uh she has just recently been become engaged. Okay, and so we had uh a little celebration for her. Uh so it was really nice to connect with them, and then the next day I drove them to the airport and they flew back to southwestern Ontario. And uh that was uh the my brother's always invited, of course, but it was a surprise.

Speaker 13:52

Yeah, and that's the thing, those those uninvited guests can be a surprise, but it actually turned out to be great.

Speaker 4 13:59

And I'm hoping next time that he comes that he can stay longer and we can maybe come to Manning Park.

Speaker 14:04

Yeah, I I have one uninvited guest that I'm not gonna mention the name of, but my wife, Charlene, you listen, you know who I'm talking about, and we'll we'll just keep that one there. But that's an uninvited guest. That's a surprise that is not always so easy, right? Have you ever had any like I find traveling often produces the uninvited guest or the moment where you you stay with someone that was not expected?

Speaker 4 14:28

I guess I was the uninvited invited guest. Okay, yeah. And uh when I started uh teaching in Japan, uh the story goes, I graduated from university of Queens University, and I couldn't find a teaching job, and uh I decided to go to Japan.

Speaker 14:46

Go to Japan. You and you were there four years. I was there for four years. Yes.

Speaker 4 14:49

And so I w I I was in Japan and my first stop before I uh be became a teacher with the Chiba City Board of Education, my first stop was a language school teacher in downtown Tokyo.

Speaker 1 15:02

Okay.

Speaker 4 15:02

And I go I could say downtown because why why would I say downtown? Because it's a big town.

Speaker 15:07

I mean 30 million people or something, right? Is it not the largest city in the world, Tokyo? I believe it is, even bigger than Mexico City. Wow, wow.

Speaker 4 15:15

So, anyways, uh I I was at the language school, and there were there was another teacher there, an Australian uh uh teacher, and we had our students and we taught, and I the first hour when I was in the school, I taught this one uh older gentleman, he was uh a businessman, and so he had one hour uh with me, and then there was a break, and then he went and had another hour with the uh Australian teacher. Okay. I go, okay, that was interesting, but you know, I mean, I just I hadn't been in Japan in Japan for very long, right? And then he uh uh he finished his class, I finished my class, I think we was like four hours, and then the the the gentleman, the businessman who who had been taught by both of us said, I want to take my senseis out for beer. Okay, and so okay, right? We said, Hey, I'm liking this.

Speaker 16:16

I and in Japan you can't say no, right? To those moments, isn't that awkward? I never say no to beer.

Speaker 4 16:21

So, anyways, we uh we went out, we went to uh Anizakaya and we had beer and we had food and we laughed and it was great and time went on. And again, I'm new to Japan and I knew that they had an amazing transportation system called trains, and I knew my way on the train a little bit. Okay, right? So I turned to my Australian teaching partner and I said, uh, what time is the last train? And he said, Oh, you missed it about an hour ago. Oh no, what he said, oh yes, uh the you can't get a train until five o'clock tomorrow. He goes like what? So what do you do? I said, what do I do? What do you do? And it's uh I said, okay, I kind of have an idea. What would it cost to get a taxi to drive me back to where I live? And uh he just turned to me and he said, Ah, you can come and stay at my place. Wow. All right, and so and it was it was great. And he ended up being a really good friend of mine um after that experience.

Speaker 17:30

But you know, those traveling stories kind of for him I was uninvited because it was unexpected and it was a surprise, right? Yeah, yeah. No, I had a similar story in terms of travel. I once took a boat trip from on the Volga River from St. Petersburg from Moscow to St. Petersburg. So 1993, which was an amazing time because you know the Berlin Wall had just fallen, um Boris Yeltsin had just overcome. There was a coup, right? Gorbachev had been taken over by the coup, so it was like this crazy time in Russia, and it was it was a hopeful time, not with not where we're at now with Putin and stuff. So it was a very hope, very hopeful time. So I'm on this boat uh trip going from Moscow to St. Petersburg, and we we dropped off and we're in Irma in Russia, mi about halfway between the two towns, the two cities. And um it's a place where they have a lot of Dhaka's, which is like the the the Russian country house. So a lot of cottage, you know, think of Ontario and cottage country and that kind of thing. This is kind of like the Russian cottage country. So we got off the boat, we had all day to before we had to get back to the boat. So we're in Dhaka country, and I met these two Russians just shortly after in their 20s. We were in our 20s too. And they said, Oh, come come with us back to our Dhaka, right? They didn't speak much English. We spoke no Russian, other than other than yet, right? And but we went and went with them, and they got out the vodka, right? We were so we were invited, but it was just a surprise for them, right? And I remember singing Beatles songs, which universal music, right? The guy got out his guitar, yeah, and I'm singing, drinking my vodka with these Russians, and then the storm came like you wouldn't believe, just a massive thunderstorm and lightning and rain. And then this Russian, this guy who's playing guitar, he suddenly takes off his clothes except for his underwear, beats his chest, and said, We go dance in the rain. You too. So what did I do? I took everything off my underwear, and I danced with this Russian guy in the rain. And then I remember walking back to the boat after this, just like to me, it's one of the highlights of my life. And there's a double arc rainbow, right? Just it was just this wonderful thing about this moment where I was an uninvited guest, I mean, a surprise guest, and then it has this moment that has stuck me with me forever. So I think uninvited guests can be great, actually. Yes.

Speaker 4 20:05

Well, and I think that's going to be our topic for this episode. I think it is. The uninvited guest.

Speaker 20:12

Good. So we have our theme, the uninvited guest. I mean, sometimes they're kind of invited, but they're really a surprise for sure, and they kind of send everybody scurrying because what do we do now, right? Have you ever had an uninvited guest at school?

Speaker 4 20:25

Well, I have a good story about that. Oh, I like good stories. Ridgway had just finished their renovation and uh uh as a historical building over a hundred years old. Uh they did an unbelievable job for in the renovation. And so when the position that I had at Ridgway for for a temporary time was to teach uh kindergarten PE.

Speaker 20:50

Okay.

Speaker 4 20:50

And uh, you know, PE in my wheelhouse kindergarten, not so much.

Speaker 1 20:56

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 4 20:57

And so I went downstairs and I went to the classroom to pick up my students. Okay. And I said, Hey, how you doing? Oh, good. We're gonna go. Oh mister. And and we're gonna go, and and then I was told that the gym was closed. Okay. And you're like, what? And I said, Yes, the gym is closed. But you can use the library. Right. And I said, Okay. And so the the recommendation from the teacher was to read them uh some stories. Not what you were planning, not what I was planning. Uh I because I know deep in my heart the best way for me to be able to control the kindergarten students is through movement.

Speaker 1 21:34

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 4 21:35

Right. So I said, okay, I can do this. And so I took my students up to the uh library and I wasn't given any books books, so I had to find some books. So I found some books that seemed interesting and I had the students sit down and I was just starting to read the story to them and in through the library doors. Comes the superintendent of our straight thing.

Speaker 22:04

Good timings.

Speaker 4 22:06

And I said hi because I knew him as John Lewis was the superintendent at that time. And he said hi. And so I was hoping that was just uh the formalities would be done, and then he would get out the door and he sat down in a chair. Oh, good. Yes. Okay. He wants to see what his turn does. Now I'm taking care of these kindergarten students for four. Never had before for 40 minutes. Right. Right. And I and you know, I'm a positive person. Uh I'm optimistic that things will happen, but in my brain, I was going, oh my gosh, this is gonna be tough. So I started reading uh the first story. And uh I read the story and I used my my best voices for the for the the characters in the book. And you have a man teacher today. We were excited. I had them in the palm of my hand.

Speaker 23:03

Of course you did.

Speaker 4 23:04

For the one story.

Speaker 23:07

Okay. And so I had along to that day.

Speaker 4 23:09

Uh well, I'm not sure, but I I reached for the second one. I asked some questions and there was no response. And then I started to see that little wiggly squirming. You know the signs. The one student reaching out and grabbing another student. Right. And then one student getting up and moving around, and I'm bored. And I'm like, okay. And then I tried, I tried a few gear. Your teacher doesn't do this. I tried a few games with them, right? And uh they just did not respond. No. And so the superintendent's still there.

Speaker 23:45

I'm like, he's still there, he's still there.

Speaker 4 23:48

Wow. And so I okay, so I looked at the clock. I said, I can't do 40 minutes and not look like I can't handle this class.

Speaker 23:58

Oh, the pressure.

Speaker 4 23:59

So after uh I think we're 25 minutes into the this a non-instructional time for the teacher, a knit time, we call it. Yeah, and I said, Okay, everybody, line up. So I got them all lined up, and and so we went for a little walk around the school. Right.

Speaker 3 24:17

Um and the superintendent was at the end of the line of the moment. He was spending the come on, go away.

Speaker 4 24:26

And wow and so maybe he should go away during that moment. And I went back and I got to the classroom, and there was 10 minutes left. And he still 10 minutes, still 10 minutes, and he was at the end of the line. And I remember walking in the classroom, and and uh the uh teacher said, Well, I still have 10 minutes. I said, The superintendent of the district is at the end of the line, and and I get I can't control these kids. And she said, No problem. Oh my god.

Speaker 3 24:57

I said, I'll pay you back 10 minutes later.

Speaker 4 24:59

And so she took them in, and so all the kids came in.

Speaker 1 25:03

Right.

Speaker 4 25:03

And and and I I knew her well and I had taught her children. So I I I I was in good a good hands, and she sat them down, and the superintendent came in and sat down with them. And I'm like, oh wow, okay. And that was too much time to fill.

Speaker 25:21

That is, and I think a lot of teachers can relate to that, right? They've been in those moments for sure.

Speaker 4 25:26

I I would say he's the uninvited guest.

Speaker 25:28

Absolutely.

Speaker 4 25:29

Uninvited guest.

Speaker 25:30

Yeah, no. I I I'm gonna tell a story that I don't it's not really about invited or uninvited, but I just be when you talked about having to teach a younger grade that you weren't expecting to do, I do have to tell this story about uh when I platooned with this other teacher, and that's part of being you're kind of guests in their classroom, right? And of course you're invited, but it's still you feel like you are a bit uh uninvited because you have to show that you're really up to what you're doing and you want to make sure that they are happy with the job you're doing. But um, I was was the very first day where I was going to switch with this other teacher who was a grade one teacher. I I had grade five, I think, at that point, and I was gonna do her PE, and I ne I had not done grade one PE, you know, and it's kind of like kindergarten, right? It's just a different, different level. The problem was, Mr. Hunt, and I I do honestly say this, and many, many listeners may question this, but it's true. It's probably the only time where I had to go to school with a really terrible hangover, right? It really is the one time. I don't think honestly I have ever had to, but I had I'd been out the night before um drinking to celebrate someone's birthday, and I had I I remember the I think the name of the beer was the Angry Young Scots. And oh, were they angry the next morning? They were so angry, and my head was just aching, and then I had to go and take these grade ones and into the gym and the sound and their energy, and I just felt uninvited at that moment. That that was that was a definite challenge, right? That was for me a very uninvited moment that it was uninvited to my head anyway, right?

Speaker 4 27:21

Maybe the the angry Scott beer was uninvited.

Speaker 27:25

It was, it totally was. The the hangover is I'm not sure. I do not recommend that, and I have never done it since. But but you know, are there other uh moments like when we have people in the class that it's a surprise? Because we've we've talked before in previous episodes, this job is very lonely because even though you have twenty to thirty young little people in front of you, you're the only adult in many cases. Yes. But actually there's many times when adults do suddenly appear, and and those aren't always good moments or they're challenging moments, right?

Speaker 4 27:58

Uh we have our uh EAs who uh work with students here in our our district.

Speaker 28:03

Yes.

Speaker 4 28:03

And I know oftentimes the the EAs that we have, they're assigned to uh one student, and so that that EA comes in the classroom. They're they're really the invited guest because they're invited for sure, and uh we have you know you make a connection with them, you you share your teaching style, uh you find ask them about what they know about the their student and how we can work together. But then there's times when there's no EEA. Yeah, and then someone knocks on your door in the middle of your class and says, Hi. I'm here for so-and-so. I'm here for so-and-so. And you're like, okay. Yeah, yeah. Because I think it's one of the things that we learn as teachers is that you kind of expect the unexpected, yeah, learn to be able to adapt to changing the changing environment.

Speaker 28:56

Yeah. But I think the problem is with many of us, we have another adult in the building and we suddenly feel judged. Yes, right? And they're not judging you, right? Not in every case, it does happen where you can tell someone, oh, they're judging me. But that puts a lot of pressure on people because classrooms today are not the quiet 1950s classroom of desks, everyone and the teacher at the back marking, right? So there's lots going on. So it's not silent, it's not quiet. There might be a kid having a blow-up here or there, and sometimes people feel really uncomfortable when another adult witnesses that, even though that's this reality of today.

Speaker 4 29:33

Yes, and it's not in your control.

Speaker 29:35

It's not, it's not.

Speaker 4 29:36

Uh you can't control it. So, yes. So then that EAs are working really hard to say, okay, how can we fit them in, find out who the student is, put them in a direction uh to help uh them do their job. And uh then, you know, when you have a break in the time when you're when you're not teaching, then you could work with them a little more and say, okay, this is these are the specific things I'd like you to do.

Speaker 30:01

And I prefer it the way it was in the nineties and the early 2000s when usually an EA would be assigned to a student and that would be your EA for the year. And they could really develop a system and a rapport with both you and the student. Lately I find there's a lot more movement and it's all about the flexibility of the district trying to coordinate often a shortage in EAs, which I sympathize with, but I don't think that helps you as a professional in that class or the student when it's constantly someone new and they're working with different people, especially students with high complex needs. It takes two or three months to really get a handle on the program for that student and get a handle on working with the teacher in the classroom. So I I'd much prefer when it's done that way.

Speaker 4 30:46

Uh what do you think about uh guest speakers in the classroom?

Speaker 30:50

Because that happens, right? And we we more and more so as we maybe get away from field trips, people we do have guest speakers. And I always find it a little awkward when a guest speaker comes in and they're not really managing the class, right? And you're quietly doing it. Yes. Um so what I tend to do is I usually ask and I say, Can I jump in here? If I see my class is not acting the way I expect them to, I don't just jump in and do it because to me that right away the students go, Oh, okay, mr. Stubel's the boss here. This person in front here isn't really in charge. Right. So I don't want them to lose that authority. Yes. So I ask permission, is it okay if I jump in here? And sometimes they'll say, No, no, no, I got it. It's all good. Okay, then that's fine. It's this is how you want the group dynamics to be. I'm fine with that. Or they'll say, Oh, please, thank you. And they great relief on their face. Yes. How about you?

Speaker 4 31:40

I like to look at the uh guest speaker as a facilitator. Yeah. If someone is coming in and they're delivering a program, they're they're providing something for my students. So that's their position, that's their job, that's what they're doing. Their job is not to manage my classes. No, no, no. That's that's for me. But I I like to discuss that uh with the uh the guest speaker, yeah, and to say, okay, you just do what you do and you do well, right, and I'll do what I do, yeah, do well.

Speaker 32:12

Don't you find they they kind of you can see them relax with that because they don't always face that situation.

Speaker 4 32:18

Because you know, the the the competence and the skill level uh of uh you probably can hear one of the stellar jays Yes the competence to hear be heard. The competence and the skill level uh of the speakers vary.

Speaker 32:32

Yes.

Speaker 4 32:32

And uh they agree with me. Yeah and and it they vary. So then why not do what uh you know what I I know best? Right.

Speaker 32:43

Especially because I know the students best. Exactly. And they don't know, right, all the nuances that have to be dealt with for sure. What about uh parents, right? Yeah, parents can be a real challenge. I found, especially on field trips sometimes, where you have some parent helpers, and to me, an awkward moment is when their child is just acting out, not listening, and the parents just like la-di-da-di-da-di-da-da, oh whatever, you know. And so you have to discipline their child in front of the parent who you're thinking, why aren't you just jumping in here? Like that like what do you do in that moment? Right? Like that to me, I I I would not let the child misbehave, so I would deal with it. But it's awkward because sometimes the teacher might get a real stern look from that parent, right? Yes. And so those are kind of that uninvited guest moment that could be really hard.

Speaker 4 33:36

Because I've had uh a number of parents who you know, I had my go-to parents in the in the year that oh this one really and sometimes you you you can't get that parent, they're busy, and then you get another parent and you talk to that parent. I uh you know, there's this forms and everything you fell out. Yeah, but I could remember uh one parent uh loading up her car with with the students from my class. Yes, and we did the field trip and they came back, and only the students in their car they came back with donuts and ice cream.

Speaker 34:10

Yes, I've had that, I've had that happen.

Speaker 4 34:12

What? And they walked in the classroom eating your ice cream, the bag of donuts, and it's and and uh the mom said, Oh, well, they said they were hungry, so I just bought them something.

Speaker 34:21

And I went, what about the rest of the Don't you think there really should be a there really should be a code of conduct for parents, right? That lays out clearly, you know, you know, don't buy donuts on the way.

Speaker 3 34:32

Oh my gosh.

Speaker 4 34:33

Well, even on field trips where uh I I I can remember some field trips where we had the the parents uh with the students, and they were they you know, we we always had, especially when we were driving, the the okay, this parent, these students, and usually, you know, it's the parent and and uh and the son or daughter with some friends in the car because you know you want to facilitate that. Yeah, but then we would go someplace and then all the parents would get together. Yeah, yeah, and they say, I've done I've done my job, right? Right? And uh I've done my job. All I need to do is my job is done in the back of their hands.

Speaker 3 35:07

Let's go for cocktails, right? And and we'll and then what and we'll go, What will you? No, I know you're part of this. We need I need you to be here.

Speaker 35:16

So the ideal situation, and I find it's harder because I found getting parent volunteers to become more and more difficult lately, right? I think parents are busier or they have less time. But when you had like a list of they say you needed five parents, and it was so nice when you had a list of ten. You could choose which which five, right? These are my stellar parents, these are the ones I go to, right? And like I've had parents too, where it's the opposite of the of not disciplining your kids. So I had this one mom, her big thing, I think she was a girl guide leader, and her big thing was Mr. Stubel, it's all about the whistle. And she had a whistle with her, right? She said, This this is the best disciplinary tool, and she'd be tweeting her whistle all the time at the kids. And it's like, that's not how I do things. This isn't what I signed up for, right? So those are definitely uninvited guests that can be a challenge in the class. And you just, you know, ideally, if you have a group that you can choose from, choose ones that work for you. You know, you just gotta go with it sometimes, and yeah, and realize at the end of the day, 99% of the parents are so impressed with what you do for their kids. Don't let the 1% ruin it for you. Yeah, right, because they're the squeaky wheel, they're the ones that do say something. Just try to ignore that noise, right? Most parents are so appreciative of what you do, for sure.

Speaker 4 36:38

And so the next one, uh thing I'd like to talk about are buddy classes. And I'm not saying that buddy classes are uninvited, yes.

Speaker 36:46

Mr. Hunt doesn't just show up to the kindergarten. Hey, we're doing buddy activities today.

Speaker 4 36:52

I think buddy classes add a level, uh, a level of um social cooperation. Um important.

Speaker 37:02

I think there's so teamwork, um, responsibility. I love when you get like maybe a student in grade six or seven who was not a strong reader, and then working with a grade one level reader and he could read. And the I was it's it was always such one of the most joyful moments to see them working together and reading together.

Speaker 4 37:19

Yes, it's uh those kinds of matches are are amazing. Uh with the buddy class, I guess the same thing. Uh you you're looking at the other teacher. Is this someone that I can work with? Uh do they have um a way uh that if I were to give for example half my class to this teacher, and then the teacher will give me half of their class and the buddies, and then so we'd often do that. Uh and then and that works out. But can I work with that person? Do they have the same sort of um values that I have? Uh and and the kind of the respect that uh I show to my students, then do they have the same kind of respect that they do?

Speaker 37:58

Which you were talking about though, you don't just show up at a class and do the, you know, here's I'm here to buddy class. But often as a as a uh April Fool's Day prank, I would actually have my class. They would just go in pairs and they would be uninvited guests throughout the school. We would we would work, we'd go through all the all the class lists, yeah, and I'd assign two students for every class, and they would just show up at 9 05 and they would act like they were part of that class. They would they would come in with their bags, they would come in with their coats, and they'd say, Okay, we're here, right? And and you'd get such a different reaction. Some teachers would go, No, you're not in my class, get out, right? But some would just play along with okay, yeah, hang your bags up, come join this grade one class, even though you're in grade seven. It was doing and and you know why it was such a great April Fool's joke? Because for about an hour, you didn't have anybody in your class? Yeah, isn't that April Fool's brilliant? Smart. I know brilliant. Exactly. Okay, and then platooning. That's to me another time where we're kind of working with people, we're bringing other people into us, into the program. So have you done platooning? I've done platooning. We've done it together, you and I've been.

Speaker 4 39:08

We've done it together uh in our career. Uh and I think one of the most important things is uh what I love about platooning is that you can teach to the thing that you feel best skilled at, or teach to the thing that you're passionate about. Right. Um, I did science, I know that uh I did science many times when we platooned together, you did uh socials.

Speaker 1 39:31

Yes, yeah.

Speaker 4 39:32

And so that was great. But in that platooning, the um it's about, you know, again, uh do I feel comfortable with the way you're going to teach the program? Do you feel comfortable with the way I'm gonna teach the program? Then there's always the how do you grade students?

Speaker 39:47

Yeah, and you have to be on the same page and kind of work that out.

Speaker 4 39:50

So it's it's not that you're you are uninvited, it's that you were invited because you had a skill set that I uh that I saw was yeah something that would work with me, and I believe that it was the other way around.

Speaker 40:06

Yeah.

Speaker 4 40:06

That and and then we had that respect.

Speaker 40:09

Yeah, and I did it the opposite at Mount Royal, where actually the last year, my last year before I retired, where I took this other teacher and I did science, and it was so nice. I would do science back to back, and then he took my class and did social studies, especially things like science. It's so nice if you're doing an experiment to have your room all set up back to back, and the ex the next class comes in and it's you've made your science room because our classrooms have to be so ready for anything, art, science, math, right? That we often, oh my god, the setup and that kind of thing to get ready. So when you can do a topic and a subject back to back, it's really nice.

Speaker 4 40:44

And I do like uh at uh Ridgway, our principal would always there would be guest teachers that would you know wander through the district. We had some guest teachers from uh j uh Japan, we had some guest teachers that came from China, and they were doing the tour of of BC, I believe. But we were always asked first if we were willing to take the this visiting group into the classroom. So I I love that heads up. I have had a few times where in my career where someone just showed up and said and asked if they could come in the classroom. And again, you know, you just say yes and said this, you know, this is the this is how I teach my class.

Speaker 41:29

I think a lot of teachers have a problem with say there's a student where they're trying to get a designation or some support, and then the district sends someone in to observe that student and they watch them, and maybe the student doesn't show certain things when the when they're being observed, yes, or else the uh person comes and watches and makes all these suggestions which are like either unrealistic for a classroom, right? Or things the teachers already try and they feel insulted because they just want the support for that student. So that's another kind of unexpected guest. That's a bit of a a bit of a challenge.

unknown 42:03

Yeah.

Speaker 42:03

And I also find with administrators, many of them will come in and say, Okay, my theme this year is to get everyone to team and work together on Platoon, right? I really want teamwork here, which is all very well. We all want good teamwork.

Speaker 4 42:17

Yes.

Speaker 42:17

But don't you find you can't force it on team? You can't force and and I think it's a it's a magical formula that makes a good team work, right? And I've seen some amazing teachers, they're far better than me, but I could not team with them. Yes. I just couldn't. They just didn't have a personality that would gel with my personality. That's all it is. It's not it's not an attack on them. It's just like I don't think there's certain people one can work with. That's just a magic formula that it's sort of a je ne sais quoi. It just happens, right? Sometimes. I don't know what, right? I mean that's like one of our place names, right? Yep. Jacques Wellen. Jacques Wellen. So there we go. Unexpected guests working with them. Let us know. We would love to get give us feedback. We'll put a question out on the Facebook page and on our website site, stuntbrothers.ca, and here's some of your feedback.

Speaker 4 43:08

Do you have an unexpected guest story? Yeah, love to hear it.

Speaker 43:12

Are there some stories we can share in future episodes? Are there things we left out that you go, oh well, how about this? You guys didn't think about this. Well, please let us know, and uh we'll make it part of this organic park podcast that we have going on. So we are inviting you to be a guest. We are inviting you to be a guest. We welcome you anytime. And I'm looking around. Red Squirrel has seemed to know his place right now. He's over in the trees, so that's good. Stellar J isn't squawking at us. And I think it's the perfect time to say an end to this Manning Park session and say, everyone, stay healthy, stay happy, and we'll see you next time. Bye-bye. This podcast is organic, taking shape with each episode, building resiliency for teachers everywhere.

Speaker 2 43:56

That sounds great.

Speaker 43:57

And our website is stuntbrothers.ca.

Speaker 2 44:00

That's stuntbrothers.ca.

Speaker 44:02

We will chat again after the bell.