I woke up to a radio report about the strike. It absolutely dominates the news - and with good reason. There are so many people scrambling for childcare, it *almost* makes me glad my job search is going so poorly.
One dad talked about how he went to his son's school yesterday and picked up textbooks. The host then suggested that everyone should do that. To which the co-host suggested he might be creating a news story and by the end of the day they'd be reporting on parents being charged for trespassing. I'm not sure about summoning my inner ninja, but it did get me thinking...
I started as one does in 2014, by sending out requests on Facebook and Twitter. A couple of responses and a more requests for info if I find anything. I found someone yesterday on UsedVictoria offering tutoring services: a teacher balancing construction contracts, parenting two little ones, walking the picket line and tutoring. Bingo! He has Science 9 and Chem 11 texts. Two of about a zillion. I checked the ads today and there were about 20 ads for tutoring. I think I got lucky.
We meet the tutor tomorrow. So here's the thing: I want to hire a tutor for three kids if this strike really is going to last into October like folks are saying, but we only get $40 for the one kid under 13. So $200/week to spend on tutoring. A friend offered to share a tutor for 2h/day for 2h a day but that leaves me with no money for the other two.
Got in touch with two of my favourite middle school French immersion teachers to see if they had any advice. One sent me a link to a 9-3 French Immersion "camp" hosted by a local ESL private college for ... $40/day. If I had one kid, maybe, but I am also enjoying the idea that the kids can max out on music lessons during the day. The other said, "Oh, are you asking me to tutor?" I wasn't, really, but Bingo! This teacher is in a two teacher family with a little one and another on the way. I can't even imagine - our budgeting skills are such that we're working on a Freedom 85 plan. Going without income for months - eeesh - we'd be living in our tent trailer.
A music teacher, who shall remain nameless but infinitely awesome, summoned his inner ninja and snuck a tuba out of the school for C this summer. He's probably so excited that there is a student willing to play tuba it was worth the risk. The teacher also suggested a private teacher who plays for the local symphony and has a great reputation as a teacher, so I am chuffed that he can come tomorrow and give C a lesson. By the time school begins again, C should at least know how to make sounds, not noise.
End of day two tally:
1 tutor, science grade 9, chem 11
1 tutor, French grade 7
1 tuba lesson
1 guitar/bass lesson
1 math text, downloaded (grade 9; 11)
1 English curriculum (Grade 11)
Teenage awakenings update: by 11-ish. Less moaning today.
Lack of electronics: more subterfuge today. The kids have a profound skill in passive resistance and I am outnumbered...hence need for tutors.
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