A New Love With My True Love

Hi, my name is Bailey and I'm a snowboard-aholic.

As I mentioned in my last post just over a week ago I went snowboarding for the first time. Spencer and I went to Solitude Snow Resort up Big Cottonwood Canyon (courtesy of his sister Ashlie and brother-in-law Johnathan, they let us use their season passes for a day--our Christmas present from them)and it was a great day to be in the mountains. Sunny and 40....I had SO MUCH FUN! Spencer and I actually went again this past Saturday and I had even more fun and I'm getting better every time! It helps that I have a personal snowboard instructor who happens to be a fantastic teacher (did I mention that Spencer used to be a snowboard instructor for Snowbird?)! After my first time I was pretty worn out and I suffered whiplash from falling so much but Spencer said I was the fastest learner and I am actually really good (not excellent but good)! I was just plum excited to be able to do anything or go anywhere on that board! I actually am impressed with myself. I had tried skiing once about 3 or 4 years ago and that was an awful experience so I wasn't sure what to expect from this snowboard excursion. Snowboarding is ten times easier and, in my opinion, more enjoyable by a landslide!

This past Saturday went just as smoothly, even better actually! I did one run on the Easy Street slope (I spent the entire time there last week) but after one go I asked for more and so we took a lift further up the mountain and it was a great opportunity to learn. The key to snowboarding is carving and it's all about leaning toe-side or heel-side and getting the pressure just right. I bailed a few times down the run but it was snowing and had been since the day before so the powder was fresh and fluffy and great for catching my fall (not to mention that carving in powder is like riding on butter). I really only fell a couple of times, other than that I was stopping myself! I was able to carve the rest of the way down the mountain and fit in a few more runs on Easy Street (we didn't have enough time to do moonbeam again, I only fell once on my last few runs down the slope!) before we had to meet Spencer's sisters to trade passes and equipment and then head to Stake Conference. I can only imagine what Spencer and I must have looked or sounded like as we rode down the mountain: Spencer is either in front of or behind me coaching me along and saying "You're doing great!" "Watch your toe/heel!" "Wait...stop...don't...!" all the while I am trying to carve and just flying down the slope yelling and laughing like a crazy person "I love this" (all right before I create a human snowball as I crash). Basically I'm a pro and will be quitting my job to pursue my true calling in life which is to be an Olympic snowboarder, I'll be touring with Shaun White traveling the world to chase snow. JUST KIDDING MOM (and Spencer and all you cute little preschoolers out there)!

I'm not THAT good and I couldn't give up teaching for this but snowboarding makes winter immensely more enjoyable!

Here are pictures from Spencer and I sledding and then my first day of snowboarding!

It only got deeper from here...I was thigh high in snow most of the time!

Below is the letter Spencer wrote me when he sent these pictures from his phone, I thought it was funny and cute so I wanted to share (I hope he doesn't get embarrassed)

Subject: Dear Darla...Bailey (For one most enjoyable to be with!)

Dear Bailey,

I love your non-stinking guts... I'm sure if anyone has nice guts you do. But I prefer to call them "insides".

You have nice insides I'm sure.

And I love all the rest of you too! (this poem is supposed to talk about guts so I had to mention yours, but I can write a poem about the rest of you some other time)

You definitely don't make me vomit, quite the contrary.

Actually you make me feel like I've had a nice warm supper...

And a warm winters nap cuddled in fleece and down sleeping bags!

You have cute little toes...

I'm sure they have no scum...

And they are very talented!

Love,

Your very own Spencer

Look at me go I'm carving! (actually I'm about to plop my hiney in the snow

...maybe even somersault head over heels...but I look good don't I?)

Smiling and triumphant after a phenomenal first day!

I survive to board once again!

You won't believe what I just did...

It may sound simple to you, even obligatory, but for me it was monumental, nerve racking, and at the same time liberating and empowering. My work has been buzzing about a new house bill in Utah that is in the works. This house bill would end our preschools and all preschools in public schools in the state of Utah. It's interesting to me how corporations, individuals, and philanthropies have been donating money and my boss in now on a first name basis with the U.S. Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan (he's even been invited out to UT and we're supposed to be helping the state of NY get their early childhood education on track) and yet we could possibly be shut down. I'm not definite on what this does for the special education aspect of things. By federal law children with special needs are required to be served in the least restrictive environment. This could mean putting them in private preschools, creating private preschools for special needs (that in most cases will NOT be least restrictive...in any case it would become a self-contained); or private therapies and services in the home (which doesn't provide school readiness or peer models like being in preschool does....not to mention that the majority of families can't afford that either and medicaid will only pay for a small portion).

But of course so much of early childhood education isn't about the special education participants. Early childhood education creates school readiness and provides instruction on basic literacy skills that many children (especially those "at-risk") need to be successful while in school. Studies show that poor literacy skills tell the poor future of a child's education. In the Salt Lake Valley alone we have so many students who are English language learners, many of whom are the first "English speakers" in their families....at the age of 3! Needless to say I feel strongly about this, not only because it could mean losing my program, but it would mean losing many children who are too bright to be eligible for special education but can't keep up with the rest of the peers. These are the students we teachers lose sleep over, these are the students who "slip through the cracks", these are the students who will grow up feeling unsuccessful and hating school because they didn't have the support they needed.

So what did I do? I wrote my state representative (who happens to be on the committee for this bill). I found out that many members of the committee have personal interest in private preschools...this creates a conflict of interest (politics can disgust me sometimes). I was so nervous. I have NEVER done something like this before. I know it's my right to, we all have the right, that's why we vote, to have our voices heard, but I'm not the type to stick my neck out there. But I did for my little friends, but we'll have to wait and see before we know if any one was listening. My letter read:

Dear Rep. Kiser,

I have recently been informed of HB 181 that would prohibit public and charter schools from offering child care or preschool services. I strongly oppose this bill.
Creating such a law would cause a drastically negative impact on the academic achievement of children, especially of those who come from low income families and tend to be "at-risk" students. Many families lack the means and funding to send their children to private preschool programs. Systems like Title 1 preschools are successful in developing and providing early literacy skills to economically disadvantaged children and those who are English language learners. Each year the school readiness gap is smaller and smaller due to the participation in and efforts of early intervention programs such as preschool. Studies show that success in school and acting as an effective citizen in the community are linked to literacy competency. The earlier we are able to intervene and strengthen such skills the better.
The law would eliminate Community Learning Centers which educate adults and adolescents. Removing such institutions removes an opportunity for participants to improve their economic status, professional careers, family life, self-esteem, and community. This law would also prohibit corporate, philanthropic, and individuals from providing financial assistance to early learning in public education. Our schools already lack necessary funds this will hurt them even more. The removal of after-school programs operated at public schools will stop extended learning opportunities and remove a "safe place" for children of all ages to be during non-school hours. Studies have shown that this is a time when students are more at-risk of becoming victims or instigators of crime and gang activity.
I am a preschool Special Educator. I come in contact on a daily basis with families and children of all walks of life. To see a young 3-5 year old light up with excitement for the opportunity to learn, make friends, and develop self-esteem is a priceless experience. I know many families who would not be able to attend preschool if it wasn't for assistance of philanthropies or generous individuals or for the presence of Title 1 preschools. By law we must provide services for children with special needs but what about the enormous amount of children who are not eligible for special education but still need support in order to be prepared for the school age years?
I appreciate your sincere consideration of this message and pray you will find the significance that I and so many others have seen in preschool programs in public schools. I appreciate your vote of opposition to this bill.

With sincere gratitude, your constituent,
Bailey Armour

I probably could have conjured up something that would have been more of a "tear-jerker" than "fire-and-brimstone" but I was on fire at the moment and only had twenty minutes before a meeting with my boss. Maybe I'll write again soon. If you're reading this and you live in UT you should contact your representative as well, whether they are on the committee or not.

For another first, I'm going snowboarding with Spencer in an hour so I should get going. Pray for my little friends (the failure of HB 181) and that I don't break anything.