As we are well into the second week of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and self-isolation, most people I know are starting to go a little stir crazy. It’s difficult. It’s scary. The world has never been like this in our lifetimes. And most of us that take it seriously are just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
This is something cancer patients and others who are immuno-compromised individuals deal with on a regular basis. I’ve had several month long periods of self-isolation, and would like to offer some tips on how to handle the mental toll of being isolated.
They say the first of the year is a time for new beginnings.
Well, for me, that day seems to be today. There are so many new things
happening, it is difficult to wrap my head around it, but it is a season of
incredible opportunities.
I’m teaching, again
This is my first day of class picture. I never thought I’d be teaching in a t-shirt, but that’s the joy of online learning. Also, my teaching assistant, Donnie, insisted on being in the shot.
First, I am officially an assistant professor again. I had
taught for Georgia Military College for six years prior to having to step down
in March of 2016. And while I still am not able to teach in person, today is
the first day of my class for GMC Online. It is very different, but I am also
very excited.
It’s quite a time to be teaching an intro to American
government course. For the third time in history, the President is facing a
Senate trial following an impeachment. The powder keg that is the middle east
is a little more explosive than normal. Not to mention, the presidential
election is heating with the primaries starting in the next few weeks. Not to
mention since I’m in Georgia, it’s the second Monday in January.
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Statues on this side of the building include Gen. Gordon, seen on horseback, and President Jimmy Carter, near the building wall.
At 10 o’clock this morning, the Georgia General Assembly was
gaveled into session. For the next 40 legislative days, they will decide the
state’s budget and hundreds of other bills and resolutions. It’s organized
chaos, and I miss it terribly. They have some big issues this year.
The anticipated revenue is down, so budget cuts will be
necessary. Obviously, these are always unwelcome. Some state agencies have
already instituted hiring freezes in preparation. One way they are looking at
improving revenue is the expansion of gambling in the state. This will have strong
opposition I’m sure, just as the state lottery did when it was authorized in the
early 1990s.
Beyond the budget, the AJC also predicts there will be a
push for a change in seat belt requirements (currently, they are not required
for adults in the back seat). Healthcare and education are always huge issues.
Governor Kemp’s campaign pledge to increase teacher pay will be at odds with up
to a 6% cut in the rest of the budget. And of course, there will be plenty of
partisan grandstanding.
It’s an election year, so both sides will be playing to
their base. SB 281
was pre-filed for the session and bans semi-automatic weapons and magazines
that hold more than ten rounds. Meanwhile, SB 224
removes places of worship from the prohibited places list for concealed carry.
It also changes the language regarding carrying in courthouses and courtrooms. Likewise,
there are bills to ban
transgender youth from participating in sports as their presenting gender
and that make it a felony
for a physician to perform gender reassignment therapies or surgery. Yet, HB 426
is awaiting action in the Senate, which would include gender and sexual orientation
as criteria for hate crime enhancements.
A new opportunity
Finally, and perhaps the biggest thing for me personally, is
something that I have wanted to do for years, but always seemed a bit beyond
reach. But I’m proud to say, it has finally happened. Over the weekend, I accepted
a position as a board member for a new charter school. There will be more
details forthcoming, but it is an amazing opportunity to be able to influence
the education of multitudes of students in the coming years. Lifelong learning
has always been important to me, but my work has always focused on college and
adult learning. Now, I will be able to be involved with K-12 education as well.
Needless to say, the future is looking bright. I am still
dealing with the effects of cancer, but this is a chance for me to be involved
and make a hopefully huge impact on future generations.
