S02.E16: Teacher Conference

[shoregirl]

1 hour ago, Sarahsmile416 said:

Janine and Gregory give me very Ben/Leslie vibes from Parks & Rec…down to the love of the flower classroom (Ben and Leslie’s flower mural) and the nerd meets nerd vibe.   If they can get these two right the way they got Ben and Leslie right, I will be happy.  

Though this is not a Mike Schur show so that dims my confidence a bit.  

I definitely get a Ben/Leslie vibe from Janine and Gregory. 

[kathyk24]

3 hours ago, Empress1 said:

I feel like this is less of an issue in a school, maybe? I know of two teacher couples at my alma mater (the wife in one is now deceased; the other has been married like 20+ years, they met when they were around Janine & Gregory’s ages. They still work there!), and my friend is a teacher and there are three couples where she works (all 20somethings). Since neither reports to the other, I don’t think it’s any worse than, like, someone in accounting dating someone in marketing in the corporate world - different departments, nobody’s managing their SO. A lot of couples meet at work.

I think it's worse for a teacher to date a student's parent because of the conflict of interest. A teacher could blame a student if things go wrong.

[possibilities]

It's true it's not a Mike Shur show, but Quinta Brunson has seemed quite adept at learning from and observing what other shows do well or poorly. 

[Black Knight]

8 hours ago, 853fisher said:

IDK how you watch the show, but I had to refresh my Hulu - the captions were a good 2 or 3 minutes ahead all the way along, then in the end it turned out the progress bar was ahead of the video and it thought it had ended before it actually did.  Weird!

Hulu has had a weird issue with captions for a while now (at least for some users, like me), where when I first start playing something the captions are totally out of sync as you describe. The fix is to start playing the ep, then immediately close it, and on the Hulu screen choose again to play it. The captions will sync correctly then.

1 hour ago, kathyk24 said:

I think it's worse for a teacher to date a student's parent because of the conflict of interest. A teacher could blame a student if things go wrong.

Yes, which is why Gregory was careful to point out this season that Amber's kid was no longer his student, having aged out of Gregory's 1st grade class. But if he does become principal somehow, all teachers and all parents will be off limits for dating. I still fully expect that to be the next roadblock for Gregory and Janine. I don't see him being willing this early on in their relationship arc to turn down being principal. He likes Janine, but is not in love with her yet.

I thought his complaining about always being the one who gets dumped wasn't really on point. He had decided to end things with Barbara's daughter; it's only that he delayed it because he was trying to figure out the best way to handle it that wouldn't create an issue with Barbara, and then found out from Barbara that her daughter also wanted to end the relationship. So that was really a mutual dumping.

[mrsbagnet]

As soon as they walked into the living classroom, I was hoping they would kiss. The setting was just too perfect. I was all excited until Janine mentioned Maurice. I had forgotten about him, too.

[853fisher]

Agree it is, generally speaking, appropriate for teachers on the same level of the hierarchy to date each other.  We were thrilled in HS when the ethics and art history teachers got married - they're still together.  I do recall that they were very discreet until the wedding was announced - if things hadn't worked out, we students would have been none the wiser.  Best not to make the students aware of a casual relationship, for a million reasons.

2 hours ago, Black Knight said:

Hulu has had a weird issue with captions for a while now (at least for some users, like me), where when I first start playing something the captions are totally out of sync as you describe. The fix is to start playing the ep, then immediately close it, and on the Hulu screen choose again to play it. The captions will sync correctly then.

Thank you!  I will try that if it happens again.  I have captions on most of the time, but this was new for me.

[VanillaBear85]

14 hours ago, Ilovepie said:

Can someone tell me who Ava was talking about at the end of the episode? It cut off before we could hear who she was talking about.

Pretty sure she was also the same teacher fired in the pilot episode for kicking a student and Gregory was the substitute for her class.

[Snapdragon]

My favorite part of this episode was the hotel staff.  Loved the check-in guy with his "damn" over Gregory's break-up and the photographer who was so bored and over it.   

I'm not that invested in the Janine/Gregory relationship but I'm going to be annoyed if they drag things out because of Maurice.  Maurice shouldn't even be an issue.  They've only been dating for what, two months at most?  Are they even exclusive at this point?  Just dump him and move on.  It's not that big a deal.  

[Blakeston]

On 2/23/2023 at 8:34 AM, Badsamaritan said:

So I'm ok with how this is playing out with them, it actually feels realistic to me. Gregory has his own parental issues that are obviously showing up in his relationships and again, that feels very real considering their ages. They don't have the life experience yet that lets them recognize behavior patterns. These aren't 2 people who lived a rough life and had to grow up quickly. 

I think Janine's had a very rough life. Everything about her mother suggests that she's terrible. She had Janine crossing streets by herself when she was three years old. (And have we heard anything about a father?) It doesn't sound like she grew up with any kind of financial comfort, either.

I think she's one of those people whose childhood trauma caused her to retreat into a world of denial and become very needy, rather than maturing quickly.

[Harvey]

56 minutes ago, Blakeston said:

I think she's one of those people whose childhood trauma caused her to retreat into a world of denial and become very needy, rather than maturing quickly.

Spot on. Even Ava noticed. 

[Sarahsmile416]

17 hours ago, possibilities said:

It's true it's not a Mike Shur show, but Quinta Brunson has seemed quite adept at learning from and observing what other shows do well or poorly. 

I agree with this completely.  Not an accident that this show is as well regarded as it is.  She has learned well. 

[possibilities]

17 hours ago, Black Knight said:

Hulu has had a weird issue with captions for a while now (at least for some users, like me), where when I first start playing something the captions are totally out of sync as you describe. The fix is to start playing the ep, then immediately close it, and on the Hulu screen choose again to play it. The captions will sync correctly then.

Will have to try this! The CC situation was driving me crazy.

The kiss was a complete re-enactment of Jim and Pam when they kissed on the Casino boat and then Pam decided to discount it because she was with someone else (The Office). The same extended silence, camera angles, "idyllic setting at a work event". I think Quinta knows exactly what she's doing and why, though I wouldn't put it past her to change things up from time to time from what we expect, also.

[Book Junkie]

On 2/23/2023 at 11:14 AM, MicheleinPhilly said:

As someone who absolutely LOATHES conferences and will come up with every excuse in the book not to attend them, I was team Melissa and Barbara all the way. But the two of them acting like they were at some lovely Caribbean resort instead of in...Allentown just sent me over the edge. 🤣 No offense to Allentown but a party or sexy city, it ain't. 

Janine's and Jacob's enthusiasm is one of the things I hate the most about conferences. Granted, I'm in my 40s but I felt the same way in my 20s. Calm down, kiddos! It's not that much fun! But then again, I am a cranky ass. 

I squealed at the kiss but Gregory needs to stop hopping from partner to partner like J.Lo. Honey, be single for a bit. 

I'm both looking forward and not looking forward to the charter school storyline. I think it will allow Abbott to do what it does best which is advocate for our public schools but at the same time, I know it's going to make me 😡.

HA! I'm in my 40s as well, been teaching for 15 years, and I LOVE conferences! I like the change of scenery, seeing people from other districts and schools, getting new ideas, commiserating with others who have the same struggles at their schools, having relevant PD. The only thing I don't like about them is the sales pitching from the vendors, but I get that it's a necessary evil. Anyway, I'm a PD nerd. I just like getting fresh ideas of how to present the material. However, I loathe PD from my district, because it's usually boring, out of touch and not applicable to me.

[LydiaMoon1]

Upon rewatch, I noticed that Janine carries a little notebook of her planned activities just like Gregory. Gregory noticed it too. They are just so freaking compatible!  

[DanaMB]

On 2/23/2023 at 12:48 PM, JeanJean said:

I was thinking about putting all those teachers up at a hotel, and all the money spent on liquor. I didn't know if they would spend all that money on teachers, even though they should.

Definitely not the liquor. That would be out of pocket. For us, hotels  are paid if it’s over 50 miles away. That’s only if there is funding. Sometimes the state pays, sometimes it has to come from the schools budget. And it’s never a whole staff, it’s usually voluntary. Some are in the summer, some during the year. 
 

Always free tote bags. To the point where you’re no longer excited like Janine was. Ugh, another bag. 😂

Edited February 24, 2023 by DanaMB

[Sarahsmile416]

2 hours ago, LydiaMoon1 said:

Upon rewatch, I noticed that Janine carries a little notebook of her planned activities just like Gregory. Gregory noticed it too. They are just so freaking compatible!  

That’s what I love about these two as a couple - he was obviously immediately attracted to her right away but he has seen throughout their time knowing each other how much they have in common.  That’s what makes a relationship last…again, this is what good show runners do with their characters!

[sistermagpie]

5 hours ago, possibilities said:

Will have to try this! The CC situation was driving me crazy.

The kiss was a complete re-enactment of Jim and Pam when they kissed on the Casino boat and then Pam decided to discount it because she was with someone else (The Office). The same extended silence, camera angles, "idyllic setting at a work event". I think Quinta knows exactly what she's doing and why, though I wouldn't put it past her to change things up from time to time from what we expect, also.

Nitpick - I think you're mixing two scenes together. On the boat nothing happened. On casino night Jim told Pam he loved her and she rejected him because she was getting married. They kissed after that inside the office--and she rejected him again because she was getting married. 

Agree with those saying Maurice isn't really an issue. This wasn't like when Janine was living with a guy and engaged. He's just the first guy she's dated as an adult and it doesn't seem that big of a deal. Gregory's really just lucky he's been going with women who put an end to things when it's not working. 

Edited February 25, 2023 by sistermagpie

[twoods]

I am all about Janine and Gregory but this is getting ridiculous. She obviously doesn’t like Maurice- just get together already and stop it with the will they/won’t they crap. People will (or are) losing interest already.

That garden classroom was gorgeous. 

[cinsays]

On 2/23/2023 at 12:26 PM, Irlandesa said:

I liked how small it was.  It really felt like those hotel education conferences where you're all a little close.  The only thing that stood out to me was that they partied at night and checked out the next morning, indicating that the previous day was the last full day of the conference. That's not how the local-ish conferences I've been to worked.  Every one left about mid-day on the last day and the final presentations were sparsely populated.  There was no party at night, and spending an extra night in the hotel room did not happen.

Splurge?  They aren't luxe.  I would guess teachers pay for it. In order to maintain a license, teachers are required to do continuing ed.  The conference is an easy way to get some continuing ed.

States close schools for the two days.  All teachers aren't required to go to them.  But like I mentioned above, teachers need continuing education and this is an easy way to get some.  But it's usually expected that if you aren't at the conference, you're working at lesson planning/prep or taking PTO.  At Barbara and Melissa's point in their careers, they'd likely be skipping these and doing something else.

so other teachers who go to the conferences and act like barbra and melissa and don't really attend any of the presentations get credits for this?

[cinsays]

Loved most of the episode but Ava calling out Janine in her "presentation" was annoying, but I dislike everything about her, so not surprising. 

And I loved the flower room kiss and that Melissa reconciled with her sister.

[Bookish Jen]

This was a really good episode. And I like it for the many reasons all of you stated. Who knew teacher conferences could be so much fun?

[Irlandesa]

On 2/23/2023 at 3:00 PM, Empress1 said:

I feel like this is less of an issue in a school, maybe? I know of two teacher couples at my alma mater (the wife in one is now deceased; the other has been married like 20+ years, they met when they were around Janine & Gregory’s ages.

It's no more of an issue in a school than it is in a regular company as long as one has no hierarchy over another other than kids can be even more immature than coworkers. Advertising that one teacher is dating another can be dangerous if things go south.

The issue is that Gregory wants to be a principal.  They likely couldn't do it at the same school in a district big enough where a teacher could be moved.

4 hours ago, cinsays said:

so other teachers who go to the conferences and act like barbra and melissa and don't really attend any of the presentations get credits for this?

It has been a long time since I've been at a conference for CE credits, but there probably would be some kind of sign in process.  But also, the Barbara and Melissa of it all was exaggerated.  Attending a state education conference and not attending any session would be boring. There usually aren't as many parties as there were in this episode.

[EtheltoTillie]

On 2/24/2023 at 6:18 PM, Sarahsmile416 said:

That’s what I love about these two as a couple - he was obviously immediately attracted to her right away but he has seen throughout their time knowing each other how much they have in common.  That’s what makes a relationship last…again, this is what good show runners do with their characters!

Yes last week I posted that they both had binders. 
Also that they kissed in that garden exhibit because Gregory loves gardening. 
I was surprised that Barbara was drinking so much.  I thought that was out of character as she is more a church lady. 

Edited February 26, 2023 by EtheltoTillie

[DearEvette]

12 hours ago, cinsays said:

so other teachers who go to the conferences and act like barbra and melissa and don't really attend any of the presentations get credits for this?

I got the impression that most of the scenes we saw were the after hours stuff.  Most conferences, the professional sessions are all scheduled during the day.  The evening is free time. 

A lot of time at the conferences there will be  some kind of organized social event in the evening.  At one conference I attended there was a different theme party every night. There were sometimes prizes for silly things.  I won a bottle of wine at one of them where they had a balloon dance.  You and your partner had to dance with a balloon held between you that couldn't fall. 

But even so if you go to the same conference every year, sometimes the professional sessions could become repetitive, sometime the same ones are offered every year even by the same people with the same material.  So if you've been around a long time, you might actually get some free time during the day too. Maybe an hour or two where nothing is offered that strikes your fancy.  So you can go lounge by the pool or get a little local shopping in. 

[Sarahsmile416]

14 hours ago, cinsays said:

Loved most of the episode but Ava calling out Janine in her "presentation" was annoying, but I dislike everything about her, so not surprising. 

And I loved the flower room kiss and that Melissa reconciled with her sister.

I like Ava in general, but I am so over her constant sniping/insult of Janine.  Build a bridge and GTFO it.

[Welshman in Ca]

14 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

I was surprised that Barbara was drinking so much.  I thought that was out of character as she is more a church lady. 

That's a cute thought.

From personal experience if they're not drinking after church it's because they're off to the casino around here.

[TigerLily20]

I generally attend Early Childhood conferences so we are geared towards children under 5, what I found so different between what I have been to and the one they showed, men....there are usually very few guys in attendance at our conferences, so much so that the mens room are usually changed to women's restrooms for the duration of the conference lol.  As for Melissa and Barbra, we always had to fill out an exit form but there are ways around it, I have been known to be in a session that was around 1.5 hours long and had to "take a call from my kids" and came back with seashells from the beach (our conference was located at a hotel on the beach so it was easier for me lol) but I would be out for a good 20-25 minutes.

[bettername2come]

I really liked that Gregory seemed to not only want to make sure Janine saw the flower classroom, but seemed excited to see it himself. Landscaping - just when you think you're out they pull you back in. 

So the charter school teacher who worked at Abbott until she kicked a kid is Kate Peterman, who is also a story editor for the show and co-wrote this episode with Quinta. Good on her for giving her character some fun at the conference.

I was expecting a crush to form between other Oberlin teacher and Jacob and her to not realize he's gay, but instead she tries to lure him to the dark side with the reasons the charter school is better. Well played and overall I really enjoyed how they brought the charter school plotline back in. 

This show may have made me a little too pumped for my librarian conference next month. 

[Joimiaroxeu]

Janine went to Penn? Wow, Ivy League. Did we know that before now?

A carafe of Sex Ed on the Beach. No half measures for Ava, lol.

"The Rules of Science are Meant to Be Followed." Goodness, why does that need to be a lecture?

Of course Jacob went to Oberlin.

That Ring light photographer was hilarious. They should bring him back to do the annual school photos at Abbott.

Don't come for the Schemmenti sisters unless they send for you. Bad parking lot extensions lady got it with both barrels.

A classroom made of flowers. Oy, seeing that almost set off my sneeze reflex.

TJW seems to be getting thinner by the week. Hope he's okay.

Quote

Also, of course Jacob would know about the AKA pinkie sign! 

I'm still trying to figure out how he automatically connected it to Kamala Harris though. She's not the face of AKA even though she may be its most famous soror right now.

[Babalu06]

1 hour ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Of course Jacob went to Oberlin.

My thoughts, verbatim, as soon as he said that. (I live in Oberlin.)

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 2/24/2023 at 12:06 PM, Blakeston said:

I think Janine's had a very rough life. Everything about her mother suggests that she's terrible. She had Janine crossing streets by herself when she was three years old. (And have we heard anything about a father?) It doesn't sound like she grew up with any kind of financial comfort, either.

I think she's one of those people whose childhood trauma caused her to retreat into a world of denial and become very needy, rather than maturing quickly.

And she sees Barbara as an ideal mother whose approval she craves.

On 2/24/2023 at 2:24 PM, possibilities said:

The kiss was a complete re-enactment of Jim and Pam when they kissed . . . then Pam decided to discount it because she was with someone else (The Office). The same extended silence, camera angles, "idyllic setting at a work event".

Pam was engaged though, wasn't she?

What makes the situation with Maurice awkward (for Gregory, at least), is that he and Maurice are friends, and he even asked Gregory if it was ok before he started dating Janine.

18 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Janine went to Penn? Wow, Ivy League. Did we know that before now?

It's been mentioned before.  Quinta herself went to Temple, so both Philly schools.

18 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

TJW seems to be getting thinner by the week. Hope he's okay.

Me, too. He has Crohn's Disease.

Edited February 27, 2023 by ItCouldBeWorse

[sugarbaker design]

I howled at

"Let's call her...Janina"

[DearEvette]

13 hours ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

I'm still trying to figure out how he automatically connected it to Kamala Harris though. She's not the face of AKA even though she may be its most famous soror right now.

Yeah, we didn't see the whole clue for what he was trying to guess, only that final win part.  So I am assuming the early clues were more pointed and it was the final AKA clue that tied it to her.

[Crashcourse]

11 hours ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

Me, too. He has Crohn's Disease.

I'm so sorry to hear that about TJW.  I've always wondered why he was so slim, especially below the waist, so that explains it.  I watch episodes of Everybody Hates Chris and I notice that he's very small below the waist, even though he's a kid.

[kathyk24]

 

17 minutes ago, Crashcourse said:

I'm so sorry to hear that about TJW.  I've always wondered why he was so slim, especially below the waist, so that explains it.  I watch episodes of Everybody Hates Chris and I notice that he's very small below the waist, even though he's a kid.

They should include his Crohn's disease into the show. That would explain why Gregory has such a limited diet.

[Eri]

On 2/26/2023 at 11:50 AM, TigerLily20 said:

I generally attend Early Childhood conferences so we are geared towards children under 5, what I found so different between what I have been to and the one they showed, men....there are usually very few guys in attendance at our conferences, so much so that the mens room are usually changed to women's restrooms for the duration of the conference lol.

I thought this was strange too! My colleagues who have attended education conferences in the past said it consisted of 80-90% women lol. Maybe it's different for administrators?

[vandajohnson]

On 3/6/2023 at 7:28 AM, Eri said:

I thought this was strange too! My colleagues who have attended education conferences in the past said it consisted of 80-90% women lol. Maybe it's different for administrators?

I think this is because men are busier with the real work that brings them money and they just don't have time for it.. Besides this we should not forget about the fact that there is such a thing as https://phdessay.com/free-essays-on/yellow-wallpaper/ yellow wallpaper, I think about this many know or at least many have heard, I also not long ago discovered this and now for me many things have become clearer. What do you guys think about this, have you read anything else about this phenomenon? I am actually not a fan of it, but it has many things directly related to me.

Edited March 22, 2023 by vandajohnson