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The Controversy of Assigned Seating
by Thomas Brown
Next year I’ll be going into my sophomore year of high school. Throughout my eleven years of school I’ve had teachers who let us sit with our friends, teachers who assign seating, teachers who have couches for us to sit on, teachers who let us sit on the floor and even teachers who make us sit on the floor (this happened twice; in kindergarten and 8th grade). I’ve had classrooms that were so quiet it was borderline awkward, and then I’ve been in those classes that are so loud other teachers have to come in and tell us to be quiet. You could say I’ve seen it all.
Personally, I’ve always liked free-seating. In my experience, sitting next to my friends, especially at the beginning of the year when I don’t know everyone in my class, puts me at ease and helps me participate more in class. Also, I’ve noticed that the kids who usually are the loudest in the class will talk to anyone sitting near them, friend or not.
The way I see it, if I have to have someone talk my ear off for an hour, I’d rather it were my friend saying something interesting than just another loud classmate. Additionally, I’ve found that friends will find a way to communicate with each other in class even if they are sitting far apart. Once again this is just my opinion, but someone whispering quietly to the person next to them is pretty much always less distracting than someone yelling, waving their arms, and making weird faces to get someone’s attention from across the room.
Despite being against assigned seating, I do admit there are some good arguments for seating charts and teachers choosing the seating. As I said before, I’ve been in many a class that is out of control and often a seating chart can help calm if not completely get rid of distractions. However, these are extreme cases and I feel like the best approach might be what many of my teachers tend to use, which is to reward quieter, on-task classes with free seating and force distracted classes to sit separately from their friends.
Whether or not to have assigned seating should depend on the behavior of the class, giving the students a reason to stay on task. Ultimately, however, it is the teacher’s choice on whether or not a class should have assigned seats. But if you happen to be on the fence about it, my advice would be to let the students choose where they sit.
10 Reasons to Work at California Casualty
by Thomas Brown
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to work at Calcas? Have you ever thought of applying to work here? Below are some of the things we think set California Casualty apart from other companies.
- Celebrations
Our employee celebrations have delicious food and occur almost every month! Recently, we’ve had phenomenal barbecue lunches as well as tacos and other fantastic food.
- Holidays
If a holiday occurs on a weekend, you still get your extra day off the Friday before! Enjoy more time with your family or just relax and have some time to yourself.
- Cheerful Atmosphere
Work will always be difficult and at times a little dull, but at Calcas we are always cracking jokes, laughing and having a good time.
- Locations
We have offices in California, Colorado, Arizona and Kansas. Whether you’re a fan of the mountains or the desert, chances are you will like where you work.
- Support
The people here are very supportive and encouraging. We are always collaborating on projects and giving constructive feedback on each other’s work.
- Comfort
We have a very casual and comfortable work environment, allowing for a relaxing, calmer workplace. Spacious desks, comfortable office chairs and a double-screen computer help make work as easy and efficient as possible.
- Interesting Work
Insurance is more exciting than you may think. Whether it is coming up with a clever marketing idea or trying to close an important sale, there is always something interesting going on.
- Gratification
We specialize in giving quality insurance to educators, law enforcement, firefighters, and nurses. By working with us you will get the opportunity to offer the highest quality product to those that serve our country.
- History and Experience
We recently celebrated California Casualty’s 100th anniversary, meaning that we have been around longer than nearly all of our competitors. In those 100 years, we have learned what works and what doesn’t and how we can become the best company for our customers and our employees.
- Choices
One common misconception is that the only jobs at an insurance company involve selling insurance. In reality, there are many different jobs for you to apply for, including sales, claims, customer service and marketing.
Hot Grilling Tips to Avoid Disaster
The mouthwatering smell of hamburgers, chicken and other grilled foods will soon start filling the air – but as Fourth of July weekend arrives (the unofficial start of BBQ season) the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is warning grillers to be careful.
According to a 2013 NFPA report, an average of 8,600 home fires were started each year between 2007 and 2011 by gas or charcoal grills, 60 percent of those flared up on a balcony, porch or outside patio.
The NFPA advises everyone to make sure the grill is working properly and review safety tips before firing it up. It’s extremely important to check gas canisters and hoses for cracks, breaks or leaks.
Did you know ESPN SportsCenter anchor Hannah Storm was severely burned in a gas grill accident? She has recorded several videos to share her story and raise awareness about grilling safety.
Here are some home grilling safety tips from the NFPA:
- Read you grills safety tips and warning information before using it
- Only use propane and charcoal outdoors
- Check gas tanks and hoses for leaks
- Stay alert when grilling
- Keep grills well away from the house, deck railings, overhanging eaves and branches
- Never leave the grill unattended
- Be careful when disposing charcoal; always make sure coals they are completely out and put into a meal container with a lid
Accidents happen. Make sure your home or apartment is fully protected with the right amount of insurance. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a policy review, 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
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Suicide: A Firefighter’s Deadly Dilemma
Firefighters; they are the men and women who save property and lives. But what happens when their lives need saving? That’s the dilemma for hundreds of first-responders each year. The demands of the job and the repeated trauma they see can leave many in crisis.
Firefighters face the risk of many behavioral health concerns such as anxiety, depression, burnout and PTSD, etc. But the problem is that first responders don’t talk about behavioral health when it comes to each other. The often mentioned mantra in Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement is “We help others but never ourselves.” There is a stigma to admitting that the stress and the often disturbing scenes they respond to might be getting to them.
What makes suicide so difficult to prevent is that it is not a condition or disorder, but rather an outcome that may result from the presence (or accumulation) of many risk factors. What makes a suicide in first responders even more difficult to prevent is that they are the helpers. Who are they supposed to call for help when they are the ones who need it? Why is it so difficult for someone in Fire/EMS/Law Enforcement to ask for help? The risk of losing their peer’s respect, fear of being viewed as weak and unable to perform their jobs, fear of confidentiality, fear of losing their career? It’s no wonder, so many of the helpers suffer in silence. Many say seeking help can leave them on the fringe, considered damaged goods by their crew.
And that’s a problem; firefighter ranked number one in CareerCast’s annual survey of the most stressful jobs in 2015, just ahead of soldiers. CareerCast described the profession as, “dangerous in ever-changing conditions, with work not limited to battling blazes; firefighters also assist with medical emergencies and natural disasters.” Firefighters across the nation echo the idea of going to work each day not knowing if they will come back alive.
And that daily stress, combined with limited opportunities to talk about it, is taking a toll – as evidenced by the number 285. That’s the number of active and retired firefighters in the U.S. who are known to have taken their lives since 2012. It’s what many in the profession call “the hidden dirty little secret.” With 46 firefighters in 2015 already lost to suicide, something has to change.
It was a little- discussed topic by fire departments until Captain Jeff Dill created the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). Dill started the nonprofit after hearing about the emotional impact the World Trade Towers disaster had on firefighters in 2001, and talking with first responders about lack of mental health resources for those returning from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Captain Dill says the number of firefighter suicides that get reported is only the tip of the iceberg.
In 2004, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) invited fire organization leaders to a summit on preventing line-of-duty deaths. A document titled “16 Firefighter Life Safe Initiatives” was drawn up to promote health, safety and cultural changes in the firefighting community. Number 13 calls for better access to psychological support and counseling for firefighters and their families addressing the occupational stress they face, and to counter the growing incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder cases.
Despite the effort, the problem continues. A January 2015 article in USA Today cited National Fallen Firefighters Foundation statistics that a fire department is three times more likely to experience a suicide in a given year than a line-of-duty death. They added that PTSD, depression, substance abuse and suicide were still all too common.
Slowly, more and more resources are being created to help firefighters deal with the stress of the job. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance is a great first-step, with information and links to support agencies. The National Volunteer Fire Council and the National Fire Protection Association also dedicate numerous resources to linking firefighters in crisis with agencies that can help.
Some of those are:
• Emergency Ministries – providing chaplains for first-responder counseling and support,
• Rosecrance Florian Program – offering substance abuse treatment and PTSD support for firefighters and paramedics,
• NVFC Fire/EMS Helpline, 1-888-731-FIRE
• North American Firefighters Veteran Network – 24 crisis line for addiction, anxiety, stress and more,
• The Sweeney Alliance – The focus of their program First Step Hope: Not All Wounds Are Visible addresses the difficult topics that few in the first responder professions discuss or have resources for PTSD, Suicide intervention and prevention, loss and grief.
• Station House – Treatment facility exclusively for first responders, established by first responders.
• American Academy of Experts in Trauma Stress – collaborating with organizations to meet the needs of victims and survivors