Back from the depths

Fresno was busy.  So busy that I didn’t even get a chance to tell my aunt I was in town for 3 days.  I was a member of a visiting committee for WASC and the school we visited is in seriously bad shape.  I have never seen such horrible teaching and lack of preparation for an evaluative visit.  Kids not paying attention in class and teachers allowing it to happen WHILE THEY CONTINUED TO TEACH.  Unprepared students in virtually every classroom.  To say I was annoyed would be a major understatement.  I love my job most of the time and I cannot imagine allowing students to get away with sitting there with no paper out, no book, i-pod in their ears, sleeping in class.  No way.  Needless to say, we didn’t have a lot of nice things to say. 

I got home on Tuesday night and yesterday, I hit the ground running to get caught up.  I discovered that 2 of my staplers that I’ve had for a million years had the springs removed while I was gone.  Ooooh I was pissed off.  So, I put every art and office supply away.  No staplers.  No tape.  No 3 hole punch.  No more selling pencils or notebooks.  Done.  I’ve never had kids in the US intentionally break stuff.  BUT, I found out who was responsible thanks to overhearing a conversation between 2 students.  I confronted both of them, told them I would have to replace the equipment they broke and bill their parents.  LO AND BEHOLD the springs were in both of their lockers and reappeared today.  They both repented and after almost an hour of wrangling, I have 2 fully operational staplers again and 2 very sheepish freshmen boys who apologized.  Guilt is a wonderful thing.