Imaginary Conversations and Random Thoughts

It has not gone nearly as bad as could have been justifiably imagined based on past performance. Don't worry though, we still have thirty-five more weeks to blow the whole thing.

Most annoying problem this week: the principal coming on with a ten minute announcement, during class, in front of students (obviously), that includes a reminder/chastisement to the teachers that everyone should be on-task, every minute, of every period, of every day.

Really. Does it not seem unprofessional to criticize your employees in front of your customers? We have a major problem with discipline and respect among our students; how does belittling the teachers in front of the students support them as authority figures in the eyes of the students?

How are the students supposed to believe in the idea of being "on-task every minute, of every period, of every day," when it is so blatantly advertised by the principal himself that the lessons and activities planned by the teacher are fairly worthless and may be interrupted at any time for even the most inane bits of trivia. Little Billy shouting out to the class that he had spaghetti for dinner last night was about as relevant as the announcement from the big boss.

Runner up in a close second place for most annoying: Announcing that as a part of stricter security measures, all students are required to wear their student ID's on their lanyards so that they may be seen at all times. Teacher reasonably asks, "So what do we do if a kid doesn't have his ID on his lanyard?" Administration, clearly having no plan for what to do in this eventuality, weakly replies, "Well, try to encourage them. Maybe you could offer them points or something if they have it."

Excuse me? "Try" and "maybe" are not words I want to hear about something that is required at all times. Did I mention that teachers are also required to wear their ID's on their lanyards at all times?

I'm sure I have mentioned that teachers are:
- believed (taken at our word) to a lesser extent than students
- belittled to a greater degree than students
- condescended to, to a greater degree than students
- insulted to a greater degree than our students

I would not be surprised that of teachers and students, the least dangerous of the two populations, the teachers, will have the ID policy most harshly enforced. We'll see.