The azaleas are spectacular and the trees have greened and puffed out almost overnight. Liberto promised he would build me a raised bed in the back yard when he returns from Venezuela. Believe it or not, this failed hippie gardener wants to have a garden. I ordered strawberry plants, and they're already standing tall in the long plastic troughs but will need more room to spread out. We eat a lot of strawberries, so, I thought, why not try growing our own? I've also started lettuce. Maybe I'll expand to other things, but strawberries and lettuce are good baseline home-grown produce. I like to think this new interest has been fostered by the thrill I get when I can pluck a luscious lemon from the tree and use it. Maybe I'm unconsciously preparing for the end of cheap food as we know it in the U.S. with gas prices driving up food costs.
Two more weeks until spring break, and after that, four weeks until summer break. Teachers are counting down the days. The daily mass email from the principal usually appears at about 2 p.m. and opens with, "Teachers, please don't..." followed by some admonishment. Teachers can never do anything right! They allow students out of class to go to the restroom or the Media Center, they forget to take attendance or sign out in the afternoon, and they use too much paper to print hand-outs for students. He never fails to think of something someone is doing wrong, and scolds the entire faculty for it. A recent email, however, was particularly attacking. It read, "The six of you who were standing near the mail-room at least 10 minutes before 3:10 check-out, just waiting to get out of here, should not be surprised to get an NI evaluation on your professional duties and responsibilities." This email sent a shock wave of resentment through the teacher population, and tongues were wagging.
"I was one of those six `bad' teachers," said B. "But I was standing there talking to one of the security guards about a problem with a student." Her voice rose. "And even if I did dare to stand near the check-out ten minutes early, that one time, that's my right. The students have all left by 2:40, and my classes were over for the day. He should try standing on his feet for hours, all day long. I more than make up for the time with all the grading and planning I do at home!"
She continued, "He also sent me an email a few days ago when I left early on that teacher planning day in March because a doctor was able to fit me in at 3:00. I've had a problem for four months, but I haven't been able to see a doctor because I didn't have health insurance since my husband dumped me in December and left the country. I'd been on his policy but I was dropped when he divorced me. I've just now got my own health insurance. So I called the doctor that day, and he had an opening! I jumped at the chance. It was just a planning day. So I left an hour early. I signed out with the data clerk and told her why. The next day, I got an email from the principal saying, `I saw you leaving the building early yesterday afternoon for a doctor's appointment. I thought you looked very well. Did you really need to go that early?' I may have LOOKED well, but I'm not! But how dare he question everything we do? We're professionals! I've been here every day, doing my job, even though I was a mess when my husband left me without warning in December. Last week, I had to go and file for bankruptcy! But I was still here, doing my job! I'd like a little more appreciation!"
Another teacher agreed, saying, "When I worked at Windsor Forest, the principal always greeted us in the morning with a smile, asking us how we're doing, how our classes are going. He made us feel welcome every day."
Our principal, the teachers agreed, rarely smiles or greets anyone. I thought it was just me.
A third teacher said, "Where's the praise for the fact that I'm here every day until 4:30? For the past two days, I've had a non-stop migraine, but I've been here. Where's the praise?"
It was comforting to learn that the principal apparently dislikes everyone, not just me!
For my Anatomy class tomorrow night, I have to turn in a project on Oral Mechanism Examinations. For this project, we had to evaluate the oral structures of five different people, observing mouth, lips, tongue, uvula, soft palate, and sounds. Liberto rounded up a couple of volunteers at his workplace. I didn't feel comfortable asking other teachers at the school to exhibit their tongues, etc. for me, and of course, the administration would have frowned upon the idea of my doing anything other than work-related tasks at work. So I filled out the check-list using four adults from the City of Savannah. I have one more to do. Paul does not realize yet that he is about to be my next and last victim.
I've also been grading the Virginia 8th grade writing test this weekend. I find this test more difficult to grade than the SAT's or AP's because the state of Virginia requires the grading of three different domains for each essay: composing, written expression, and grammar/usage. For each essay, I have to give three grades. However, it is difficult for me to mentally separate the three domains in order to give individual grades because they overlap and affect each other so much.
Someone asked if I'm going anywhere for spring break. No. I need to do nothing and go nowhere for a week. I hope I can find time to read for fun. A few weeks ago, I heard an interview with Brian Greene on npr, discussing his book The Hidden Realty. His theory of multiverse---multiple, parallel universes---was so fascinating that I ordered the book immediately. I'm looking forward to that one, and numerous other books that are crying out to me, but I'm always too busy reviewing works of American literature for my students and Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing for my class.
Summer! O Summer! Thirty school days left.
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