I did it myself

I finally cancelled the tech order, and connected 4 of my 9 printers, so that my students could use them. They're not networked, they're only available at a few computers, I have to be super-watchful of supplies so we don't run through our annual budget in a week, but they're up and running.

I know I irritated tech suport. I don't really mind, though - since they didn't do the job anyway. It was a compromise I had to make in order to continue with my lessons and teaching. Now, if we only had the photo paper and inks I ordered three weeks ago. We need them in 4 days.

I'm discovering the chasm between what was said of this school/district/area and the reality of them all. However, the inefficiency, the waste, the money problems, the disconnect between teaching/learning and the businees of school - these are present at all schools, I think. I am observing the impact everything has on a school so very small - and so much is put on to teachers' shoulders because there aren't other people to lean on for the little things.

My Freshmen are surprising me, positively. :-) They're coming in to their own and becoming involved with the school and their student council duties.

Homecoming was a little strange. The returning alumni from 1987 behaved just like most of the students I see - cliquish, not accepting of anything new or different, and just happy enough to plod along and exist. Normal, and boring.

I have begun a multi-cultural lesson to try and shake their little snow-globes up a bit. I'm receiving a lot of interest so far. We'll see how the bosses like the lesson plans. Maybe I'll be celebrating my career for Dia de los Muertos.