More Surprises

I found out today that my yearbook class is during the zero hour period rather than during the regular school day.  This creates a problem in numerous ways.  First of all, my students can’t take pictures of regular classes since the only thing going on during zero hour are a few elective classes and tutorials.  Because of collaboration time on Mondays, my class will also meet only four days a week.  Next, if I assign tutorials to my speech or English students, they have only TWO days in a month that they can come to them.  Otherwise I’ll have to pawn them off on other teachers or have them come in during my yearbook class time. 

I also found out that this “schedule” was mandated by the superintendent with absolutely NO input from me.  There is no getting around it.  I just have to grin and bear it without complaint.  I have to be careful about rocking the boat this year since I want to “move up” so to speak next year. 

While I’m on my soapbox of complaints, I have to say that today’s inservice was completely pointless.  We’re going through mounds of data in “getting to know” our students, but basically we’re profiling them.  I think it is a disservice to prejudge my students based on the fact that I now know that they are labeled as “At Risk”, “Special Education”, or “Low Socioeconomic.”  I’d rather get to know my students first before I delve into the nitty gritty details.  Then I can be pleasantly surprised or gain understanding about them.  Also is the fact that we’re doing this all before school starts so with schedule changes and adjustments, my actual class rosters will fluctuate for the next two the three weeks.  I just think education is worrying about the wrong things these days. 

I’m worried about my potential evaluator next year.  Each teacher is assigned one of the assistant principals or the principal as their main evaluator.  This is the person we submit lesson plans to and if we have to be observed, they do the observation.  There is one particular assistant that is just not my favorite of the choices.  Since I haven’t had this particular one since I’ve been teaching at this school, I figure it’s my turn.  It would just be the topping on the sucky cake that is turning out for this year.  I’m praying earnestly that I don’t get that person as my evaluator.  They are very domineering and intimidating.  You can’t complain because it turns out that you just have a bad attitude and students are always right it seems. 

On the good news front, my dad is going to be ok, but he has diverticulitis which is an infection in his color.  He’s being treated with IV antibiotics and will be in the hospital for a few more days.  It was a close call though as the doctor said if he would have waited longer he could have died.  I’m glad his wife nagged him enough to go to the hospital. 

I’m still feeling in the dark in regard to Matthew.  I emailed him last night telling him that I was still interested in seeing him this week but haven’t heard back.  Given that it is already Wednesday, I don’t know if anything will happen.  It was one of those days that I could really use a drink.  So now I’m having a beer and will take it easy for a bit and call it an early night.

I took the ambien last night and slept well, but was still tired this morning.  I’ll take it again tonight, but maybe take it a little earlier.  Now I’m going to finish my beer (Ziegenbock), watch t.v., surf the web a bit and just try to let go of today.

***UPDATE***
Heard from Matthew and we have a date for tomorrow night.