Back to these Hallowed Halls
It's back to school once again. In service starts Monday Aug. 20th, but I have been making regular appearances all week long. I feel like it is good to try and absorb the place before before it fills with students and other teachers. I have prepared my room, planned my year, got an old MAC up and running, I am ready.
I'm looking forward to school this year. Last year was survival, it was my first year in the classroom. This year I feel like I have been battle hardened and stand a better chance of getting more things accomplished, shape minds more effectively. I'm anxious to to get my hands into the first gray matter that walks into my room.
It's hard to believe that last year is all a memory. I had a tough time, and so did many others. We lost nine teachers in my department; some were asked to leave, others left on their own. Overall we experienced a mass exodus from our campus, and are still short on new hires.
I wonder what we will do if there is not enough teachers. We won't be allowed by law to exceed the max number of students per class. We may have to take on an extra class to ensure that all balances out well. I was exhausted after five periods last year, I'm sure I could squeeze in another for this year.
A new procedure for us this year is centralized text book issuing. Over the years, as I am told, text book issuing by the teachers had become a daunting task. So many forms for the teacher and student to fill out, so many steps to take before charging a student for a lost book, so many books never being returned despite the efforts of recovery. This year books will be issued from one point, scanned in and out by bar code, and collected when a student withdraws. If any books are missing, letters home and envelopes with mailing lables will be computer generated and mailed out. Book charges to students will be computer generated and records and other transcripts will not be released until the fine is paid or the book returned. I'm so glad I do not have to mess with books this year. And I'm so glad that student accountability for the books has been streamlined. We should save a lot of tax payer dollars this way.
One piece of bad news thus far. Standardized test scores from last year have been released. Our school did very well in all areas except Math. We made progress from the year before, but not satisfactory to state standards. For that the press has labled us a "failing school." Parents are angry, they want to remove their kids from our school, this may be good if it reduces class size. However, the press has put us in a bad light, which will make it harder for us to attract good talent for 07/08, and effect teacher and student morale in a negative way.
"Suck it up and drive on" as they always say. I'll do just that.