Thursday, October 30, 2003
All the discipline problems in one day
It is a good idea; getting all the problems lined up taking a number and my VP and I hand down judgements as we go. It would be like night court; a sleepy judge processing the cases as if he were counting sheep trying to sleep.
I began the day early during "zero" period when I observed the choral teacher rehearsing the choir. It was supposed to be an observation, but I took a music folder and joined the bass section. I loved getting back into the total absorption of music; the concentration on every sound and symbol, posture and breathing. It was to be the best part of my day, which I did not know until the day had waned into a steaming lump of discipline problems. I was talking to the teacher after the rehearsal when I heard my name over the intercom. They needed me for a parent conference.
It began with a black mother from the islands that was here for a conference because her son had threatened and pushed a boy the day before. Eventhough he was guilty and admitted what he did the mother seemed to be chastising me and the VP. This perception was made based on her finger wagging and her insinuation that we were white so we were guilty because some white man that was probably related to us was a slave owner at one time. We endured the lecture and bid her a good day as we parted.
From there we had students that fooled around and punched each other, threw water, told someone to hit a kid, which the idiot did, set off a stink bomb, refuse to go to detention, tell me someone was calling him "fat", another threatening a kid until he ran out of the classroom and hid in the hallway, another having to pay to air brush out his middle finger in the senior picture for the year book, a boy taking another kid's hand and touching a girl in her crotch with it, and finally conferencing with a parent because her daughter was so out of control that we recommended she be evaluated and she agreed.
When the smoke cleared I had not eaten nor sat down except to talk to kids. We suspended three students today and disciplined many others with lesser consequences. What caused this influx? Was it a pre-Haloween sugar high? Was it the moon phase or the tides? I like to think they all decided to get all the discipline problems over in one day, but I'm not that naive. I just with it was true.
I began the day early during "zero" period when I observed the choral teacher rehearsing the choir. It was supposed to be an observation, but I took a music folder and joined the bass section. I loved getting back into the total absorption of music; the concentration on every sound and symbol, posture and breathing. It was to be the best part of my day, which I did not know until the day had waned into a steaming lump of discipline problems. I was talking to the teacher after the rehearsal when I heard my name over the intercom. They needed me for a parent conference.
It began with a black mother from the islands that was here for a conference because her son had threatened and pushed a boy the day before. Eventhough he was guilty and admitted what he did the mother seemed to be chastising me and the VP. This perception was made based on her finger wagging and her insinuation that we were white so we were guilty because some white man that was probably related to us was a slave owner at one time. We endured the lecture and bid her a good day as we parted.
From there we had students that fooled around and punched each other, threw water, told someone to hit a kid, which the idiot did, set off a stink bomb, refuse to go to detention, tell me someone was calling him "fat", another threatening a kid until he ran out of the classroom and hid in the hallway, another having to pay to air brush out his middle finger in the senior picture for the year book, a boy taking another kid's hand and touching a girl in her crotch with it, and finally conferencing with a parent because her daughter was so out of control that we recommended she be evaluated and she agreed.
When the smoke cleared I had not eaten nor sat down except to talk to kids. We suspended three students today and disciplined many others with lesser consequences. What caused this influx? Was it a pre-Haloween sugar high? Was it the moon phase or the tides? I like to think they all decided to get all the discipline problems over in one day, but I'm not that naive. I just with it was true.
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
My influence on the school
It is not easily seen, but a principal's influence is strong; for the good or bad. I have a crusty Vice Principal that showed no mercy to kids in his discipline methods until I worked with him. Slowly he has mellowed his approach and has been more considerate of the feelings of students.
Two teachers came into the office today and complained about a memo that the VP had sent about Haloween; that it didn't have a date on it. I immediately came out of my office upon overhearing this and defended him by saying that the teachers should know what day Haloween is. Then my VP to my surprise admitted that he had made a mistake. The teachers were in total shock that he admitted that he had made a mistake and they attributed it to my leadership. I quickly said that this was not my doing, but I knew deep down that it was.
He has softened a bit as far as humor goes as well. I cannot go through a day without some form of dry humor or pun. I have a history teacher that regularly comes to the office to trade quips with me. My VP began to "lighten up" today a bit. This was refreshing. I don't mind hard work, in fact it makes the time go faster. I don't mind stressful situations, it helps you to see who is tough and who breaks, but I can't stand working with someone that can't laugh at the situation and find something at least ironic.
When I was being interviewed for my present postion the Superintendent asked what my favorite quote was. I quickly said that it was "time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana." Humor is the most important quality an administrator must possess. May I never take myself seriously or grow up.
Two teachers came into the office today and complained about a memo that the VP had sent about Haloween; that it didn't have a date on it. I immediately came out of my office upon overhearing this and defended him by saying that the teachers should know what day Haloween is. Then my VP to my surprise admitted that he had made a mistake. The teachers were in total shock that he admitted that he had made a mistake and they attributed it to my leadership. I quickly said that this was not my doing, but I knew deep down that it was.
He has softened a bit as far as humor goes as well. I cannot go through a day without some form of dry humor or pun. I have a history teacher that regularly comes to the office to trade quips with me. My VP began to "lighten up" today a bit. This was refreshing. I don't mind hard work, in fact it makes the time go faster. I don't mind stressful situations, it helps you to see who is tough and who breaks, but I can't stand working with someone that can't laugh at the situation and find something at least ironic.
When I was being interviewed for my present postion the Superintendent asked what my favorite quote was. I quickly said that it was "time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana." Humor is the most important quality an administrator must possess. May I never take myself seriously or grow up.
