challenging day...to say the least

You know when you see a dead dog in the road on your way to work that it might be a crazy day. It's been a while since I last wrote, so this may be a long one.

The day started out with an assembly, the "Hello Assembly," to be exact. The student government put together a very creative and well planned assembly. We watched the cheerleaders and dance company perform and laughed at the two crazy teachers playing a married couple (The Roughousins) in a game show skit. This year, my advisory class (now 9th graders) have the best seats in the house--second, third, and fourth row right up front. This way, I am able to take pictures up close but also keep an eye on the darlings. The assembly was short, but fun. Of course, each class period was shortened a bit, so the day went fast.

The day was not, however, without chaos.

Last Friday, a former student approached me after school. He looked as though he might burst into sobbing, wet, and snotty tears at any moment. I asked him what was up and he proceeded to tell me that he needed to raise his 4th Quarter grade from last year in 6 of his classes in order to be eligible to play football (JV) this season. He wondered if I could change his grade from a D- to a C-. I told him I'd think about it over the weekend and asked him to check with me on Monday. I wondered all weekend what I should do--I didn't want to just 'give' him the grade, I wanted him to learn a lesson of doing the right thing the first time. I saw him first thing yesterday morning and decided I'd have him do a research paper as a way to work toward the grade raise.

Again, bright and early this morning, he was there, with a 5 page research paper in hand. I told him I'd read the paper and fix the grade with the counseling center sometime during the day. Before he left, he mentioned that last year a student on the football team got kicked off because his teachers changed his grade and told the counseling center it was for football. He asked if I could please tell them it was a "clerical error." This confession got me thinking, so during my prep, I went to ask a trusted co-worker their opinion on the matter.

During this conversation, I was told that changing grades for sport eligibility is against district policy. She also explained that once she had done something similar and almost lost her job over it. I questioned her on my options in this particular situation. She said that I could "lie" to the counseling center about the grade and say it was 'my mistake,' and hope that they didn't give me any grief. I thought for a brief second and asked her if I would be in the wrong to now deny the student the grade change, even after he had done the work. She affirmed that, indeed, it would be just fine to do just that and remember from now on that this is against policy.

I became sick in my stomach, struggling with this moral dilemma. I knew my options. I knew how I felt. I wanted to make the best decision, not for the student who so terribly wants to play football, but for me, since it could cost me my job and license. I resolved to find the student after school and break the bad news to him.

I found him where he always is and pulled him aside. I explained the situation in full, including the part about the possibility of me loosing my job if they found out I 'lied." He asked me if I could just say the same thing as the other teach said--'my mistake' and let it slip. I finally said that it wasn't because I didn't want to, nor was it because I didn't like him and didn't want him to succeed. I explained that I have personal beliefs strongly opposed to such 'lieing' or 'cheating." He seemed to actually take it fine and understood. I said if there were any other way I could help I would. I felt 100% better knowing that I had integrity in this situation and now am left wondering if those other teachers who "lied" would feel differently if they knew the policy.

As my neighboring teacher, VK, noted, maybe this taught him a better lesson than just giving him the grade he needed; maybe it taught him the importance of being honest.

I also had a mini-crisis during 7th period. Two students, who sit right up front by where I usually stand when I'm teaching, decided to fight each other with pencils when I wasn't looking (now do you get why I put them up front?). I eventually caught on to their shenanigan and took away the pencils. But, oh, no, they couldn't keep their little hand still for too long. Oh, no. They grabbed PENS and did the same little fighting ditty. This time, it ended up in a minor stab in an arm, which actually drew a teeny, tiny bit of blood, which made this one little girl (literally, like barely over 4ft), faint for a bit. It was charming.

We have picked our yearbook theme for 2007-2008 yearbook. After much persuasion on my part (one of the many perks of being yearbook adviser) and a good number of "followers," we have (let's be honest...I have) decided on the theme of (drum roll): Splash of Color.

Let me explain why I wanted this theme, out of the hundreds of options. This year, again by my own doing, I've managed to get the first 16 pages of the yearbook in COLOR for the very first time in WL history; all this with NO change in the $16 cost of the book. I also recognize, as do many of my keen staffers, that our school is extremely diverse and COLORFUL. I thought this theme would be a great way to get excited about the addition of colored photos to the yearbook as well as a way to highlight all of the many nations and cultures represented in our school. I stayed a little late after school today creating a poster to announce the them and to display on our yearbook bulletin board. I drew, with the help of a Microsoft Office Clipart picture, a big paint splash and a paintbrush. It actually looks decent, despite my non-existent artist talents. I have lots of ideas on how to incorporate the theme into the book. I'm VERY excited, indeed!

I'm in a great mood because I went and ran at the gym for 45 minutes and it felt great after my hectic day. Tomorrow is my loooooooonnnnnngg day, with ESL class from 4-7. Picture day is Thursday, so I have a sub coming in since I'll be down helping with pictures all day. Looking like just another crazy week as a teacher.

Goodnight!