Scheduling

So, another school year is in full swing now, but in my time as a teacher I've never had such a horrid schedule.

As a band director, one would think that I'd have mostly band/music classes, right? I mean, every other year I've had band, fine arts, music appreciation, etc. that I've been teaching.

Well, this year, when they first released the schedule in July, I was supposed to teach 4 hrs of Algebra...ALGEBRA!!! I was no good at that stuff in school, so that is one of the last things I should be teaching, not to mention what in the world possessed them to attempt to foist that upon me. Of course, they had the PE coaches teaching home ec, too, so I wonder if that was just some sort of cruel joke.Needless to say, I raised hell about that horrid schedule.

First day of school comes and they do change it, but now I have 2 hours of band/music classes. One of which is across town at the high school. The rest of the time, I'm trapped out back in a trailer "teaching" study hall! I'm seriously thinking of leaving after this year, but we'll see what happens between now and the end of the school year. We'll just call this strike one.

As bad as my schedule is, my fellow music teachers have it worse! For instance, the high school band director teaches 7 hrs, only one of them is band, and has no off hour! How do they get away with that? Well, supposedly, one is a class with teachers and it counts as a planning period. --rolls eyes--

As far as the only having 1 band class, his primary degree is in History, and they're too cheap to hire another teacher. Actually, let me take that back. 8 teachers left the high school this year (1 was fired for some illicit facebook pictures sent to a student...allegedly). It was said that they would hire the replacements, which they did, but they also threw in 6 other new faculty member. Did I mention all of them are coaches?!?

As far as the his schedule goes, he has the entire marching band crammed into last period (including flags, drumline, and dancers). Yeah, that'll be fun when the season is over. Oh, and no jazz band class...even though they've gotten superior ratings at jazz festivals the last 3 yrs. He's said that as soon as he finds something else, he's leaving, no hesitation!

I know this place isn't exactly high on the arts or anything that isn't football, but do they really have to screw with schedules like this? Ugh!!!!

Anyway, thanks for listening/reading!

Last day of freedom

Remember when you were a kid and the last day of school would come and you'd just about knock the teachers over getting out of there to stat your summer vacation? Those vacations seemed to last forever back then, right? Well, these days it seems as if they're getting shorter and shorter.

Today is my last day of vacation. Tomorrow its back to work. The first pointless teacher's meeting of the year. Students come Friday. Don't ask me why they can'
t just wait and get things started on Monday. My guess is that it has something to do with being able to get supplies over the weekend.

I don't know where you all live or how early/late schools start, but down here they seem to be getting earlier and earlier each year. I dare say that before I retire they'll be getting out on a Thursday and starting back the following Tuesday. Mark my words!

At any rate, I'm going to take the day and try and enjoy my last day of freedom. Hope you're all having a good day!