Well.

It's been 4 weeks of school, and all the schedule changes that were supposed to occur... well, dream on.  The picture is grim: I have 230 students (more than double normal load, more than triple most other teachers'), a tiny room, and lots of problems (ex: student enrolled but not in class.  student in class but not enrolled.  repeat with new set of students every single day).  Did I mention there is no air conditioning STILL?  I had to go out and buy industrial size fans (not exaggerating).

Last night I stayed at the school until 9pm to meet the parents.  They were all (*cough* extremely *cough*) impressed with the class website I set up and how I'm handling the scheduling issues.  However, they are upset: kids in the wrong classes means kids with messed up schedules and not enough credits for high GPAs.

So, the students groan and sweat through class with 40 other students each period.  I groan and "glow" while placating myself by reading emails from the principal saying that it will "soon" be worked out.  The parents get frustrated.  It's been going on for four weeks and is now at a fever pitch.  I walked into the bathroom in the teachers lounge today to find 2 (female of course) teachers hovered over a cell phone.  They looked up suspiciously, saw it was just me, then went back to the phone.  I went into a stall and heard one start to sob, the other comfort her, then the first unleash a string of profanity that was actually quite creative.  The problem?  Sounded something along the lines of being over-worked, cussed at by students, and unsupported by administration.  The only clear words I heard were, "And I don't care if she's a vice principal, a principal, or the super superintendent.  You can't TREAT people like that."

As I write this, I'm conflicted.  I realize how awful my working conditions are.  Yet, I'm surrounded by the languages I love, most of the students are sweet, optimistic young rascals that make me laugh, I am paid well enough to live, play, eat, and travel whenever and however I want.  I'm very, very happy.

Although I wouldn't mind if the administration, who has all that and more, would do what they are paid a whole lot to do.  When I brought up the AC problem again, the administration said with a straight face that it would cost five million dollars to fix.

Five.  Million. Dollars.

The fact that I could build five new amazing, fully-staffed schools with that, plus a yacht, didn't seem like the right response at the time. 

Well, it's time for Funny Picture After Rant.  Here's a gem of an "About Me" assignment.