Thursday, December 06, 2007

The Warrior

I've mentioned before my somewhat odd teaching circumstances.  With two different grades, several different schedules and very little consistency working between any of them, I don't have a typical teaching day.  Hence, I also don't always have a designated lunch period.  Last year was particularly difficult and I pretty much had kids working in the classroom from 7:40 to 3:15.  

But, I am also contractually allowed a twenty minute lunch break per day.  So, I got in the habit of carving out those twenty minutes for myself regardless of the day's routine.  If there were kids who needed to be in my classroom, I simply set them up to work independently for that block of time and called it, "lunch."  And, since I don't really eat much during the day, I usually knit.  I had to stay in the classroom, but I gave myself permission to wield the needles rather than the chalk for that little slice of the day.

However...for those wandering by (perhaps on their way to lunches in the child-free teacher's room) this probably looked a bit odd.  It may have even looked like a certain Ms. Sheep was a bit derelict in her duties.  Teachers, who are a generally responsible lot, like to think that everyone is doing what they are supposed to do.  It is very likely that they might raise the alarm if they think a colleague is flagrantly breaking the rules.

And that, my friends, is exactly what happened last spring.  

Now, before you get all up in arms and start organizing yourselves in protest of this horrific violation of my Civil and Fiber-Related Rights, please know that I considered this a "no harm/no foul" sort of situation.  Anyone who doesn't work my schedule isn't necessarily going to consider the issues that come along with it and it was easy to see how they might misinterpret the scene.  None of the parties involved were trying to be Meanie-Heads and everyone was more than gracious about it once the situation was explained.  

However, I opted to quit with the knit while at school after that.  Sure, I could have continued freely, but you have to choose your battles in this life.  If it came up once, it would come up again for someone who missed the original mini-drama.  I really don't have the energy to keep explaining my schedule and, to be perfectly honest, I don't really always understand it well enough to do so with any real clarity.  

Although, I do have to admit that the idea of a throng of knitters all converging outside my classroom window waving handknit banners with cleverly stranded words of support and singing, "We Shall Not Be Moved" tickles me mightily.  It would almost be worth the resulting "discussion" in the Principal's office later.  But don't do it, please.  The weather has really taken a turn up here and the winds are rather brisk.  Even with the finest of scarves, sweaters, hats and mittens, you would likely catch a chill.  I'd feel badly...

Tomorrow, though, we are suspending the self-imposed moratorium.  I have given it a great deal of deep and complex thought.  I have weighed my options.  I have come up with three very, very good reasons for taking the needles with me to work tomorrow:

1.  Tomorrow is report card day and, thus, an early release day for the students.  The theory behind this may be that those students for whom the news is not good might need the extra time for "explanation."  We like to accommodate our charges.

2.  I have, for reasons that escape me entirely, decided that I must have a hand knit scarf ready for holiday gifting by Saturday morning.  This is doable.  But, the extra knitting time once the children have gone home to face the music will make it more of a sure thing.  This scarf is for my Stylist/Life Coach, after all.  It's not like I can just show up empty handed.  She's doing my color.  We take no chances.

3.  One of the things I've put on the schedule for tomorrow afternoon is a meeting with one of the new teachers to help him work on a behavior support plan for a student.  This is the same teacher who, at the recent district workshops, spent a good twenty minutes grousing about the women in his earlier sessions "just sitting there and knitting the whole time."  He then had to sit next to me in awkward silence while I knit a sock during the final activity of the day.  I think that bringing my knitting along for our meeting will be not only appropriate...it will be necessary.  

Like I said...you need to choose your battles.

SA


22 comments:

Mel said...

Oooh, I think reason #3 is the best of all.

Kath said...

Yes, I believe you should be knitting while meeting with this particular errr....gentleman. Let's just make sure the sharp pointy sticks don't get too close to him or any other fine members of the educational system, okay???

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, knitting is necessary for the meeting with this teacher!

Anonymous said...

I hope you get the scarf knit for Saturday! I agree that it's important to keep the Life Coach happy and your hair looking good.

missemilysmom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
missemilysmom said...

ooohh!! I wonder if it was me! How exciting! And I must have looked odd.. it was an arm for a knitted babe! GOOD LUCK! I am bringing the Gumdrop hat today!

Anonymous said...

I hope your meeting goes well. Poke him with your needles if you don't like the way he looks at you.
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

Anne P said...

#3 was the clincher for me too, although #2 has a lot of validity. Besides, either way, you'll likely have an FO to show off!

Anonymous said...

If he doesn't grasp the ways of knitting and how it calms the unruly spirit, you have my permission to *show* him with the scarf. (I think pointy needles are considered a deadly weapon, but who would consider a scarf to be one?)

Em said...

Oh, yes, knitting must be done in front of this gentleman. And besides, you need to keep the person in charge of your hair color happy. If you don't, you might end up with purple or something garish. While that would amuse the students, I can't see the rest of the faculty approving.

sheep#100 said...

Chaaaarge!

Mia said...

Oh yes, I think the knitting is QUITE necessary :) But I wouldn't have stopped bringing them at lunch time, and I know what you're going thru. Most of us just eat lunch at our desks, but not at any set hours, and I don't always eat much real food at lunch time, so people will occassionally come in and see me reading a book - and their eyes almost pop out... I can't even imagine what they'd say/do if I had knitting! sheesh! Some people really need to get a life so they have something else to worry about!

Lazuli said...

May the battle be well fought!

Anonymous said...

And as we all know, the success of a Bevavior Support Plan DEPENDS on the teacher modeling serene, controlled behavior, i.e. knitting. Which you will be able to model. And which he will need to learn PDQ.

Susan Pandorf said...

As things heat up with Sunflower Designs, I find I have less time to read, but I ALWAYS read you.

You're a MUST, not a SHOULD.

What's the difference?

A MUST is self imposed, a SHOULD is someone else's idea...

Blessings!

Cursing Mama said...

*Takes up needles in solidarity*

Rabbitch said...

The past tense is "knat".

Do not make me come and put red marker all over your blog, missy!

Yarnhog said...

I always figured kids got out early on report card day to throw parents off-schedule and allow teachers to make a clean getaway.

mehitabel said...

Wow, mine never got off early on report card day--but then, this is Calif. not civilization! I do think you've chosen the right battle to fight here--this dude might as well learn the Power of The Knitter up close, before he says something really stupid next time!!

Anne said...

My place now posts grades and comments online for parents. There's nowhere to hide.

Trish said...

I agree - necessary!

And if he starts causing trouble - just poke him a little with your needles (not too hard, of course).

Ronni said...

Dude doesn't have a clue does he? I hope later on, as I read the rest of the week I'll find out how he survived the experience.