Appreciated...

Apparently, it is Teacher Appreciation Week.  I did not know this.  It wasn't on the calendar nor did any of my students rush to my car with bunches of daisies and chocolates when I arrived on Monday.  Nor did they do this on any other day.  They have, however, offered many less than helpful suggestions with regard to how I might improve my teaching.  But I suspect these were more along the lines of decreasing the workload rather than being in any way constructive.

My principal decided that this most hallowed of weeks required that he shower his staff with gifts. We get a bit surly when we aren't feeling appreciated.  He made sure that we each had a little giftie in our staff mailboxes this week so that we wouldn't riot or start stealing the office supplies.  I like my principal.  He "gets" us.

I've moved around a lot in my career and I've worked under many principals.  They come in all different shapes, sizes and temperaments.  It becomes easy, after a fashion, to start seeing patterns in their leadership styles.  I can spot the "let's talk about everything and see if we can come to a consensus" type.  I know who is going to be a "my word is law" kind of administrator.  I'm quick to pick up on the ones that stay in their offices and the ones that are always at the back of your classroom.  

Like I said, I'm pretty fond of the current Boss Of Me.  He's a nice mixture of Old School and Let's Try Something New.  He is retiring this year, though.  I'll miss him.  He has a wonderful no-nonsense kind of way about him and is not afraid to go all Father-Knows-Best when needed.  Today he told me that I cannot have a dog.  He reminded me that I live in a condo.  And that I would have to walk it.  And clean up after it.  He does not feel that this is the right time in my life for a dog.  

You should have heard him when I had to call the school when my truck broke down on the highway.  There was yelling.  But it was the "concerned" kind of yelling and came with reminders that a vehicle is a responsibility not a right.  

You'd think this would be annoying and condescending, but it isn't really.  It's kind of nice to have someone looking out for you in a weird way that will probably earn me a great deal of hate mail from women everywhere.  But his intentions are noble and you just can't find fault with that.  Or at least I can't.  When I came back after spring break with the new car, I told him that he could now retire with a clear conscious.  His job was done.  The truck was gone.  He was happy.

For all that, he is not exactly a fan of "presentation."  Sure, he was gonna gift his staff in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.  But anyone who was looking for a hand-tied bow was in for a sad day.  

Hmmm....I wonder what it could be!  I'm all giddy with the anticipation!!!!

Surprise!!!!

It's a calculator!  He fooled us!  I thought it might be skis....

Please note:  I blurred out the name of my school because:

 1.  After the nightmare about the zombies that had all those political overtones and ethical dilemmas, I am now afraid of zombie stalkers who want my vote.  They shall never find me!!!  

and

2.  The name on the calculator is wrong anyway.  They've changed the name of the school to reflect the years of service my principal has given there.  It's now named after him.

Next year, I'm willing to bet that nobody gets calculators for Teacher Appreciation Week.  I won't be there since I'm being transferred, so I suppose it doesn't matter.  They may even get a principal who doesn't panic on Sunday night after the secretary calls to remind him that it is Teacher Appreciation Week and begin rooting through the Closet Of School Stuff That They Keep For Emergencies Such As This.  They may get chocolates or fine jewelry.

But I like my calculator.  It's even cooler than the pen I got last year from the same closet.  I'm gonna miss that guy.  Seriously.  

I should knit him something.  Maybe a calculator cozy...

SA