Thursday, May 08, 2008

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

17 comments:

sheep#100 said...

That's a great calculator: specifically designed to mess with the heads and digits of the local accounting majors!

Knitting Linguist said...

I love it. I must admit I was surprised to see that the object in the calculator package was, in fact, a calculator. You just never can tell... It's nice to hear that the school has honored your principal by changing its name; a good principal is a thing of joy and beauty.

Jeanne said...

Oh, yeah, a calculator cozy is the perfect gift. LOL! Cute little item, though.

Ronni said...

That is a very scary calculator. But I do agree that you should knit him a calculator cosy.

Kath said...

Those of us who are math-impaired feel that one can never have too many calculators lurking about. Because really, a calculator shortage can seriously impact your knitting, you know?

But I think that's a calculator with loftier goals, it looks like it wants to be an iPod.

Anonymous said...

I would be the envy of all my accountant friends if I could flash that calculator.

Anonymous said...

That is much cooler-looking than any of the calculators here at my house.

Mia said...

OMG that is too funny!

Anonymous said...

That is the coolest calculator! Your Boss is one of the good guys.

Cursing Mama said...

That is one awesome calculator! Perfectly sized for the knit bag too.

knitseashore said...

The calculator helps you compute how many teaching days left until retirement, yes?

Deb said...

At our school, we (parents) gave the teachers breakfast, lunch, dinner, massages, happy hour, Target gift cards, flowers, muffins, free time. I think today the Chippendale Dancers are coming in at noon. At Catholic Schools, it's all about guilt.

The Kelly Green Rogue said...

you could get a dog. It just needs to be the right type of dog. I did lots of research before invited Da Boys to come live with me. We've lived in apts most of the time they've been with me. Shih Tzus are great apartment dogs, they don't make a lot of noise, they are happy and small, they don't shed, and once around the block and they are exhausted! I would definitely recommend one, or two, they are social and need company but the fluffy kitty might be able to fill that need. LOL

Yarnhog said...

That wrapping job made me laugh out loud. My father is not one for gifts, but the few he has given are always wrapped the same way--in newspaper.

MathIsBeauty said...

I think you should knit him a cozy like this one http://www.ravelry.com/projects/MathIsBeauty/knit-ipod-hoody-mobile-phone-cozy

It should totally fit the i-Pod looking calculator. It is from my Ravelry page.

Alwen said...

I was completely expecting it to be one of those calculators with the sparkly jewels for keys.

Donna Lee said...

Good bosses like that are so hard to give up. I had a principal like that and when she left, we got a "my way or the highway" kind of guy. I ended up on the highway...