9 Down: 171 to Go

Yep, the first 9 days of school are over. The schedule is still screwed up, but the powers that be tell us that by Tuesday next, we should have a schedule that is, at least, workable. We have so many special needs kids, and large classes, that there aren't enough aides to go around to every class that needs one. They assured the us that they won't be hiring another aide, due to budget, so right now we are working in the "pissing on forest fires" mode. We added 28 new students in our three grades, most of which have special needs, so that has caused part of the problem, and administration decided to institute a new reading program this year which encompasses two period blocks, which, in turn, ties up two of the four aides for two hours at a time. One of these reading blocks has 33 students and 17 of them are learning disabled. The two of us who are left are busy as beavers from start of school until the final bell rings. I wonder how effective any of us are being if we are so torn.
I have a real aversion to these kids who are wearing the baggy jeans well below the equator! No one wants to look at a guy's boxers. What is so damn cool about that, anyhow? Yesterday, my coworker told one of the boys to pull up his jeans or else she "would pull them up for him and I don't think you would like it." He gave her a "duh" look, yanked them up, and immediately shoved them back down before he sat down. Then there's the gal in my math class who bent over in front of me to get her purse and binder off the floor and exposed about 4 inches of thong!
On someone like Christy Brinkley, I wouldn't mind, but on a 14 year old 8th grader, it was just too gross and I think I actually blushed. The math teacher, who is female, told her she would have to be more careful cause no one in class should have to look at her thong! Then there's the cleavage problem. What can I say about that? Probably the least said, the better. We do have a dress code, and the assistant principal has assured us that he will enforce it. We are not to argue with students, just sent them to the office. Parents will be called. I remain hopeful, but also doubtful! We have better things to do than police butt cracks and boobs!
Four days into our school year, our principal resigned. It is a good move for her. She received her PhD. this summer and has moved up to being a superintendant of a very large school system. Her replacement has been in our system as an assistant principal for a few years. I have heard many good things about him. He impressed me yesterday just by stopping by my room and chatting for a while. He said more to me in that few minutes than the other one had in the past two years.
As you can see, school is proceding normally! Maybe it's just me being older, and truly overworked that makes some of these moleholes seem like mountains right now. I know as the days count down, it will be better. OMG! I just remembered, we begin our County Assessment Testing on Monday! Followed in 2 weeks by State Testing! Zounds! I just thought things might even out! I"d better rest up!

Grace!

JE