Snow days were heaven as a child. A day out of school to play in the snow. Even I had a really good time for a day or two when I had some snow days for the ice storm in December but that was because I was actually playing in the snow. The whole time though I was thinking how much more I would have liked to have been at school with my students. Today was another snow day, apparently because of a tiny bit of ice (feeble in comparison to what we had in December). I guess the school (and so very many other schools in NH) felt that it was dangerous on the roads which I completely understand because the last thing I would ever want is to put my students in any sort of danger. It made me sad though, I love work, I want to be there.
In order to try to keep myself busy I did some work related to school, dealt with life a bit and then I went to the gym. I tend to read while I'm biking at the gym and today was no exception. On occasion there will be someone who insists on distracting me. Loud talkers, too heavy for fast running on treadmillers, everyone's my friend at the gymers. These are all folks I can deal with, although I would rather never have to, I understand that everyone has a different expectation of their gym experience. Today though something really upset me, a new kind of 'er'.
The I'm going to make teachers look like d-bags because I'm a terrible oner.
There was a woman on the treadmill talking as loud as she is probably capable of about how excited she was to have a snow day. She was just all smiles and happiness. She was talking about how she'd earned it. Talking about how she wishes they happened more often. Talking about how she deserves it and how great a teachers job is because we don't have to go when the weather is bad. She even went out of her way to say that she specifically was not missing her students. Good lord.
I'm not one to avoid confrontation and I almost said something to her. There were a good number of folks in the gym and I wanted to let her know that she was the minority. She is the teacher who the children don't respect because she doesn't respect them. I love my job and look forward to every minute I'm fortunate enough to spend with my students. This hag (and a small handful of other hag teachers - male and female) clearly does not value exactly how fortunate she is to have such an opportunity to interact with the best people our world houses.
So to you Ms. Awful Teacher, and anyone like you, as well as to anyone who believes that all teachers feel that way, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. I would have driven around all day today to each students house giving them a writing assignment that would not stop them from enjoying their snow day yet would keep them thinking and on their toes. I bet you wouldn't have even gone to one of their houses if they called you and said they were in danger.
To all of those educators who spent the day hoping that their students were finding some way to be young while also exploring and learning - I would like to thank you.
