Wednesday, September 27, 2006
I've got to stop the bleeding
This morning, we had a school-wide mandatory assembly. It was a presentation called "Rachel's Challenge." Rachel Scott was the first student killed at the Columbine shootings in April 1999. This presentation covered her story and challenges participants to five challenges to make the world a better place.
Students packed the bleachers and the chairs on the floor. Teachers squeezed next to each other along empty wall space. The room was silent while the speaker made his presentation. I have never been to an assembly at WHS when the student body has been so quiet and attentive. It inspired me.
I was hoping my students might be inspired to do good things too.
If they were, it wasn't apparent in the Spokesman room. Instead, I feel like the staff is coming apart at the seems. For the first time, I saw Elizabeth so frustrated that she seemed about to give up. Apparently, Jake was just as frustrated. I think the shortened issue schedule is taking its toll and I'm not sure we're going to pull through.
I was shocked to look up from my work during seventh period and see people sitting around the room with seemingly nothing to do. The people who missed layout yesterday did not seem phased that they lost points, or more importantly, that the jobs they needed to do didn't get done by them.
I want my students to learn how to deal with deadline stress. This issue is definitely deadline stress. Maybe I am just not prepared to help them through it. Really, the key is to just make a decision and stick to it, follow it through. The more you change your mind on a short deadline, the more time is lost and the less work gets done.
If the staff gets this paper out, which I know they will one way or another, I hope they learn how much teamwork means to the success of this paper. Maybe that will be the pep talk I give tomorrow. Getting mad and frustrated doesn't accomplish much.
So, Rachel Scott, here I go. Maybe if I can point out the little teamwork things staffers can do, I can start the chain reaction for them to accomplish the good work they are capable of. Keep your fingers crossed!
Students packed the bleachers and the chairs on the floor. Teachers squeezed next to each other along empty wall space. The room was silent while the speaker made his presentation. I have never been to an assembly at WHS when the student body has been so quiet and attentive. It inspired me.
I was hoping my students might be inspired to do good things too.
If they were, it wasn't apparent in the Spokesman room. Instead, I feel like the staff is coming apart at the seems. For the first time, I saw Elizabeth so frustrated that she seemed about to give up. Apparently, Jake was just as frustrated. I think the shortened issue schedule is taking its toll and I'm not sure we're going to pull through.
I was shocked to look up from my work during seventh period and see people sitting around the room with seemingly nothing to do. The people who missed layout yesterday did not seem phased that they lost points, or more importantly, that the jobs they needed to do didn't get done by them.
I want my students to learn how to deal with deadline stress. This issue is definitely deadline stress. Maybe I am just not prepared to help them through it. Really, the key is to just make a decision and stick to it, follow it through. The more you change your mind on a short deadline, the more time is lost and the less work gets done.
If the staff gets this paper out, which I know they will one way or another, I hope they learn how much teamwork means to the success of this paper. Maybe that will be the pep talk I give tomorrow. Getting mad and frustrated doesn't accomplish much.
So, Rachel Scott, here I go. Maybe if I can point out the little teamwork things staffers can do, I can start the chain reaction for them to accomplish the good work they are capable of. Keep your fingers crossed!
