Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...and the snow...

Well, we did not get whomped with new snow, but there's enough of it to clear away, and it's heavy and soggy. The birds were affronted; they ate their way through the bird seed in the feeders twice yesterday. I see the states next to us on both sides did, however, get a load of new snow, and many are without power again. What a mess. April Fool's, indeed. 

So, today I'll put my boots on again and head to work. I assume some kids may stay home-- let's be honest, we don't have school on Monday for the eclipse, so why not take a day? I would (well, I probably wouldn't, but maybe I would?). But there's work to be done, and I'll be there to do it with those who are present. I hope my seniors come to school--their three day "trip", followed by a snow day, has given them a nice little break. The essay that is still due today--well, we'll see how many did it. I'm not laying any money on that one. 

I've noticed that with the last couple of years' seniors, they are both passive and easily triggered. Maybe it's the result of the Covid shift in their learning, or maybe it's leachate from the toxic national anxiety, but whatever the cause, I'm worried for their future selves. They are, as a group, not all that ambitious. O, they want high-paying jobs, lots of free time to play, and they want to have nice homes and so on. All good goals, but they don't seem to want to connect working for it, and that it'll take time, to the achievements. And when asked to do something --anything-- on their "own time" they balk. Students taking courses for dual credit should expect that there will be work over weekends or on vacation weeks-- that's college, kids. But they resist. Even the "good ones" don't do much on the weekends. And they are fully aware that we'll have to accept work late-- otherwise, it becomes a very uncomfortable situation. And work habits do not figure into assessments/grades-- just objective things that can be measured on a rubric. Teachers are backed into a corner. And these kids know it, and play it for all its worth. 

Sigh. So, I'll clear off my car, slog my way to work, only to have few students and even fewer papers. It's a paycheck, right? There will likely be a couple who have done their work, and it's for them I go to work, usually pretty willingly. And my sophomores, still enthusiastic and fun, will make the day worth it. How sad that the seniors are so jaded and entitled. Maybe they are just scared, and it's all a show? It's possible. But it takes a lot of patience to have to keep herding turtles.

Have a good day, and stay warm.

C