January bluster and blues?

January feels both like a form of enforced stasis and a rocket on rails. The weather is cold, not too snowy here (though who knows, that could change), and I dislike being outside on windy days. I'm such a homebody, but one who yearns to see and do-- it's a conundrum. It's not quite cabin fever (yet), but I would not mind breaking routine to go to a museum or some live music or something. We tried that last Friday, the live music, but I knew we were in for it when the performer began her set with "The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round." Seriously. I know there were families with little ones in attendance, but the paying customers with beers in their hands were not amused. O well. The food was good. 

That said-- rocket on rails. The semester is coming to a close next Friday. I'm glad, in a way-- I don't mind shifting what we talk about. But so many kids are out lately-- a few because they are sick (it is winter), but others because of doctor's appointments, family trips, etc. This weirdly short span of time between the holiday break (hey, try going on vacation when we are not in session, eh?), and the start of a new term is always a little bumpy. But this year it seems more so. We run out of time to get things "made up," and then kids are upset. Well, show up, then. Parents are to blame, I know, but still-- I'm not sure how to convince them that being in class the last two weeks of a term is important. We have things to wrap up. It's not some hanging around, easy slide to the finish. 

In the meantime, though, I'm working my way through papers and so on-- I desperately do not want to be frazzled over the next two weekends. Anything that is not done by January 17 won't get done. The postponed holiday party for staff has been canceled; only nine people committed to going. I don't think it's apathy (well, some of it might be), but instead, the cold, the time of year, and the semester flip. So be it. 

So today, we have a staff meeting after work, and the primary topic is student absenteeism. I honestly do not think there is one thing we can do about most of it; as I said, parents are the prime factor. We have a policy in place that if they go over absences, they may (repeat that, may) fail the course(s). But then, we get all soft and gooey and kids don't fail-- they meet with administration, etc. and get talked at. I think they should fail unless it's an extenuating circumstance, but then parents would be angry and it's a whole kerfuffle. No win situation, to be sure. 

That all said, I'm off to work shortly. Maybe I'll have more than half the students today? We'll see.

C