My First P. D. Day
Workday - 8:30am-3:30pm
Today I experienced my first P. D. day. For those who don't know what that is, "P. D." stands for "professional development". It's a day the students get off, but teachers have to come in to learn something. Sometimes what we learn is a total write-off, apparently. I heard about P. D. days of yore where teachers had been to juggling and feng shui seminars. Some people pick the most pointless ones so they can just sit in the back and sleep. Today, however, we got a pretty meaningful bag of stuff. The morning (and one of the afternoon workshops) was dedicated to promoting trades and apprenticeships.
It's an important topic, although mostly lost on the kids that go to my school. These kids are going to university to be doctors, or their parents will kill them and that's that! Much of the question period during the panel discussion (in the second half of the morning) was dedicated to how we can convince parents that it's "okay" for their kids to pursue these fields. No one had any real answers.
Still, I would strongly encourage the word to get out about apprenticeships at most other schools. Schools with higher drop-out rates and kids with no plans for after graduation. I don't think people realize how much money you can make at a career in some trades. In one of the tech schools I worked at, I had seen a poster comparing beginning salaries of most of the careers out there. It also listed the salaries about 2 and 10 years down the road. I talked to another staff member about this poster to make sure we could track one down for our school. It's a very interesting read.
Just to recap, though, most of the day was still pointless. That morning panel was crap! It had people who either didn't know what they were talking about, or only knew about one thing and just came to promote this, or were very poor public speakers. Although I do feel bad about one of them. One of the teachers forced her husband to be one of the panelists and talk on behalf of his field (in carpentry). He was not the public speaking sort, and was visibly nervous. During his short spiel it sounded as if he was going to cry! Another panelist (who, I must add, arrived late) had answered a question at the end by promoting the exact opposite of what the discussion was about! Sad.
Is it needless to say we engaged in another liquid lunch? It's a proud P. D. day tradition. We kept some composure during the afternoon workshops (I should specify that "we" consists of three members of the music department. The two usual lushes, and myself. I'm really not a drunkard, but I can appreciate the use of being in such a state on the occasion). I even learned a couple of important bits of info in both sessions.
The second session happened to be about teaching sensitive issues, though. I knew they were going to get giggly. Sure enough, the tables were stacked with a variety of "controversial" library books. I grabbed Moby Dick off of one pile and turned to my colleague:
"Look! There's certainly sensitive issue in this one!"
"*snicker* It says 'dick'. *giggle*"
Yeah. No one said we were a mature bunch. Of course, then I found the novel Sexing the Cherry.
"Oh my GOD!" as I tossed it beside me.
"*snicker* Ooh. I think I read this, already." He was joking, of course.
I actually have no clue what that book was about.
At 3 o'clock, we wrapped up the day with a little ice cream social. That was an awesome sundae bar. Still, probably not a good idea after what I had for lunch. Owww.
In conclusion: P. D. days are good fun. I got the best of both worlds. I had drunken silliness and learned quite a bit!
p.s. Happy Valentine's Day, folks!
Today I experienced my first P. D. day. For those who don't know what that is, "P. D." stands for "professional development". It's a day the students get off, but teachers have to come in to learn something. Sometimes what we learn is a total write-off, apparently. I heard about P. D. days of yore where teachers had been to juggling and feng shui seminars. Some people pick the most pointless ones so they can just sit in the back and sleep. Today, however, we got a pretty meaningful bag of stuff. The morning (and one of the afternoon workshops) was dedicated to promoting trades and apprenticeships.
It's an important topic, although mostly lost on the kids that go to my school. These kids are going to university to be doctors, or their parents will kill them and that's that! Much of the question period during the panel discussion (in the second half of the morning) was dedicated to how we can convince parents that it's "okay" for their kids to pursue these fields. No one had any real answers.
Still, I would strongly encourage the word to get out about apprenticeships at most other schools. Schools with higher drop-out rates and kids with no plans for after graduation. I don't think people realize how much money you can make at a career in some trades. In one of the tech schools I worked at, I had seen a poster comparing beginning salaries of most of the careers out there. It also listed the salaries about 2 and 10 years down the road. I talked to another staff member about this poster to make sure we could track one down for our school. It's a very interesting read.
Just to recap, though, most of the day was still pointless. That morning panel was crap! It had people who either didn't know what they were talking about, or only knew about one thing and just came to promote this, or were very poor public speakers. Although I do feel bad about one of them. One of the teachers forced her husband to be one of the panelists and talk on behalf of his field (in carpentry). He was not the public speaking sort, and was visibly nervous. During his short spiel it sounded as if he was going to cry! Another panelist (who, I must add, arrived late) had answered a question at the end by promoting the exact opposite of what the discussion was about! Sad.
Is it needless to say we engaged in another liquid lunch? It's a proud P. D. day tradition. We kept some composure during the afternoon workshops (I should specify that "we" consists of three members of the music department. The two usual lushes, and myself. I'm really not a drunkard, but I can appreciate the use of being in such a state on the occasion). I even learned a couple of important bits of info in both sessions.
The second session happened to be about teaching sensitive issues, though. I knew they were going to get giggly. Sure enough, the tables were stacked with a variety of "controversial" library books. I grabbed Moby Dick off of one pile and turned to my colleague:
"Look! There's certainly sensitive issue in this one!"
"*snicker* It says 'dick'. *giggle*"
Yeah. No one said we were a mature bunch. Of course, then I found the novel Sexing the Cherry.
"Oh my GOD!" as I tossed it beside me.
"*snicker* Ooh. I think I read this, already." He was joking, of course.
I actually have no clue what that book was about.
At 3 o'clock, we wrapped up the day with a little ice cream social. That was an awesome sundae bar. Still, probably not a good idea after what I had for lunch. Owww.
In conclusion: P. D. days are good fun. I got the best of both worlds. I had drunken silliness and learned quite a bit!
p.s. Happy Valentine's Day, folks!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home