Consider Me Prepared
So today was absolutely nuts because the library aide who was supposed to work a full day (normally we have full day coverage with one aide in the morning and the other in the afternoon) called in sick. I could say something about that, but I won't.
And of course we are being called to help hither and yon--and right as second period is about to start, our secretary, who went to deliver some A/V equipment, calls for help because apparently nobody in that room has even a basic grasp of technology. Especially our secretary. My co-librarian took the call and tried to resolve the issue over the phone. BAD IDEA. She asked the secretary to check the back of the computer to see if the network cable connection had flickering lights to indicate the connection was live.
She got put on hold so long she hung up the phone and headed downstairs to the classroom.
In the meantime, the secretary called back. "[Co-librarian]'s on the way," I told her, as I was watching students start to filter in for second period.
"Oh," she says. "Well, do you know about these lights I'm supposed to be looking for?"
Seriously? Does she not get why someone is on the way down to her? And that the result is I'm the only librarian (and unbeknown to her the only one there at all) and I have classes and free period students in need of my immediate attention?
She does this all the time. One of us will ask her to do something tech-related, she'll say "O.K.," and then she'll go to somebody else because she doesn't understand what she was just asked to do. Wasting everyone's time. She's been at this school way longer than I have but doesn't seem to have any comprehension of half the things the library deals with on a regular basis.
There's a lot of talk about the budget right now. Cuts sound inevitable. It's created a sourness among our aides that is at times somewhat unprofessional. We've got a secretary who can support us only when paperwork or phone calls are involved, or if there's a request for equipment she can identify.
If I can survive a day like today, maybe staff cuts won't hurt too badly.
That is, if I have a job next year.
And of course we are being called to help hither and yon--and right as second period is about to start, our secretary, who went to deliver some A/V equipment, calls for help because apparently nobody in that room has even a basic grasp of technology. Especially our secretary. My co-librarian took the call and tried to resolve the issue over the phone. BAD IDEA. She asked the secretary to check the back of the computer to see if the network cable connection had flickering lights to indicate the connection was live.
She got put on hold so long she hung up the phone and headed downstairs to the classroom.
In the meantime, the secretary called back. "[Co-librarian]'s on the way," I told her, as I was watching students start to filter in for second period.
"Oh," she says. "Well, do you know about these lights I'm supposed to be looking for?"
Seriously? Does she not get why someone is on the way down to her? And that the result is I'm the only librarian (and unbeknown to her the only one there at all) and I have classes and free period students in need of my immediate attention?
She does this all the time. One of us will ask her to do something tech-related, she'll say "O.K.," and then she'll go to somebody else because she doesn't understand what she was just asked to do. Wasting everyone's time. She's been at this school way longer than I have but doesn't seem to have any comprehension of half the things the library deals with on a regular basis.
There's a lot of talk about the budget right now. Cuts sound inevitable. It's created a sourness among our aides that is at times somewhat unprofessional. We've got a secretary who can support us only when paperwork or phone calls are involved, or if there's a request for equipment she can identify.
If I can survive a day like today, maybe staff cuts won't hurt too badly.
That is, if I have a job next year.
Comments
well, the best thing about that work day is it's over.
i hope you've got a job there next year. I can only imagine what life is like in public schools right now. Our home district is cutting all of its pre-k programs because of budget cuts. Can't imagine how fun it is to work there right now with all that staff knowing they're not coming back next year.
It smart to think ahead about certain things given all of the uncertainty, but don't worry too much about the things you can't control at this point. I've found that preparing for anything is better than worrying. You'll be okay.
Dave--exactly. That's one thing where I have to give my mom credit. She might balk first out of nervousness, but she always lets me walk her through stuff on the computer.
Pam--ha ha! "I see dumb people."
Maybe it was a passive-aggressive moment, but I left the coffee pot for her to clean out on Friday as payback of sorts. She has this obsession with not being the one to clean it if she made coffee, but by the end of the day I'd had enough.