dare i call it progress?

apparently, the wrath of the little monsters i teach is getting to other teachers, too.

there is a god.

consequently, we've been having daily meetings about this problem. during said meetings, teachers reminisce about communist-era discipline bliss, spew angry words on the students' blatant disregard for discipline/respect and prepare to conjure up some yet-to-be-defined, all-inclusive solution to save our sanity.

step one: change the schedule. classes are now 5 minutes shorter in the afternoons. and breaks in between classes, once 10 minutes, are now 5.

step two: design new methods for teaching that work with these discipline issues.

step three: ya...they lost me at step two, in a voracious tornado of big words and really fast, passionate, shockingly intense banter between all interested parties.


i may not know the plan of action yet, but i sure am relieved to hear that other people are...ahem... agitated by wasting daily class periods 'policing' (read: attempting to figure out what in the hell to do with) students who chip off the top three layers of their desks during class, throw the shards at each other and then pick up their bags and leave with 20 minutes to go.

it really is a sweet breath of fresh air.

5 minutes more of peaceful, wonderful, rejuvenating free time for every afternoon class and 5 fewer minutes of hell in the form of seventh grade boys? everyday?

i'll take it.

i've nearly made it through another week with my optimism, good humor and positive attitude intact.

i think this is cause for celebration.