Through working for a school district – and after covering the education beat for about 11-12 years at the Huron Daily Tribune – I’ve been afforded an “inside look” at schools that not everyone has been able to have. It’s a privilege to have this vantage point.
Actually, it’s kind of a mixture between an “insider” and an “outsider,” even though I work directly for Lakers. As the public relations coordinator, I’m not in the classrooms all day, every day – I pop in and out. I believe this “insider/outsider” mixture, though, is needed to do the kind of work I do. While I’m a school employee whose job is to promote the district, I still am somewhat of a reporter, whose job is to be objective and balance various viewpoints. I’m also a parent of a child who attends the district, which affords me another point of view. It’s interesting to juggle these various vantage points.
Speaking of juggling, I have discovered something now that I work directly for a school district – we have very adept and impressive professional jugglers working here. They complete such amazing feats every day. What I’ve witnessed takes the mind and bends it way, way beyond Beckham. We’re talking Houdini here, folks.
These “professional jugglers” don’t just juggle a bunch of balls at once. They’re juggling solar systems – one central sphere with several balls rotating around it. Each ball represents something that affects the central ball, with each ball having its own distinct weight and size that can change at the drop of … well, a ball. Sometimes, these balls are replaced with squares and triangles and maybe even a few octagons. Usually, these changes come suddenly – they’re not announced with any kind of fanfare. However, these “professional jugglers” are expected to keep the balls – and other assorted shapes – rotating and moving smoothly around each central sphere. Just like clockwork.
Oh yes, and some days, the rotating balls and other shapes move clockwise. Other days, they move counter-clockwise. Then there are days when there seems to be no rhyme, reason, or rule to the direction everything is moving – it’s just moving in all directions.
These “professional jugglers” need to keep it all going – with a smile.
These jugglers dropping a ball? Well, it can happen, but the effect this can have on the central sphere can be significant. Therefore, these jugglers are expected to keep everything fluently flowing, keeping an eye on everything at once.
What these “professional jugglers” do is quite mind “ball”owing, to say the least.
While you may not realize these jugglers exist at the school, you actually are quite familiar with the typical term for these amazing folks.
Teachers.
The central spheres represent the students. The rotating balls and other shapes represent each student’s skills, personality, needs, wants, triumphs/tribulations, state, federal and district expectations, local policies…the list goes on. Many of these are ever-changing. They can change per day, per hour, per minute. Keeping all of this in order would seem to be impossible. For our teachers, it’s what they do every school day – and beyond the school day. If you think this juggling only happens between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., think again. If you think it ends for three months in the summer, no siree. This juggling takes careful planning, even though this planning doesn’t always pan out. That’s why there’s a Plan A, a Plan B, etc.
The next time you see or talk to your child’s teacher, tell him or her “Thank you for what you do.” If you’re not one for words, a pat on the back and a smile will help. Your support in this constant juggling act is one very important ball every teacher likes to have in his or her routine … that’s anything but routine.
Thank you, Laker teachers. We wouldn’t be what we are without you. Have a great school year.
Actually, it’s kind of a mixture between an “insider” and an “outsider,” even though I work directly for Lakers. As the public relations coordinator, I’m not in the classrooms all day, every day – I pop in and out. I believe this “insider/outsider” mixture, though, is needed to do the kind of work I do. While I’m a school employee whose job is to promote the district, I still am somewhat of a reporter, whose job is to be objective and balance various viewpoints. I’m also a parent of a child who attends the district, which affords me another point of view. It’s interesting to juggle these various vantage points.
Speaking of juggling, I have discovered something now that I work directly for a school district – we have very adept and impressive professional jugglers working here. They complete such amazing feats every day. What I’ve witnessed takes the mind and bends it way, way beyond Beckham. We’re talking Houdini here, folks.
These “professional jugglers” don’t just juggle a bunch of balls at once. They’re juggling solar systems – one central sphere with several balls rotating around it. Each ball represents something that affects the central ball, with each ball having its own distinct weight and size that can change at the drop of … well, a ball. Sometimes, these balls are replaced with squares and triangles and maybe even a few octagons. Usually, these changes come suddenly – they’re not announced with any kind of fanfare. However, these “professional jugglers” are expected to keep the balls – and other assorted shapes – rotating and moving smoothly around each central sphere. Just like clockwork.
Oh yes, and some days, the rotating balls and other shapes move clockwise. Other days, they move counter-clockwise. Then there are days when there seems to be no rhyme, reason, or rule to the direction everything is moving – it’s just moving in all directions.
These “professional jugglers” need to keep it all going – with a smile.
These jugglers dropping a ball? Well, it can happen, but the effect this can have on the central sphere can be significant. Therefore, these jugglers are expected to keep everything fluently flowing, keeping an eye on everything at once.
What these “professional jugglers” do is quite mind “ball”owing, to say the least.
While you may not realize these jugglers exist at the school, you actually are quite familiar with the typical term for these amazing folks.
Teachers.
The central spheres represent the students. The rotating balls and other shapes represent each student’s skills, personality, needs, wants, triumphs/tribulations, state, federal and district expectations, local policies…the list goes on. Many of these are ever-changing. They can change per day, per hour, per minute. Keeping all of this in order would seem to be impossible. For our teachers, it’s what they do every school day – and beyond the school day. If you think this juggling only happens between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., think again. If you think it ends for three months in the summer, no siree. This juggling takes careful planning, even though this planning doesn’t always pan out. That’s why there’s a Plan A, a Plan B, etc.
The next time you see or talk to your child’s teacher, tell him or her “Thank you for what you do.” If you’re not one for words, a pat on the back and a smile will help. Your support in this constant juggling act is one very important ball every teacher likes to have in his or her routine … that’s anything but routine.
Thank you, Laker teachers. We wouldn’t be what we are without you. Have a great school year.