Teaching in October
October is the best month of the school year. Everything just seems to come together in October.
School Supplies are in
Funds for the current school year are not released until July 1. So on July 1 every school in the county sends their requisitions to the board. They are immediately behind by 2 months in filling orders. But in October, you can finally issue books. You may wonder why books can not be ordered with funds from last year. Well, in about December the school system starts to run out of funds so any unspent money is taken. So, everyone has learned to spend the money as soon as possible or loose it.
Little Things
In October there is a good supply of Kleenex. The Kleenex arrive at the beginning of the month and are used up by the end of the month. But during October students can blow their noses! You may wonder what students do the rest of the year. Well, they wipe their noses with their fingers; wipe their fingers on the side of their leg and then ask to go to the bathroom to use toilet paper.
Ah toilet paper. What is the difference between school toilet paper and sandpaper. Answer: Sand paper is smooth on one side.
Heating and Air Conditioning
The average time to fix a school air conditioner or heating unit is 7 years. Now there are many teachers who would argue that the time is closer to 12 years; however, there are times when things are fixed in a little as 3 years by accident. Someone mixes up the first floor room with the second floor room and fixes the wrong unit. Some maintenance worker who is new on the job fixes the unit right the first time, etc. This brings the average time down to about 7 years.
Of course, if there is a rumor of another rumor that the building will be renovated in the next 30 years then the units will never be repaired because they will be replaced.
But October! The temperature is cool so no air conditioning is needed. The chilly days are not cold enough to make the rooms unbearable. Any room can get enough heat from the 50% of the units in the building that do work.
The Doors
In September the class room doors can not be opened because the humidity has swollen them shut. By October the doors can all be opened.
You may wonder if having doors that can not be opened is a fire hazard. Well No. The Board does not permit schools to burn down is September if it can prevent it.
Paper Towels
In October there is a good supply of Paper Towels. Of course by November they are all used up. You may wonder why the school system doesn't use the electric hand dryers found in many businesses. I think that an ass to the superintendent should look into using electric hand dryers. (Ass to the superintendent refers to assistant to the superintendent. I do not wish to slur any one who works for the Bd. of Ed. or anyone else who does not work but collects a pay check from the Board anyway.)