Kesta: Questions From a Librarian

[Chef Dave]

I work in three school libraries now and have been a high school and community college teacher. I have worked in Washington state and in Oregon.
Right now I have a few questions about teacher behavior:

Why can't teachers identify themselves at least by first name when they call me on the telephone? I work in school libraries. Why do teachers hold meetings in the libraries and leave messes?

Perhaps I am just too sensitive--or maybe my values are just old and out of date.

Any answers and suggestions? I'd appreciate them, since I am not of retirement age and must work.

Thanks so much,
Kesta

Kesta - I cut and pasted your question here as I didn't want it to be buried in the introduction thread.

I am a high school culinary arts chef instructor. Teachers call me all the time and never identify themselves. This might not matter if I had been here for years and really knew everyone ... but it's a bit more problematic since this was my first year at this school.

If someone starts talking to me on my office phone, I'll simply interrupt to say, "I'm sorry ... but with whom am I speaking?"

Regarding meetings - all of our faculty meetings are held in the library. We did the same thing when I was an elementary teacher.

Why do we use the library?

The library ususually has tables and chairs and sufficient space to accomodate the faculty.

As to why they don't clean - some people are simply inconsiderate. This can be alleviated by simply popping up before the meeting ends. Be proactive. Stand up and say, "Teachers - I'd really appreciate it if you could clean up after yourselves. Please push in your chairs and throw away any trash."

It will help if you have a wastebasket readily available.

[greenfiremajick]

That sounds reasonable....And if that doesn't work, kick 'em in the shins!! :D:p
Kidding, of course.....



Kesta - I cut and pasted your question here as I didn't want it to be buried in the introduction thread.

I am a high school culinary arts chef instructor. Teachers call me all the time and never identify themselves. This might not matter if I had been here for years and really knew everyone ... but it's a bit more problematic since this was my first year at this school.

If someone starts talking to me on my office phone, I'll simply interrupt to say, "I'm sorry ... but with whom am I speaking?"

Regarding meetings - all of our faculty meetings are held in the library. We did the same thing when I was an elementary teacher.

Why do we use the library?

The library ususually has tables and chairs and sufficient space to accomodate the faculty.

As to why they don't clean - some people are simply inconsiderate. This can be alleviated by simply popping up before the meeting ends. Be proactive. Stand up and say, "Teachers - I'd really appreciate it if you could clean up after yourselves. Please push in your chairs and throw away any trash."

It will help if you have a wastebasket readily available.

[MissTeach]

All of the faculty meetings at our school are held in my classroom. After the teachers leave, chairs are pulled out from the tables and sitting in odd places around the room, at least two or three empty drink containers will be left behind, and at least one piece of trash will be on the floor. So after our last meeting, I asked the principal to remind the teachers at the end of the meeting to put chairs up and put all trash in the trash can. It worked- except for one chair!