Is Being Pied within the Face Thought of “Different Duties As Assigned”?

Expensive We Are Lecturers,

Our elementary college has a spring carnival yearly, and yearly college students can vote on which academics or directors are eligible for a “pie within the face” sales space. College students can then buy tickets to be within the lottery to pie the particular person of their alternative. I used to be voted on this 12 months, and after I instructed my principal I needed to choose out, he stated, “Sorry, that is an ‘different duties as assigned’ type of factor.” I used to be floored. Am I being a foul sport, or it is a wild take?

—Crusty Critic

Expensive C.C.,

You might be not being a foul sport—you’re setting a boundary. And your principal’s “different duties as assigned” argument? That’s a wild take. Final I checked, a instructor’s job description contains lesson plans and classroom administration, not serving as goal apply for airborne dairy merchandise.

Look, I get it—college spirit, neighborhood occasions, and letting children see academics as actual people are all good issues. However “volunteering” ought to really be, you understand, voluntary. If getting pied sounds enjoyable to you, nice! But when the thought of standing there ready for a kid to launch a whipped-cream grenade at your face makes you need to change your identification and flee the nation, you need to completely have the ability to choose out.

I’d counsel going again to your principal and saying one thing like, “I like supporting the varsity carnival, and I’m completely happy to assist otherwise—perhaps working a recreation sales space or serving to with ticket gross sales. However I’m not comfy taking part within the pie-in-the-face occasion.” In the event that they push again, ask the place, precisely, in your contract it states that you’re legally obligated to turn into a human pie plate.

Backside line: You’re a instructor, not a circus act. If it feels uncomfortable or inappropriate to you, it’s. Set your boundary, stand your floor, and let another person take one for the group. Ideally somebody who enjoys the scent of expired whipped cream of their hair for days.

Expensive We Are Lecturers,

I train highschool journalism, and I’ve been involved for some time about how sluggish my highschool college students sort. I observed the change instantly after our feeder center college removed their typing class. Nevertheless, my college gained’t pay attention about what a giant drawback that is, not only for my class however for all of the typing our college students do within the digital age. How do I persuade my college/district that keyboarding class is a should?

—Keyboard Warrior

Expensive Okay.W.,

Oh, I really feel this one. Watching my excessive schoolers hunt-and-peck their means by means of writing an essay (usually on their telephones!) like they’re deciphering an historic code is painful. And also you’re completely proper—this isn’t only a journalism drawback, it’s a life-skills drawback.

Your greatest guess? Hit them with the chilly, exhausting info. Analysis reveals that robust keyboarding expertise enhance writing fluency, communication and collaboration expertise, and even efficiency on standardized exams. Seems, when college students aren’t losing brainpower trying to find the subsequent letter, they will deal with what they’re saying as a substitute of how they’re typing it. Right here’s an ideal article with sources and analysis to again you up.

Subsequent, enchantment to their favourite language: knowledge. Are you able to time how lengthy it takes your college students to sort a 200-word passage? Examine that to beneficial speeds for top schoolers (trace: 40+ WPM is good, and I’m guessing many aren’t even shut). In case your college loves “faculty and profession readiness” buzzwords, remind them that sluggish typing isn’t simply an inconvenience, it’s a aggressive drawback when college students enter the workforce or increased schooling.

Lastly, in the event that they nonetheless gained’t budge on bringing again keyboarding, pitch an alternate. Can journalism, English, and even advisory intervals incorporate typing apply? If nothing else, push for entry to typing software program so college students can apply on their very own. As a result of in the long run, you shouldn’t be the one fixing this—however we each know you’ll find yourself doing it anyway, as a result of that’s what nice academics do.

Good luck, and will your college students’ WPM improve exponentially.

Expensive We Are Lecturers,

After getting pranked endlessly final 12 months by my sixth graders, I’ve obtained to return right this 12 months! What are some good April Fools’ pranks for that age that gained’t be imply or trigger hurt however will likely be extremely satisfying for me as a instructor? I really feel like I would like to begin planning now!

—Idiot Me As soon as

Expensive F.M.O.,

Oh, I like this power. You might be completely proper—April Fools’ Day is a battlefield, and final 12 months, your sixth graders gained. However this 12 months? This 12 months, you rise!

The important thing to an ideal classroom prank is straightforward: It must blow their minds with out blowing up your classroom administration. No mess, no tears, simply pure, scrumptious confusion. And fortunate for you, I’ve obtained some absolute chef’s-kiss pranks proper right here: 17 April Fools’ Pranks for Lecturers That Will Soften the Minds of College students.

A number of of my private favorites for center college:

• The Frozen Display – Take a screenshot of your desktop, set it because the background, then cover all the true icons. Watch as they agonize over why nothing works. Bonus factors if you happen to act equally pissed off.
• The Not possible Quiz – Make a warm-up with questions like “What’s the capital of Atlantis?” or “What number of moons does the Earth have? (Reply: It’s sophisticated.)” and watch them unravel.
• “Pop Quiz” Panic – Hand out a “take a look at” crammed with absurdly simple (or ridiculously exhausting) questions, then reveal it was all a joke simply earlier than full despair units in.

Plan forward, execute flawlessly, and bask within the candy, candy chaos. As a result of this 12 months? Victory is yours!

Do you might have a burning query? Electronic mail us at askweareteachers@weareteachers.com.

Expensive We Are Lecturers,

One in every of our elementary APs appears happy with her imply status. At lunch final week, the cafeteria filled with Third-to-Fifth graders have been being significantly rowdy. She obtained on the bullhorn and yelled so loud it harm my ears, then proceeded to say, “I do know you assume I’m imply, and I don’t care. I’m imply as a result of I care.” I simply assume that is the mistaken messaging to ship to children. Ought to I complain to my principal?

—Can We Care With out Being Imply?