Jury Duty

This was, hands down, the most boring thing I've ever done in my life. I'll admit it - I went in there looking to get excused...I even joked with the principal of my school that I'd try to be "as offensive as possible" which I didn't end up doing. But, I was honest.

Anyway...the best part was getting to sleep in a bit and the drive there was about half of what I normally drive to work. I took some papers to grade...some people had their own paperwork, some had the telltale white iPod earbuds (many of these with sunglasses and/or a "walk" of some sort.) A couple of people sorta napped on the roughly upolstered couches. I recall thinking it reminded me of an airport, but not nearly as exciting.

I notice there's always a "vibe" in rooms like those...should I talk to this guy/old lady/nun...oh wait they're talking to me first..."Yeah, it is kinda hot in here...no, I've never done this before." I'd gotten a root canal the afternoon before and I was still tired with a slight headache. All I could think about was getting out of here, and in the meantime, please don't talk to me anymore.

But, luckily, I got out of it and now I won't be summonsed again for at least 12 months. As I walked out of the courthouse, I felt like I had been set free.

Things to do when....

Your students are taking a mandated district assessment: post a new blog, read some message boards, drink some Airborne because you feel yet ANOTHER sore throat coming on (please don't be strep, please don't be strep....) - anything but grade papers, right?

Why is grading papers so awful? I think part of the problem is that it's so solitary. I'm not a huge fan of solitary, unless it's completely fun, indulgent or involves sleep. Grading papers also forces you to relive the horror of how much the students did NOT "get" the lesson you taught them, but now they're not even in front of you, so you can't throw out sarcastic comments or yell at them. The irony of grading is that once I start, it's surprisingly easy and quick. It never takes quite as long as I think it will. Thank God for small favors.

So, to the right of me, on my shabby desk circa 1936 is a stack of reports the students did on the origin of their first names. Each one is no more than the front of a page long, but they're staring me down like a hungry predator. I am actively trying to ignore them, but the guilt is eating away at me. If I grade now, I can relax at home later. Do it now, so it's not really solitary...you have a room full of kids taking a test, nice and quiet...just do it! The rationalizations begin.

I should go....