CS>Hello Sheila,
 -> I happen to believe that schools act in a cocoon, separate
 -> from reality much of the time
 SK> It might be interesting to hear you elaborate on the reasons for
 SK> this belief.
CS>Here are some incidents from just this week (understand that
CS>this is a definite pattern).....
CS>School was cancelled for reasons of weather (good idea with
CS>the icy roads).  Virtually every worker in every profession of
CS>every industry was expected to be at work in our region.
CS>These are the people that pay Wisconsin level property taxes
CS>(about 70% to education...$1350/yr on a 50,000 house).  Those in
CS>education, who regularly complain about lack of prep/free time,
CS>are not only not expected to arrive for work, but are
CS>incredulous when I've dared bring up the topic.  School
CS>districts should view these days as opportunities for bonus
CS>inservice, staff group projects and any number of meaningful
CS>activities.
While this time might well be used for SOMETHING,
the idea that one can simply throw together a
meaningful inservice on the spur of the moment
is pretty far-fetched.  The "business" of
education is teaching; when someone goes to work
on a snowy day, the primary function of their
job goes on; when a teacher goes to work and the
kids are not there, the primary function is
impossible... It seems petty to simply want the
teachers to show up if there's really nothing 
that needs doing... Otoh, from a PR position,
it would make sense... Btw, a number of staff DO
show up at my high school to run off papers,
etc...
CS> I have chosen to not sit on the sidelines and second guess others,
CS> but rather, to get involved and work for positive changes and
CS> to keep the good of the students in focus.
An admirable viewpoint...
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