Paperwork!!

You know you are back in school when you are inundated with a plethora of paperwork.  I have so much I don’t where to start.  Between all of the papers I have to grade and all the junk paperwork that the office just has to have, I am not able to see my desk.  For me I have to be organized and tidy.  If I am not I cannot effectively think and thus, I get little done.

Do we really need all of the forms the school district thinks we need?  I have over ten forms for each kid.  And then I have to categorize, organize, catalogue all of the information.  Really?  Who has time for all of that. I would much rather spend my time on stuff that matters, like teaching.  I know that teacher retention is low compared to many other fields.  There are many reasons for it, but I suspect much of it is all of the ancillary items that need to be done that are not directly related to teaching.

I know, I can hear some of you out there saying if it wasn’t for all of that paperwork we wouldn’t be able to do our jobs.  Maybe.  But maybe, just maybe we could do with less.  After all, this is the technology age and you would think we could do it all digitally and remove the burden for teachers and administrators.  Just an idea.

Back to the “fun” of grading papers and lesson planning and calling parents and updating websites and, well that is enough I guess.  See you tomorrow which is the anniversary of 9-11.  We have something cool planned.  I will tell you all about it tomorrow, until then wish me luck with this ocean of paper and peace.