Always have a plan b.  We were working on digital negatives in Photo II and those digital negatives are to be used to expose cyanotypes.  Well, Bertha, our darling Epson, was not working on Friday.  I sent our tech guy an e-mail.  No answer all weekend.  Then I tried again Monday morning.  She's alive, but not printing.  I sent another e-mail.  Nothing.  For him to not respond, you know he is tied up in something serious.  Really serious.  I paid him a visit third period and saw the stress on his face.  I asked if I should go with my plan b for period 8.  He uttered a tired "Yes".  For three days we went with plan b.  We frantically mixed lith film developer during our lunch.  The kids were instructed in period 8 on Friday.  Monday and Tuesday involved lith printing and prepping paper for argyrotypes.  The kids handled it well.  Confused, dizzy, but well.  The best part was having a student teacher who took it all in stride, because she has already taken over the Photo II classes so this was all her teaching.  And it went fabulously well.  I do feel like I have grown a few more grey hairs over the past seven days, but by the end of the day yesterday, Bertha had worked like a beast for two days, the cyanotypes looked amazing (even with no sunlight), and the kids were on track.  Phew.  I still do not know why this place does not like to get student teachers from NJCU.  They are so much better than what I have seen from MSU, but what would I know.

The intrigue of the week?  Hearing that something that I have been wanting to do for years is now being done by other staff members.  My problem is that I talked about it with people I thought were friends.  It turns out they are taking my ideas and running with them.  So they can do their gardening club and that is fine with me, but the deceit and theft I am dealing with so far this year is hardening my resolve that I must no longer befriend my coworkers and must see my time with my students as my source of joy.  It doesn't disappoint me. I know who I am dealing with.  It's more like that gnat that keeps flying in your face as you are hiking a difficult trail.  You have bigger things to take care of and this annoying little thing keeps trying to distract you.  I am also finding out that I will be pushed out of a project I was discussing with the the colleague who came up with the idea and was spearheading it.  Actually, we are both being pushed out.  I have a hunch I will end the year in lunch duty.  I am now in library duty for a reason.  I was requested because of plans to work in the MakerSpace.  The word is that I will be moved to the cafeteria when the MakerSpace is up and running so someone else can work in it/run it.

I was also told that the darkroom will be gone within a few years.  Not a school year goes by without being told this.  I know I will not be involved in that decision either.  However, that will be a great loss for the Guidance and Special Ed departments.  I have been told that what I did with the Photo program took a great load off of Guidance.  They could fill my classes for 10 period without having to resort to administrative pressure to tell kids to put my course at the top of the list to put bodies in.  The students WANT to take the class.  They do not have to be tricked into it.  I also take any and all students.  The case workers and CST know that I am a person who will take some of the most challenging students and successfully teach them and work with them.  You take the darkroom away and kill this program, you will not hurt me.  I already have a plan b for my next career if that happens.  You will be hurting the students of PV.  And that is despicable.

Always have a Plan B.