Last week's highlight?  I repaired six cameras.  That's right.  Six broken film cameras!  While there were five Minoltas out for repair, I was able to repair six Vivitars.  To quantify that, I saved the school about $675 dollars.  How?  Well, my student teacher has brought in her magnification lamp from home. And that is how I was able to do it.  It kind of stressed the enormity of the problem within my department that the previously mentioned budget switching went on behind my back.  Because the people involved in that event have not ever fixed a camera, could not fix a camera, and have not ever made any effort to arrange for camera repairs at our repair shop.

When I attend our meetings, I no longer see the need to sit with people as some sign of solidarity.  I know what I contribute to this department and this school - a packed, quality photography program, countless hours on my clock, support and services to graduates and other members of the community, favours and support to my colleagues and administration.  We do not find employment to find friends.  I chose this career because of a desire and need.  I teach to spread my knowledge and love of the arts, enable teenagers to have a positive experience and exploring their talents/feelings/creativity, and to have a positive impact on their lives that will hopefully be carried on throughout their experiences after graduation.  I do not select a place of employment or a field in order to make friends.  If I should meet someone I have a great deal in common with and friendship develops, bonus.  I come to work to do my job, not to climb to the top of a social or career ladder.  Those things have no benefit on my students whatsoever.  As a matter of fact, since I made the conscious decision to remove myself from the toxic social environment in my building, I feel so much more present in the classroom.  I feel a euphoria when with my students.  I feed off their enthusiasm and I think they feed off my positivity.  I am also not bogged down by the petty drama and back stabbing that filled my life.  That means I can focus 100% on what my kids need from me.  I can pick up on a subtle change in demeanor much more quickly and help that student, whether the issue is class related or not.

This makes me feel like I used to when teaching.  I made such a mistake trying to be social here.  I can be cordial and cooperative without being social and this is what works for me.  For a couple of years, I was bogged down in the petty stuff because I did not want to offend.  But I know it affected my practice.  My students might not have noticed, but I did.  I am having such a wonderful time with my students this year.  The room is packed well before class each and every morning.  Students I do not even know are in this room socializing.  Why?  There is a welcome vibe.  The colleagues who used to sit here were very negative and that created a toxic climate.  I wondered why the room was not full of kids last year.  Now I know why.  It wasn't me.  It was the company I was keeping.  Kids used to come to my room to type work, print, study, or just relax and talk to me or each other.  Last year, that stopped happening.  Well, it's happening again and I couldn't be more pleased.

Oh, and the kids are doing phenomenal work.  Seriously.  We are amazed at the energy and talent.  This is the way it should be.