Okay, Monday. I Got You. I Geeked All Day Sunday, so Come at Me With What You Got. My Nerdiness Has Me Ready For You. Bring on the Grading.

You know you are at the end-of-the-semester when you spend the weekend in anticipation of the last week of class, knowing all has been graded thus far, and preparing for all still to come, by tackling items on the to-do list since September. 

Seriously. Those of us working in higher education know that there are only glimpses (fragments)(tiny blips) of time to do the additional work expected of us to maintain our jobs, simply because doing our job requires our attention 24/7. So, when students have a week to work on final projects, we have a weekend to answer emails, respond to inquiries from two years ago, to work on writing projects that are long neglected, and actually to advise students we never really have time for. 

I awoke yesterday in nerd-mode and I remained there all day. I'm not sure how much I really accomplished, but do know I finally submitted a grade change for a student from 2020. He's gradating this year, and I finally got to his work. He got Covid and needed to sign-out for a while. It's taken me two years to get back on this...that's how the academic's calendar rolls...and it's not like we're not aways working. 

I'm hoping to carry some of the nerdiness with me today, too. I only have one last class to teach left this semester, then grading, writing projects, and University service-responsibilities to contend with. At this point of the semester, I feel guilty even looking at the piles of books that are next on my to-read pile.

And I did watch the videos of groveling teachers stuffing their pockets with cash at the Teacher-give-away at some ice-rink out West. Someone posted, "What stage of capitalism is this?" and I had to agree. On one hand, I'm excited that a few teachers ACTUALLY had a chance of getting resources for their classroom, and on the other hand I was thinking, "What nation makes it so difficult for teachers to do their jobs, that good teachers are willing to crawl on their hands and needs in front of spectators simply to get a few bucks for the kids?" Obviously, I applaud these teachers for always doing anything they can for their students. BUT having spectators and arenas full of people cheering on educators groveling for the chance to have support for their kids is just sick. 

Um, shouldn't every teacher simply be respected with resources naturally given to them?

And with that, Monday. Here's another day in America.