Turnstile

Teaching is more than standing in front of kids and helping them learn, much more. It is student parking lot duty, working the gate at a football game, IEPs, preventing fights, behavioral issues, motivating the disaffected and apathetic, and meetings, meetings, meetings, coupled with zillions of e-mails. All told, it is actually more than even all this.

Some time recently, I became aware that prioritizing is important as I try to handle these new responsibilities. The key seems to be learning to let go of that which truly does not matter, while focusing my draining energies on only that which needs attention. Some times this endeavor has worked, others it seems to have failed quite unsuccessfully.

I see it as sorta like a turnstile: I stand there, denying passage to those things that will waste my time, while those with the right ticket get to slide on through and make that crickety creak sound turnstiles make, letting me know that something's there I need to be aware of. The only problem is every once in a while something hops over the bars unnoticed.