Get it oFF youR chest.

Hey hey everyone - thanks for joining me for Pav’s Interlude #3 for the Staffroom with Chey & Pav.

I’m Pav, and I’m so happy you joined me today…essentially to listen to me rant about my job. That’s what these interludes are all about - Chey and I use these opportunities to get some personal stuff off our chests with regards to our profession. I’m sure that regardless of what profession you’re in, there will be things you find annoying. Things you find disturbing. Things you find intriguing…and possibly things you find strange. That’s what we like to present to you in our Interludes. Our differing personalities sometimes don’t show through our episodes, but I’m sure you can tell what we’re all about through our Interludes. And don’t forget, we always have things to talk about in the Staffroom, so we love to bring you these 5 minute interludes between our weekly episodes. 

Today, I’d like to talk to you about some un-sung heroes. In light of some recent experiences, I’ve had an opportunity to have my eyes re-opened about this particular brand of in-school employees. I say re-opened, because everything I am going to talk about, I already knew…but we, as teachers, sometimes get so caught up in our own little bubbles, we forget that we work alongside people who have some very different experiences than us.

I could go the entire week at work without engaging in a conversation with another adult. Easily. There have been times when this has happened. It’s very, very easy as a teacher to be in your own personal space. You have one job to do, and that’s to teach children. You stick to doing just that, in your own little nook of the school, you don’t have to actually intercept another adult at all. I’ve had teachers send me texts asking if I’m okay - they haven’t seen me in a few days. “I’ve been at work!” I say…fully knowing that I’m sure I remained very hidden. You’ll understand the relevance of this little side chat in a moment.

To those of you that are listening, if you are a teacher, or you work in a school, go hug your office staff. When you’re done, go out and buy them coffee and muffins. Pick up some flowers for them on the way back. A bottle of their favourite wine wouldn’t hurt either. Many people don’t realize that they take the brunt of the abuse that happens in a school setting. Spend some time in the office if you have some free time. If you are not a teacher, ask if you can volunteer in the office for an afternoon.

The whole school runs on what the office administrators do for everyone. They have tons and tons of work to do in their day, but then also have to deal with teachers coming and going with requests. They have to deal the Principal and the Vice-Principal asking them to help them with things. They have to deal with all the students, from dealing with tardies in the morning to their injuries, from something as simple as a bandaid for a paper cut to something far more serious. They have visitors coming and going - deliveries, trades people, occasional teachers, and often some very disgruntled parents.

Many times, us teachers, with our heads in the ground, our selves tucked away in our little bubbles; we are so far detached from the realities of what else is happening in other parts of the school. We don’t know the difficulties that the primary division is facing, we don’t know what’s happening in the Home School Program, we don’t know who is coming and going, and we don’t know how many tears are shed by the front line of the school. They have a tough tough job - they have to prevent danger from entering the school, they have to chase down people who didn’t sign in or state their business at the main office. They have to be people persons, in an industry where you don’t want to have to deal with people….just children!

Spend half a day in the office - and you’ll become far more aware of all the knowledge, talent, and strength that exists in running an institution - all in that one little room - that first little room that everyone must go to before they are allowed to wander the long halls of the school.

So, as I said earlier, if you ever have the opportunity - go hug someone in the office. Thank them. They have a huge role in running the whole place, and they deserve to hear your gratitude once in a while.

Thanks for joining me for this Interlude.