Schools! Don't ya just love 'em!

How often have management (and teachers) in school been seduced by the sheer vulgarity of the blandishments that high technology seems to dangle before their dazed and drunken eyes. A few flashing lights and incomprehensible techno-babble and they are hooked.


I thought of this as I viewed the fifty (count them!) computers that the school has just bought to facilitate a pilot project using them extensively in class.


They are the wrong size, far, far too big; they are not rugged and designed for heavy school use; they have batteries which do not last a full working day; the collection, distribution and return has not been thought out; class teachers do not know how to use them; material is not available for constant computer teaching – need I go on?


It is another story of resources which are going to be squandered and forced use with inappropriate resources. But, there again this is a pilot study and a few teething troubles can be expected and who knows, this time something positive may come out of it. Possibly.


Faces of my colleagues are looking a little drawn as they (and i) realize just how little time there is before the Great Unwashed descend on us and expect to be taught.


I have been attempting for the last two days to find out exactly which students are in my groups. The English Department has given me a full list but my other classes of media studies, history of art and current affairs are titles without pupils. Frantic work on Monday will probably get me the names and then they all have to be reorganized into electronic form. Happy Days!


With any reasonable luck our summer neighbours should leave this weekend. Spain is getting back to work after the summer break; school is restarting; the weather is getting cooler and visitors should now go home. Especially the dysfunctional collection of selfish ignoramuses we have been landed with. Still, shouldn’t really complain, they were a damn sight better than they were last year!


The bottle of Cava is cooling in the fridge to be opened as soon as we are absolutely certain that they have left.


Meanwhile there is the expectation of my camera returning, fully repaired on Monday and attempts to make the program (which has been downloaded on a trial basis for 30 days) to work.


At least these two things will take my mind off Tuesday!