I Will Survive.

Let's just be clear here: the sun was shining and it was around 50 degrees. Still, no outdoor recess. Why? Well, because THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND. Too much snow, apparently, for them to access the playground.

I'll admit, it looks like Antarctica out there. And the snow is really hard and crusty- even my fifth graders can walk on it without falling through. And beneath it is ice.

Have you ever stayed in the same room with 30 11 year olds for an entire week? Because if not, you haven't lived.

I am NOT going to spend all day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday inside with a bunch of WILD ANIMALS even though the sun is shining, only to have below freezing weather and snow falling keep them in again on Thursday and Friday.

So, I took them out, and let me tell you, there wasn't a word of complaint about the crust, the ice, snow down their socks, or even the snow shovels that I handed them. I took them out twice today, and I'll take them out twice again tomorrow, if they don't get outdoor recess at their lunch time.

My principal tried to bring up "the recess issue" with me again today (last time he tried it, I actually yelled at him) and I told him I just wasn't up for talking about it. We had just had a one on one meeting that had gone on for 20 minutes too long (missing jazz, again) and that is EXACTLY how he brought up "the recess issue" last time. He waited until the meeting was over, and then sort of drove by the topic. Stepped in mine field that time, but this time I just said I couldn't stay to go over it. I did, rather pointedly, draw the parallels in the timing of his raising the issue. He claims he has a compromise. Yea. By the time I got out of there I was all pissed off again and taking Xanax.

It is really crunch time this month: report cards, end of semester professional summaries due, parent teacher conferences and some new staff development I am planning and scheduling. I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it turns out there were significant drawbacks to getting 3 unplanned vacation (snow) days in December.

Oh well, I will survive.