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How many annoyances build up to a major gripe?

I'm getting the distinct feeling that this is going to be a year filled with petty annoyances. It's officially a pissing contest. I wonder when the community was told about the new "Kids First" campagin, that said campaign would include a pissing contest.

For example, this summer I sent an email to our tech person to let them know that the printer attached to my side of the building was nearly out of ink and toner. I was then informed that none would be forthcoming until the beginning of the school year - for the second summer I'm forced to use my own money to get things for the students. I'm refusing to teach next summer. In the meantime, no ink or toner were ordered because the district office refuses to approve any purchase orders. Last week the printer fully gave up the ghost. Still no ink. I'm frantically sending files to my home computer so I can print them there. Luckily we still have a copy machine for the time being. However, I did notice that the supply paper looked to be about a weeks worth. I figure it's only a matter of time before I'm down at Staples purchasing paper. I realize that for some districts this type of thing is par for the course, but I have to believe that the district or local community offers something that counter-balances these types of things. Sadly, availability of the tools necessary to do my job was one of the positives. Now, I'll have to dig a bit deeper to find one.

This week I also had my first writers' conferences. I still have hope that all this narrative/short story writing will have a positive effect on the essay writing overall. Most the of the topics are interesting - not the usual "what I think the teacher wants me to write" and only a few have nothing done. To be honest, only having a few non-participants is a pretty good response rating. Grades should be posted online this weekend, so that may inspire a couple more to join in.

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