Day 1 - LA County Dept. of Public Health mandates indoor masking and OUTDOOR masking at large events
So…walk through the dirt and around the corner, to the right, and that’s where I’m teaching…
8/16/21. Monday
8:30–9:15-I wake up early to put my trash cans out then say good morning to the dog. She’s up and running around the house because I was running around the house, trying to get the trashcans to curbside before Waste Management gets here. We go outside and she goes potty while I water a few of my potted plants. Return inside and coffee for me; gross, sliced American cheese for her. I go upstairs.
9:15-10:30 – Blog post
10:30-11:30 – I check emails at College No. 1, then tweek a few things in the Canvas Shell for today’s class. I then send an email to my ONLINE students, telling them to sign in on the Discussion Board at 2:30 so I can take attendance. I check news and now I’m running later than I wanted to be at this time of the day.
11:30-12:30 – I took my shower last night so I wash my face, put on a dress, and add false eyelashes and full eye make-up, since my eyes are the only thing the students can see. I listen to The Daily and What a Day.
12:30-I pack my car with everything I need for the first day of school: books, expandable folder, lunch bag, and I’m out the door by 12:45.
12:45-1:45 – I eat a spinach salad – with carrots, olives, tofu, tomatoes, pieces of cheese, and EVOO –as I drive to school and listen to What Next.
1:45 –2:30 - Arrive early on campus. A few months ago, in one of my posts, I noted that there were numerous ongoing construction projects throughout campus. Well, they’re still there. Most of the campus looks like a warzone, covered in chainlink and rebar. After all this time, virtually no progress has been made.
A few days ago, my classroom was abruptly changed to the old lecture hall where I usually teach and which was slotted to be bulldozed and never was. For two years BEFORE Covid, the lecture hall, and me, when I was teaching, was surrounded by ongoing construction as new buildings went up in a perfect circle around this classroom that was erected in the 80s. I know because I attended a Geography class in this very building when I was 19.
Today, I see that nothing has changed. Construction still isn’t done and the only way to reach the lecture hall is by walking down a tarp covered ally featuring cardboard signs with an arrow and “Lecture Hall” written on it. The same ally was here 18 months ago. Although our college president emailed all of us and said sanitation was of the utmost importance, it is clear that nobody thought we would ever hold classes in this room again, because it is FILTHY DIRTY. The benches outside the classroom are covered in spider webs and rust and there is trash, leaves, and dirt outside the entrances [there are TWO lecture halls, side by side, in this building]. When I finally enter the classroom, there is approximately 2 inches of sand and grime on the floor. The counter where the computer sits [yes, I’m teaching on a strange countertop with a sink because this building was used for lab demos at one time] was wiped down, but that’s it.
There’s a container of Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and a box of masks set out for the students. Other than these measures, nothing else has been done. The ventilation is the same, which means it’s still terrible, there are no windows in this room, and there is nothing I can use to prop the doors open. Pre-Covid, there used to be large rocks outside the doors that teachers could use as a doorstop, but they were removed…a fire hazard, as opposed to a Covid hazard. Additionally, as one of the students points out, the janitorial crew didn’t bother to unlock the bathrooms…I bet they haven’t been cleaned in 2 years.
I am going to get sick and die.
When I fire up the computer, I see the last one who used it was ME, 18 months ago. My headings from the files of the class I was teaching 18 MONTHS AGO come up immediately. So now I know…this class has been closed the entire time…no sanitation, no ventilation updates…and was opened solely as an afterthought for the first day of school because there was a problem with scheduling and my original classroom was booked. It’s disgusting in here and I don’t want to touch anything.
2:30 – 5:30 – This classroom is a tiered lecture hall. The students arrive and I see that there are approximately 10 of them. Why, then, do two students sit in the first row, directly in front of me? I know Covid floats but, psychologically, it would make me feel much better if they social distanced the requisite 6 feet instead of the 2 feet right in front of me. Although sitting side-by-side, I find out later these students don’t even know each other. There is plenty of seating…why? Newsflash: in just 7 days, the female student sitting directly in front of me will tell me that she is sick, went to the doctor for a Covid test, and is now self-quarantining, although still waiting for the results of her Covid test.
My online students are listening to the pre-recorded lecture, so I’m able to focus exclusively on my face-to-face students. As students go, they’re a pretty good group. Everyone is masking, although the two white males at the top of the tier have their masks pulled under their noses, which I find disgusting. It’s only Day #1, but after I go over the Syllabus and launch into the Chapter 1 lecture, they’re engaged, ask questions, and add comments. I haven’t had an exchange like this in almost two years, so it’s kind of nice being back in the classroom. Yes, I said it. Ask me how I feel in three weeks.
I discover that masking and lecturing is quite difficult…
I end class around 4:30 because it’s the first day and then spend the rest of that time reaching out to my online students and making sure they’re on track with the pre-recorded Syllabus and Chapter 1 lecture. All of my lectures are pre-recorded with accompanying Google slides, but if they weren’t, I have no idea how I would teach both a face-to-face class and an online class at the same time. I wonder how the other teachers are faring. We’re all using the “hybrid” model so if you’re in a classroom then you’re required to wear a mask, even if you’re using Zoom with the online students. How can you communicate with the online students effectively if you’re wearing a mask? This doesn’t make any sense…
I try to do as much as I can on the school computer as I still don’t have my own computer yet so I answer a few emails; send a request to Maintenance to unlock the restrooms; request a laptop from IT for one of my students; take attendance; etc. I leave at 5:00.
5:00-6:00 – Driving. I listen to The Waves.
6:00-7:15 – I change my clothes and take the dog for a walk. When I’m done:
7:15-8:30 – I water my plants.
8:30-9:30 – I have hummus, carrots, and pimento olives for dinner and read a Money Diary.
9:30-11:00 – I do a 40-min Insanity-Pylometric workout and recover with a glass of champagne.
12:00-1:30 – L. and I watch Married at First Sight. We’re addicted. I tell L. to tidy her room as the window washer service is coming tomorrow morning to give me a quote and they might have to come inside.
2:00-3:00 – Nighttime routine and bed.