Thursday night, after rehearsal

So. I teach English and music and direct a couple choral ensembles. This last was the activity in which I was engaged only minutes ago. Now, a thing is happening here at school which should be familiar to anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with academic settings: everyone who hadn't already stopped giving a shit is now well on the way to that state of affairs. I'm not even excluding the teachers here. This would almost be acceptable in a regular classroom, but my choirs have to perform next Friday, which means we can't bag this year just yet. And there's the difference. Sure, I want the year to end about as much as the kids do. But I'm an adult and it's my job to get things done, so I suck it up and do. They are under no such compulsions.

Perhaps a metaphor would be in order. I believe Aristotle said that reason should control the passions, like a rider controls a horse. If the opposite happens--the horse is in charge--well, we know that's bad. Okay, now imagine trying to control 27 surly horses.

Now do it without hitting any of the horses....

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