Gearing Up

Friday.
All day.
We sat in training.

Summer training is something that's required for our license, so skipping it would not be an option for the company. I understand that not everyone who is working during the summer is equally capable. Some of that is a lack of experience, some is due to people not being cut out for the job and some is from people who think they know more than they do.

So we had training.

It was ostensibly for summer, but it wasn't like the usual summer training we get.

Our usual summer training ordinarily aggravates the shit out of me, if you wanted to know.

First, we have a manager of some sort who stands up and tells the assembly, "I used to be a site director, but now I'm a manager!" In a tone that implies that there is hope for all of us, that someday even we, the lowly, could aspire to the lofty goal of being a manager.

(side note here... I was recently privately asked to apply for a job that would put me in the position of trying to help/advise/work with people who need a little extra help with site management. No. No. No, no, no. It would take me away from the part of the job I love the most, being with my kids. And putting me in a place where I'd be telling people I work with how to do their jobs isn't something I'd want. The raise isn't worth it, as I am not doing this job for money anyway.)


Understand, of course, that the condescension was only my perception, and that probably the opening remarks were intended to imply that she understood the issues we deal with and were NOT coming from some lofty person intending to be condescending.

But having to get up early on a weekend and sit through six hours of training that most of us could teach in our sleep wasn't optimum either.

What I gleaned from those trainings was:
'Summer is hot.'
'Children should be kept hydrated and they need to wear sunscreen.'
'During the school year, we are all in charge of our own sites. But during the summer, we have to work as a team.'

Every year. Same training with some slight variations. There were things tossed into training intended to make it more fun, little prizes to take back to our programs, some sharing of ideas, getting to know some new people and reconnection with experienced.

Although I am crazy about my job, even the parts of the job that aren't so much fun, the summer training was one of my least favorite required elements.

The least favorite element of my least favorite element? Having to show up on Saturday and give up part of my weekend.

So on the good side of Friday's training is that it wasn't Saturday.
But, it was a day off for our school district. It could have turned into a four day weekend for some of us.

We were there from 9 until after 4.

We spent some time getting to know the new staff who will be joining us for summer.

Downsides.

It was being held during a break time program, meaning that we have the usual mix of children who have difficulty with rules, due to the inconsistency of their regular programs, kids who are destructive and confrontational. One of our site directors has a difficult time with that sort of conflict and can most often be found backing down. It shows in 'her' kids.

Lots of distractions for us. We could see the kids through the windows and some of us jumped up and went in and handled situations as needed. We relieved other staff so they could come in and eat lunch, catch up with what was going on in training.

A regular mess.

It was kind of an aimless training, I think because our manager is new (again) and Sunshine is out sick so she wasn't there to direct things.

The worst part was a 500 year long 39 minute video featuring Bob Ditter. Apparently he's some sort of camp guru and has run all kinds of camps. He's a psychologist or some damn thing.
Visualize someone with the delivery of Ben Stein saying things like, "Be careful where you touch your campers", "There will be children with different needs in your group" and "You have to be friendly without being their friend".
All things categorized in the 'things that make you say duh' box.
Which caused all of us to tune him out almost immediately.

We ended up lowering the volume and discussing field trip ideas.

So there are, I think, 12 more school days.
And two 'non school day' program days while we set up for summer at our summer location.

Then, we're on.

Why do I do this job again?