May need to find a new project...
Today, I washed countless plastic forks, wedged a few blocks of rather wet clay, and won a couple games of solitare, and picked up a book off the floor.
The Children's Museum is very overstaffed. There are simply too many volunteers, asked to do the same work as the lowest tier paid-staff, so there's a lot fo waiting around, waiting for five minutes of chaos to make the day worthwhile. One girl, Kristi, who has been a paid staff member for a year scarcely has more responsibility than a volunteer of similar tenure.
Becuase there are so many people, there apears to be a very strict hierarchy among staff members and volunteers. The women who annoyed me most were the ones that sat in their classroom, sipping lattes in to-go cups, for nearly 45 minutes. They talked, then mvoed around, then set out some paint brushes, and then sat some more.
And, becuase the Volunteer coordinator isn't here this week, I'm having a hard time getting to work anywhere else.
I'm thinking I may need to talk to Peggy Stewart or the Beginning School to make a quick fix...
Comments
There is hope...
Jasmine-
I know you've been frustrated. I did speak with Michelle and left messages for Heather and Hank. H.H.
It seems as if there is plenty to do but they haven't pointed you in the right directions. They've promised to do so... soon, soon, soon. Hopefully, Monday will be a blast of color and activity. And Heather may want to have your skills used at the school itself. We'll have to see.
Aline
I think that it's preschool or bust
I don't think that there's anywhere for me to enjoy working at PCM outside their classrooms. Today, I ended up in the stock room, organizing their unsold merchandise in the hot basement. And, in your email you said that whoever you talked to said that there was plenty for me to do at the museum, even if it didn't involve direct contact with kids.
I'm really not ready to sign on for two weeks of organizing stock rooms, stuffing mailers, and cleaning up the exhibits. Two weeks may seem a small price to pay to wake up at 8 and to have no hw, but I've been bored to tears and can't let myself become so unhappy the spring of my senior year.
Any improvement?
Hi, Jasmine. Sorry to hear about the hierarchy and the overstaffing. It's a rather strange problem to encounter, as most places are suffering the opposite dilemma in this economy. I'll be interested to hear what happens once you meet with the volunteer coordinator. At least you have rowing to look forward to most/every day...
I miss your presence around here already. See you soon.
--Sue
I KNOW! I'm so excited for
I KNOW! I'm so excited for this weekend (the regional championships). Because i've taken a step down in the boathouse, in terms of stress, this week has been oddly comforting and relaxing. The weather today (thursday) was FANTASTIC. Absolutely nuts. Tomorrow I race at 10:18, hoping to make the final for the four!
And, that book on the history of the American University is GREAT. About fifty pages in, and I've already learned a ton about the U of C.
When in doubt, decoupage!
Start decoupaging all the empty spaces. Visualize filling that chaos with even greater - but color coded, pop culture-ridden, chaos!
IF that doesn't work... there may be additional opportunities for you with CHAP...
School, not activity
I think that at CHAP, I might actually run into the same problems. The reason I'm so focused on getting into the school at PCM is because I'm looking for a) more consistent interaction with kids and b) a chance to lead lessons/projects, which i'm not sure i would get there either.