October Time Warp
I have been in Wuhu a month now and have quickly picked up on a routine of healthy ins and outs. My class load is moderate and easily managed given that i have already taught Public Speaking for two years and my Sources of Western Culture class, though difficult to manage the massive content, has been well paced. My Public Speaking students are currently exploring Aristotle's rhetorical concepts of Logos, Pathos, and Ethos and their effects on their own speaking skills. In my Sources class, students are learning to appreciate those great Homeric epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey for their eternal themes and influence on Western Literature and culture.I'm glad I teach about culture and speaking... I'm really no good at teaching "English" actually...
Everything was flowing so smoothly... until this month of October began.
The month of October is set to be the most intense month of the school year. Why? Because Beijing will be sending down representative from the National Educational Beaurau to evaluate our school for quality and growth. Anhui Normal University has spent the last two years building an entire new campus, overhauling its administrative structures, raising its academic standards for teachers and students alike for this one week national test. What's at stake is the school's future ranking, funds, and reputation as an institution. It is part of China's massive educational reform.
The pressure is heavy on administration, the teachers, the students. We are all scrambling to touch up any last errands. And just when the school thinks its got its act together, Beijing pulls out a wild card.
They will arrive for the evaluation 4 days earlier than planned.
PANIC!! The finely tuned machine was set so that everything would be perfect for that specific week! An early arrival is enough to send shock waves to the very foundation of our institution? What do we do!?!
We change our entire October schedule... that's what. For starters, let's cut short the national holiday vacation of one week down to three days. That will make up for the lost time. Second, let's rearrange our teaching schedule to line up perfectly with the arrival of the Beijing experts while managing to get all the lessons in at the same time.
How does the school manage this? It's pretty crazy...
**BEFORE READING, PLEASE GET A CALENDAR OF OCTOBER 2007 OUT**
Schedule Changes for Evaluation Inspection (Sept 29-Oct 26)
Oct. 1, 2, 3: Holiday that was supposed to be one whole week, but has been cut short....(no class)
Thurs Oct. 4-Friday Oct 5: as usual (Thurs. and Fri classes)
Sat Oct 6 and Sun Oct 7: as usual (Sat and Sun- no class)
Mon Oct 8-Fri Oct 12: Monday through Friday as usual
so far so good, right? all the dates match up with the days of the week.
Read on:
Sat. Oct 13: Monday
Sun. Oct 14: Tuesday
Monday Oct 15: Wednesday
Tuesday Oct 16: Thursday
Wednesday Oct 17: Friday
Thurs Oct 18: Saturday
Fri Oct. 19: Monday
Sat. Oct 20: Tuesday
Sun Oct. 21: Wednesday
Mon Oct 22: Thursday
Tues. Oct 23: Friday
Wed Oct 24: Sunday
Thurs Oct 25: Saturday
Fri Oct 26: Sunday
Oct. 27: BACK TO NORMAL
Basically, those who live within the Anhui Normal University universe will be experiencing a time warp where each day is actually another day. All so that the Beijing officials can experience a "true week" of classes to evaluate.
Oui... You'll have to excuse me if I seem a bit off in communication this month ^_^*
So above all things, please be lifting the entire school up concerning this evaluation. May the school be blessed and, in time, learn where the blessings truly come from. May the students manage their loads with wisdom and may teachers find the patience and strength to teach with care. May the administration find a balance in the management of this institution. May the Beijing evaluators evaluate fairly and beneficially for China's academic future.
October is going to be mad, but He is bigger than time itself.
And so we walk on. Here we go!
posted by Unknown @ 10:32 PM
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