makes me want to

argh. at the end of the school day, the principal announced (in a mean, you're in trouble tone) "all teachers who took their classes outside today, report to my office immediately."

a few of my kids still in the room after having just returned from ... outside (uh oh) groaned and (of course) immediately started "ms. matthews! aahh! you're in trouble."

i go down to the office and got reamed along w/ a few others for taking my kids outside. "this is a middle school. we do not have recess - " over and over and over. the principal was so unbelievably rude.

it's the most absurd thing ever. i have 11 year olds in my class who might as well be 6. recess is the only thing that gets us through some days because we won't go outside unless we have finished all of our work. it was one of the only redeeming things about the rest of the school year - that i can count on the weather enough to plan to go outside often.

i am really sad. it makes me want to take my kids on a "nature walk" (an alternative that, with administrative approval, would be acceptable ... but i have no desire to lead my kids around on the sidewalk. i want them to play.) and be gone ALL day.