A moment of crisis
Yesterday I had to take another batch of minions to the war museum for Field Trip #2. They needed another teacher to chaperone, since this last group only had one teacher going. So, 3 buses–around 90 kids :slap:–and I had to learn 29 names in 30 minutes or less. I did pretty well, if I do say so myself.
So we arrive at the museum, and I go to greet the docents. Opening the door, I find the museum strangely empty. Last week when I took my own students, we were greeted at the door. Today? Crickets chirping and that’s about it. 
I check my watch. No, we’re not early. I walk inside a little ways and eventually see one of the staff. He asks, “May I help you?”
“Yes, we’re here for the field trip.”
He then speaks three words that will strike fear into the heart of any normal teacher. “What field trip?” :confused:
You see, the museum did not know we were coming. They had forgotten to write down the last date of our trip and wrongfully assumed that our group had finished up last week. So here I am, with 90 children, and no museum program. I remain calm. After all, what’s the bottom line here? Do I take them back or will they throw something together for us?
To be fair, the guide looked even more panicked than I was. “But we have another group coming in,” he fumbles. “And we don’t have enough staff members here.” Uh oh.
Again, I ask him what’s the bottom line. Eventually they gave us the lecture in a hallway surrounded by tanks instead of the auditorium. They then helped the kids tour the museum in 3 groups. Somehow, they salvaged the trip, and for that I give them credit. I believe he finally saw the mix-up (the educational coordinator and I had been e-mailing back and forth about the dates) and apologized profusely.
Then, to make matters even more interesting, we had a child begin fainting on us and had to call her mother. And, to top it off, we had a stowaway. Yes, one child had not paid her admission fee nor turned in her permission forms and got on the bus anyway. None of us were aware that any students were supposed to remain behind since they weren’t our students.
All in all, a day that warranted feet up on the couch when I arrived home. 
I worked on some line edits on a book I owe an agent, and deleted the pages off my current mss that were “off.”
Is it really only Tuesday?
How about you? What was your worst crisis at work?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 6:41 am | Viewed 2223 times
Teresa Says:
Wow, sounds like a killer day. My worst crisis at work yesterday was finding out that our deferred revenue hadn’t gone done by $500k from last year, but up $2million. And I had to explain why.:fryingpan:
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
That is definitely a ‘feet up on the couch when you arrive home’ day. (((Michelle)))
Kelly Says:
Back in the good ole days when I had a real job that required thought and..well actual effort, I had a day where the sump pump in a property I managed backed up into the elevator, six reports that were due to the courier by 3 pm and two new employees to get set up on payroll. Meanwhile I was battling the flu and trying not to succumb. Somehow I managed to get the sump pump fixed, the reports out and the employees set up, win praises from my bosses and return home to slump in a chair and not move for about 12 hours. But it was one of those days where you just thought it would NEVER end.
StDebb Says:
When I dropped my son off for his field trip last week, they got them all on the bus (going to Orlando, a good 3 1/2 hour drive from here), then had to make them all get off again, because someone who hadn’t paid had showed up and boarded. I never got the story. I don’t know if the kid was trying to get away with something, or if he thought he’d paid–middle school kids can have some strange notions, and my own kid almost forgot to turn in his money, even though I gave it to him as soon as the permission slip came home.
And all this was at 6 am. Totally uncivilized.
Debbie
Stacy Says:
Wow, what a day!
Crystal* Says:
Wow, woman!
You definitely deserve a little TLC. Maybe a little Jack. A few bubbles. LOL
Glad it all worked out.
And yeah. It’s only Tuesday. And my chickens are out this Friday. *sigh*
I suppose I should get back to writing.:typing:
Grins*
Bren Says:
What a day! Poor you.
My worst crisis yesterday was the sheer volume of things I had to deal with. We had a deluge of people all day in and out and the phone ringing constantly. I was so exhausted after work, I could barely function. I sat on the couch all night in a comatose state.
Rene Says:
I go on the field trips occasionally with my kids’ classes and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reached into my own pocket to chip in money to pay for a field trip. It was really bad last year. DH donated the entire amount for one trip because so many parents had flaked on the fees. Its not like we live in a poverty-stricken area where $5 is a hardship. It is really annoying.
Michelle Says:
Teresa–yikes!
Kelly–sounds like a Superwoman kind of day. :confused2:
Chrys–don’t think about Friday.
Bren–hang in there!
Rene–at our school, the kids who don’t pay don’t go. Middle school is a bit different.
Debbie–that’s wild about another stowaway on your bus! Glad they got it worked out.
Melissa Marsh Says:
Wow. That sounds like a tough day, but I’m glad it turned out all right in the end.
Crisis at work? Just one? LOL
Well, there was the time when I forgot to rent a car for my boss (an attorney) and when I called to check, they were all out of rentals (yes, very small town). Suffice to say, boss was NOT happy.
April Alsup Says:
Wow, Michelle… Have a chocolate or two with that foot propping…
When I was leaving work today I told everyone to have a good weekend… Obviously I felt I’d done a weeks worth of work in two days. But I’m taking Friday off, so at least it’s here soon!
MaryF Says:
Wow. I hate field trips under the best of circumstances!
I’m not looking forward to today. We’ve got the math state test the day we get back from the long weekend (we get Monday off, too) and so we’re doing hard tutoring today while the kids who have passed all the benchmarks get to watch movies with the rookie teachers.
You know how much work I could get done if I was showing the movies????