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Friday, February 23, 2007

My Students and Me

I'm feeling much better today -- so far, it's been the same 48 hour cycle that I went through 3 weeks ago -- the fever is gone, the running nose has stopped up, and now I'm just left feeling kinda clogged and a bit fuzzy in the head. Otherwise, I'm fine.

I think there are several factors that have contributed to the cycle of sickness, but I think chief among them is that I'm exposed to so many people on a daily basis: primarily students. And they are petri dishes of viral disease just as elementary students are (maybe worse, since college students don't take very good care of their health; half of them are strung out on caffeine, cigarettes, and stress, and none of those elements help contribute to healthy immune systems). And right now, everyone is complaining of being ill, faculty members included. In fact, the irony of the situation this week is that even though I've been sick, I've been teaching my own classes, as well as filling in for others while they're taking sick leave (hey, if I can trudge through it, it's just a little extra change in my pocket).

Anyway, spring break is the first week of March, so hopefully the week off will give us all some much needed rest. Until then, I'll just have to make sure those students aren't licking their papers before handing them in to me.

6 comments:

miss petite america said...

ah, spring break...

who knows WHAT diseases they'll come back with...

Erin said...

I picture you accepting their papers with rubber gloves on and using a tong to filter through them.

MPA-that is too funny but oh so true.

Neese said...

Glad you are feeling better!

runner26 said...

Oh I hear you on the students=germ factory. At least 4 of our teachers were out recently with strep throat, and many others with the cold/fever/nasty thing. I am just biding my time until it is me suffering again. Hang in there--spring break is right around the corner!

MNFirefly said...

I feel for you. That's why I have to make sure that I rest when I am not working.

teacherwoman said...

Happy to hear you are feeling better! I don't know if college students are worse than elementary kids.. I spend a lot of my time during the week discussing with my students the importance of washing the body, their hair, face, and brushing their teeth on a regulary basis... hoping they would attempt the washing of the body and hair atleast every other day. Sometimes that is too much to expect. Doesn't help when parents appear to be neglectful... anyways...just rambling now!

Happy Weekend, Jess!