This week at the library; or, Field trips begin

200+ 5th graders watching a science show. 
They were all "we're too cool for this" until 
something they didn't expect happened 
and then they all yelled "WHAT??"

Programs

• Family storytime
• 2nd grade field trip (single class)
• Lakeland monthly field trip
• School visit - K-4th (rescheduled)
• Family storytime
• 1st grade field trip (whole grade)
• 5th grade field trip - Science Assemblies performance (three schools)
• TAB meeting - senior send-off

Meetings etc.

• YS social
• Manager's meeting
• 4H (hosting)
• Girl scouts (hosting)
• Teen D&D (hosting)

Notes

• Oof. What a week. My school visit had to be rescheduled - the school closed because a transformer blew, due to a SQUIRREL. I keep telling people they are evil and this proves it! We are getting a new compressor next week - I really hope it cools things off. Alternately, we're going to try to plant sunflowers in front of our windows that radiate heat and maybe that will help.
• The first 1st grade field trip was a graphic demonstration of the effect of class sizes. The kids were calm and well-behaved, able to listen and work together. The teachers, even this close to the end of the school year, were not frazzled and obviously felt in control of their classes and had everything running smoothly. This year, there are less than 20 kids in each class. I will be seeing a different school's 1st graders later, whom I visit regularly, and those teachers do their best and they are good teachers, some with years of experience, but the feeling is completely different. Some of them have very noisy, excitable groups of kids, they're obviously used to having to yell to get attention (the kids, not the teachers), and it's easy to see that some kids are suffering from not enough individual attention - those classes have upwards of 20 kids in each class. It's not a huge number difference, only about 10 kids, but it makes such a difference in the classroom, in the quality of education, and in the workload on the teachers. Our school district may go to 30+ kids per class next year and I do not see how I will be able to run effective or fun field trips in that eventuality.