Seeping Electricity and Other Public School Phenonema

Our school district is taking money-saving measures. This vacation we were required to turn off all electronic devices (computers, printers, etc). But since turning them off isn't enough, technology came through and unplugged them all as well. God knows, some electrical current might seep through that plug to the dormant machine.

Here's my letter to the new economy-minded Superintendent:

TIME IS MONEY! WHAT VALUE DIGNITY?

Physically unplugging every electronic apparatus seems a phenomenal waste of time. Today, first I crawled under the computer (literally, hands and knees on floor) to plug the computer back in.

Then this afternoon when I needed to print a document, (Please note: Not one document did I attempt to print this morning. Not one. Not one leaf of a tree destroyed. Not one penny from District coffers did I expend, unless you count the 4 squares of toilet tissue I used. The Kleenex to contain my sneeze, I purchased myself, but I did use district toilet paper) the printer was not working. I then discovered that the printer was unplugged. I headed under the computer desk once again and plugged in the printer.

Still not working.

So I restarted the computer. Perhaps it wasn’t reading the peripheral since it wasn’t plugged in when the computer started. (It happens sometimes). I turned off the computer, sat and waited for my computer, which is deficit in memory, (Poor thing. I can relate!) to log in again.

Still not working.

Just before calling for a computer tech, (I could hear the cha-ching of district funds going down the drain, so I persevered) I checked other cords. Ah! Yes! In pulling out the computer desk to plug/unplug the appliance, the connector cord from printer to computer was disconnected.

Once again…this is three times now (are you counting?), back to hands and knees. Fortunately, (though unfortunate for my dignity) there was a student nearby to whom I could hand the cord up through the back of the desk while I managed to assume an upright stance, recover my dignity, and plug in the errant cord.

An hour later, I was able to use the printer. (How many times was this scene enacted throughout the district?)

What a phenomenal waste of time and unnecessary wear and tear on my hands and knees!

May we please just turn off those pesky things without the additional unplugging? Does the electricity really seep through with them off? More than my dignity is worth?

Vacation is over!