I always dreamed of paperless school, but be careful what you
wish for. Last Wednesday my dream came true.
Head of Stock at my school is the young,
attractive and inept Martha. She doesn’t have much to do because we have little
stock and fewer resources. I have told her continually to stash consumables
for “emergency” use so when can stop-gap any ordering delays which inevitably
occur. And she continually screws up.
We’re out of plain white A4 whitepaper
and there is none in stock. I send Site Purchaser Yasin the Weasel to collect
the three different quotes to make the purchase which he completes in the day.
Meanwhile i have a workshop to present for Secondary and Admin staff, so i
drive Martha across and ask her to procure a stash to use in the Interim, they
have some 40 odd boxes of paper at the Secondary Campus. But ferocious Head of
Stock at Secondary, aptly named Roman, guards the far better stocked and
resources like the centaur she is. We
come away empty-handed.
Come Thursday morning, and Yasin the
Weasel has now chosen the most favourable quote, prepared the necessary requisition
pro-forma, sorted till numbers, collected my signature and prepared the cheque.
Now it only needs signing and paper is ours. Unfortunately 2 of the three legal
signatories are out of Ethiopia – and that only leaves one – Dr No.
If he was on a go – slow work to rule
personal crusade before, he has taken “slovenly” to whole new levels now. And,
of course, he will do nothing to facilitate anything to do with me. I go across
the road and purchase 500 sheets from my own pocket, hand it to my secretary
and tell her to use it sparingly.
Teachers are going ape-shit and parents
receive no homework. Only last week in my Weekly Newsletter i had to apologise
for the lack of homework because both photocopiers had broken down. The thought
of having to apologise because the school does not possess paper fills me with
complete horror.
We squeek through Thursday and relieved
that school is closed for Friday and Monday.
Turning up to school today, we remain a
paperless school. Deputy Z informs me that they had to postpone tests last week
in Grade 5, but they desperately need to complete assessments now. I go across
the road again, dig into my ever shrinking pockets and purchase 1000 sheets of
paper. I have a lunch appointment with
Ginger Warrior, and call him in desperation. He is profusely apologetic and
storms off to rant at Roman for not assisting earlier.
After lunch, i fill my car with three
boxes and drive back to school with a sense of disbelief. I never want a
paperless school again.
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