This statement is full of sarcasm.  We moved into a new school building this year and it is totally different from the 54 year old building we used to be in.  The old building was single rows of rooms that all faced outside.  In the beginning, they had windows allllll the way across the back.  The view was wonderful and we could spy on other teachers.  They could also look into our rooms.  We felt safe because we knew everyone was watching and we could do our jobs in a more relaxed atmosphere.

I watched one of our teachers and our principal carry on a "tete-a-tete" for the better part of the first year I was out there.  Everyone did.  It was very interesting.

The buildings were old.  We did NOT have air conditioning the first year.  We had swamp coolers that blew so strong we had to have big rocks on the desk tops to keep papers from blowing away.  Then, they put in AC.  Then they bricked up the entire wall of windows.  (to save on AC)  Then they dropped the ceilings down and the lights and took out all our bookshelves.  Then they remodeled and remodeled and finally left us alone.

The rooms were leaky and creepy after that.  No windows in the doors and walls.

Let's see...what do I miss...Do I miss having black widow spiders walk out of my three ring binders?  I shot back my chair so fast and hard that I hit the wall behind me and crashed.  How about the ones that hung out over my door that maintaince couldn't get rid of?  (I could. I just sealed the holes shut and that did it.)  Do I miss the cockroaches that hatched by the millions all over the classroom?  The kids spent the day chasing them and putting them outside.  Remember, we can't spray with students around.  Do I miss the field mice that ran amock in the rooms and ate everything in site?  Even though one of the students caught one and put it in another teachers classroom?  (I had to laugh even though I wasn't supposed to.)  Do I miss picking up my bag of chips and finding a mouse in it?  How about the mouse poop all over the desk top?  Have you ever had cockroach poop all over the chalkboard rails because they are eating the chalk?  How about the skunks that lived under the building in front of me?  I also forgot about when the roof blew off in a rain storm and our classes were soaked and a lot of our personal stuff was destroyed.  We had to double up and teach in the library, the stage, the closets, the lounge, everywhere we could.  Nope, I guess I don't miss the old building.

It is nice to know that it is still being used though.  In fact, the high school is residing there until their new building is built.  That is cool because those kids were there when it was an elementary and they are used to all the wonderful events that happen.

I LOVE my new building.  So far, Not one single event has happened.  I love it!