My students were in the middle of a Foods Lab and THIS happened. Do I call someone to fix it? No way!
I could call the Custodian. But there are only 2 on duty during the day in a school of 1000+ students. They have lots of things to do and we can't really wait until one of them can come and fix it.
Problem is, when they these paper towel holders were installed 30+ years ago, the rolls of towels were wider and the paper was thicker. You know what I am talking about. Just look at a roll of toilet paper for home use.
Luckily, I have a "key" for the thing and can open it up to figure out what needs to be done. I removed the roll and squeezed the metal holding arms closer together. Then I jammed the roll back in and re-threaded the slot. Worked like a charm!
One time I had a faucet spout (neck) fall off into a student's hands. Scared her to death! She was sure she was in trouble. Luckily my tool box has pliers in it. I put it back together and tightened the collar enough that it wasn't leaking like crazy and we were able to finish the Foods Lab. (The district plumber did come in a day later and officially fixed it.)
For several months there was a misfitting sink plug that once inserted could not be pulled out by the strongest human hands. My pliers morphed into the "official plug puller."
Come by my classroom and you might find me under a sewing machine desk tightening up the attaching bolts. Or I could have a sewing machine apart, trying to untangle a "thread blob." Doing a daily load of laundry (towels & dish cloths) is not unusual. I have even had to do loads mid-day to make it through all the food labs for that day.
I have students come to my room looking for food--sometimes because there are awesome smells coming from my room, sometimes they just want a snack, or maybe they missed breakfast or didn't have enough money for lunch.
Sometimes they need something repaired--Mom might get angry because of a torn coat that the family can't afford to replace or mom doesn't have the equipment or skill to repair. I hate doing repairs, but my doing so can build a relationship that can go a long way in the classroom.
Just so you know, this is merely a description. There is not a single word of complaint in this post. I love what I get to do, but most of all I love being able to have an impact, however small, on more than 300 students every school year! I'm not done yet!
