Re-visiting the Past

Even though I haven't attended a faculty meeting at any of my schools lately, I had a thought: the differences between faculty meetings at Belleville East (BEAST) High School (my job last year) and at Rakoczi Zsgimond Altalanos Iskola (1/4 of my job this year).

1. SNACKS

BEAST: Bags of chips, pop cans, or water. Sometimes we had ice-cream, nachos, or huge cookies that were the secret to getting everyone to attend the meetings (what a combo!)
RZAI: Pogacsa (spelling???) Mini-muffin like things that are supposedly impossible to bake, several chocolate delicacies that no one seems to eat but me and a table full of glasses for a bottle of Fanta or bubbly water.

2. LEAVING CHILDREN BEHIND

BEAST: This was the purpose of our life as teachers at East. Under no circumstances were we to leave ANY child behind. This was the point of most fac mtgs. as part of the English dept. We were prepped, guided, and instructed on ways to make our school dig itself out of the depths of failing schools everywhere through weekly PSAE practice.
RZAI: If a student falls behind, it's pretty much up to the student to pull him/herself forward again.

3. ARRIVING IN A TIMELY FASHION

BEAST: Even though faculty meetings began ten minutes after the last class ended, you were expected to be front and center on the dot. I think I remember the cracking of pop cans attracting peripheral glances of annoyance.
RZAI: Timely fashion? 'Nuff said.

4. MEETING STRUCTURE

BEAST: Intros, matters of concern, and a somewhat detailed outline of what was to be covered in a thirty minute meeting were timed and gave you spaces to take notes before you broke up into smaller teams to tackle the on-going issues of keeping a steady pace so that no child fell behind. Our Dept. Head making jokes here and there at which all of us laughed, because we were all scared of her.
RZAI: From what I gather, the headmaster reads something straight from a piece of paper while the teachers look at photos, gossip, grade papers, or knit in the background. Other than that, I don't know, because I don't speak Hungarian.