The Visor

Teachers work while students play on in-service days

February 18, 2010

Ben Edwards

For students, teacher in-service days are loved as much as national holidays, snow days and summer break. For teachers, on the other hand, a day of labor, organizing and seminars are in store.

The majority of students rarely question why there is no school on these mysterious teacher in-service days and the unsolved mystery of what teachers truly do on a student’s day of recreation persists. Students tend to hone in on the day off, instead of what is occurring at Hoban. Hoban’s latest in-service day was Friday, Jan. 29.

For teachers, in-service days are filled with meetings, seminars and continental breakfasts.

“We have a stack of papers for our agenda; I would rather have a normal day of teaching then an in-service day,” 12th year English teacher Jamie Adaway said.

First, teachers have a general assembly accompanied by a continental breakfast with muffins, danishes, bagels and sometimes fruit.

“I usually go for a danish,” history teacher Jason Dzik said.

After the general meeting, the teachers break off into groups pertaining to their own subjects. The teachers then talk about what works well, and what was not successful for them while teaching their courses. They also talk about the pacing of the class to keep every class on the same page. While teachers may dread the in-service day, it is useful for planning tactics for success while teaching.

Students, unlike the teachers, have a day of recreation, fun and relaxation in store.

“I went snowboarding all day at Boston Mills and Brandywine on the last in-service day,” junior winter sport enthusiast Mario Caprez said.

Caprez enjoyed the time away from Hoban.

“It was awesome to have the day off because I basically had the ski resort to myself, until around lunch when all the old skiers got there to practice, I also ran into a few Hoban students as well,” Caprez said.

While other students simply enjoyed their free day, just staying home was the plan for some.

“I caught up on some much needed sleep and also got ahead on my school work,” senior Louie Myers said.

It is true, while teachers work away, the students will play. But, without the in-service day a school could easily become unorganized and out of sync. In-service days are a benefit to the entire school community.

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