There are few things more stressful to teachers than having to be away from their classrooms for an indeterminate length of time. Jury selection -- a mandatory process in Canada whereby each citizen may be called to sit on a Jury -- offers precisely such a stressor.
My summons first arrived in the summer of 2013. I was able to escape the call that time, as I was heading out of the country for a year. But true to their word, the good people of the judicial system were prompt in their summons upon my return to Canada, and within a year, I rec'd another summons. The paper says to expect to serve for at least a week, possibly more if I get selected for case duty. (I am confident that no lawyer would want me in her client's jury; I'm far too opinionated! So I am optimistically planning for 3 days at most.)
My girlfriend served jury selection earlier this year, as did a colleague from school. Both suggested I get to the courthouse early to get a desk. (The waiting room is HUGE, with several hundred chairs, and about 12 desks lining one wall.)
I took them up on their advice, and now find myself blogging from a little cubicle; two women to my left are discussing their prior jury experience; the fellow on my left is playing Candy Crush on his iPad, which could become a problem if he doesn't soon turn off the volume!!!! (Stupidly, I forgot to bring my noise canceling headphones.)
In my ideal scenario, I sit here for two days and get caught up on marking, planning, emails, etc., then get called in on Day 3, dismissed, and am able to return to my students/school on Monday. But the world is not an ideal place, as we all know.
In the meantime, I'm making the best of things: I have my mate and a thermos of hot water, there is somewhat reliable wifi, my computer is charged for a few hours of productive work, and I have the following on my agenda:
But first, there is a propaganda video I must watch with my fellow prospective jurors, on our collective duty as Canadian citizens.
Here we go....
My summons first arrived in the summer of 2013. I was able to escape the call that time, as I was heading out of the country for a year. But true to their word, the good people of the judicial system were prompt in their summons upon my return to Canada, and within a year, I rec'd another summons. The paper says to expect to serve for at least a week, possibly more if I get selected for case duty. (I am confident that no lawyer would want me in her client's jury; I'm far too opinionated! So I am optimistically planning for 3 days at most.)
My girlfriend served jury selection earlier this year, as did a colleague from school. Both suggested I get to the courthouse early to get a desk. (The waiting room is HUGE, with several hundred chairs, and about 12 desks lining one wall.)
I took them up on their advice, and now find myself blogging from a little cubicle; two women to my left are discussing their prior jury experience; the fellow on my left is playing Candy Crush on his iPad, which could become a problem if he doesn't soon turn off the volume!!!! (Stupidly, I forgot to bring my noise canceling headphones.)
In my ideal scenario, I sit here for two days and get caught up on marking, planning, emails, etc., then get called in on Day 3, dismissed, and am able to return to my students/school on Monday. But the world is not an ideal place, as we all know.
In the meantime, I'm making the best of things: I have my mate and a thermos of hot water, there is somewhat reliable wifi, my computer is charged for a few hours of productive work, and I have the following on my agenda:
- Review and prepare conversation questions for a book talk I am facilitating with a group of teachers at school
- Finish marking Lab reports for one Grade 7 Class
- Mark math assignments for two Grade 7 Classes
- Re-read chapter on Fractions, Decimals and Percents in three math books
- Review Math Curriculum Documents
- Prepare my next Math Unit for Grades 7 & 8
But first, there is a propaganda video I must watch with my fellow prospective jurors, on our collective duty as Canadian citizens.
Here we go....
RSS Feed