Okay.... so I chickened at 6.5 hours, and came home. I'll go back tomorrow unless they call and say don't. Yeah.... I sound hopeful, much?
Look, I've spent my life being The Man. Just shut up, swallow your feelings and fears, and soldier on. People depended on that. I've had worries, and I've had concerns.
Today, I think I felt fear. It was weird.
I figured the day, and week, would be filled with easy paced but needed work. Things we normally put off, but welcome time to get done even under these circumstances.
Ha. HA. HAHAHAHAHA!
A morning meeting with managers and instructors (broken up in groups to cut down crowding each other) went over the current situation, and possible futures both near and long term.
One pathway involves figuring out how to structure curriculum so we can instruct.... drum roll please..... online. Yes, I said teach Tech School On-Line. Something I have always figured is impossible.... till someone said my job might depend on figuring out how to do it.
30 minutes later I had mapped out my primary course (Basic Electricity) on a big white board, with notations on likely required videos and worksheets.
At that point, I called a manager to stop by and take a look, as well as another instructor. About 60 videos, 16 worksheets, a new style of testing, and a To-Be-Determined period of hands on and skill testing when we get warm bodies back in the classroom.
For ONE course. Ugh. Double Ugh.
A hour later said manager dude is back. "Yeah, so we might be going with this plan. I need an idea what the class might look like, with a few short videos of lesson presentations".
Okay...... and........
"I have a phone meeting with home office in two hours, and I need it by then".
What the unholy ^$&$@%@? Okay..... I found myself a uniform, scrounged a video camera, and recorded short lessons on two basic concepts. In an hour.
Then, since its getting serious, I started massaging the big board, finding ways to make it work. I managed to pair it down to 32 videos, albeit longer ones. It just made sense.
Yeah, I'm going back tomorrow.... so far. The numbers today are scary. A 20% bump in US cases, and a big jump in my state. Yes, I know that's mostly because we are finally testing.... but damn.
I suspect Da Guv is going to require us to shelter in place by weeks end. If he does, I won't fault him on it. I agree. Meanwhile, I need my job and my income, and that means I need to do my part keeping that company as healthy as I want the family to be.
Yeah, but I've made that step past 'concerned', into fear.
People in passing report: Yeah, so people are getting skittish. In my course of the day, no-one wanted to get close to anyone else. The couple people who entered my six foot bubble got called 'Plague Rat' and were warned back.
Liquor store..... my state runs a 'state store' system. Archaic and predatory, I know, but the union has their claws in deep. The Guv announced the stores were closing as of 5pm today. I made my last stop there at 3pm, and they were still half stocked and not crazy.
Understand.... I usually stop at an out-of-the-way place that few people know about. At the MOST, I see one or two customers there. Today it was 12, and keeping their distance. The clerks report crazy busy, and wished me safe travels.
Cars on the road? Not bad.... for a Sunday morning. Today is Tuesday. My new and improved drive to work is at prime time. Hmm.....
I got a text.. come in uniform tomorrow, and bring a video camera if I have a decent one. Why? Proof of concept was approved after I left, and many instructors will be recording lessons tomorrow. Ugh.... special times my friends.
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