We all heard this week at Assembly about a faculty member, who, as advisor to a certain esoteric campus activity, was called to an unusual job: chasing down an AWOL school pig named Spike and returning her to the pen after patching the offending gape in the fence. Actually, a second teacher, who lives close to Carpenter’s Orchard (where the pig-pen is) also helped with the wrangling. The fact that the incident repeated two more times made me think about all the roles we faculty are called to–generally with a smile on our faces– that are pretty far outside a typical teacher-coach-advisor job description. I mean, we all come into this knowing that trying to put names to everything we do would be a silly exercise, but the incident of the pig in the night-time prompted me to ask that question of my colleagues.
- I rescued a hummingbird from a freshman boy’s room by using a lacrosse stick and a California Republic flag.
- I designed the new gate to Diamond Hitch campground, as well as the artwork (packers and strings of mules, of course!) adorning the top beam of the portal.
- I take kids out to surf and then for burgers regularly.
- I programmed the thachergymkhana.net website to allow instantaneous scoring of gymkhana races using iPads on the field and presentation of results for races, barn penalties, etc. for all to enjoy
- I hosted the UCT Mardi Gras celebration lunch, making a Creole dish and adding a French touch (crêpes)
- I took a student down to Cal Tech over Christmas vacation so that she could analyze some salts she synthesized in the lab of a professor there.
- I bought and transported 150 burgers from In-n-Out for a fundraiser.
- I arrange cross-country running camps for Thacher runners during the summer.
- I tighten the spokes on the wooden wheels of the Emerson, Thacher’s pleasure wagon (draft horses).
- I worked with seniors in post-check-in Zumba sessions for their Assembly announcement.
It’s a 24/7 deal, this boarding school teacher business, but it’s what’s inside those numbers that keeps things interesting, eight days a week.