Spring break

I'm in education. What this means is that all those holidays you relished in school, are my paid holidays. A friend told me that I should plan these things out. I agree with him. I SHOULD have big plans, but instead, I'm straight sitting on my ass typing a blog.
When I say I'm in education, when you ask if I'm a teacher, technically, no. To be a teacher you need more education and licensure than I do. I am an in-school suspension coordinator a middle school. Which means I get paid to punish kids. It's not too hard of a job, so I don't feel badly about how little I'm paid. Also, the job security is pretty good. How many people do you know that want to sit silently in a small room and watch kids who are atoning for misbehavior in class for eight hours a day?
Working with kids takes something not everyone has. Especially middle schoolers. I tend see to my job as somewhat of an art. The dynamics change everyday, what works and what doesn't will change from day to day, even with the same kids. It keeps me on my toes, my objective is not to coddle, counsel, or encourage the kids in any way. My job is punishment. My goal is to make the experience so miserable, that they will choose to behave in class next time. In the modern day, that gets tricky. When I was their age, corporal punishment was still a viable method to eschew future transgressions.
One time, I got in quite a bit of trouble in 1st grade and was paddled. My teacher did NOT send me home. I finished out the day in my humiliated state. She told my Mom after school, when I got home, Mom spanked me and sent me to bed. At 7:00, step-dad came home and I got a beating only an alcoholic step parent could give. Now you may say that's plain old child abuse, I might agree with you, but I got the message and I did not get in to anymore trouble at school for YEARS.
This option is not open to me. My tools are isolation, tedious ritual, mountains of writing projects, afterschool detention slips, additional days of ISS, and climate control. And if used correctly, damned effective tools.
If it's too hot or cold, they are uncomfortable. If they have large amounts of class work, they are overwhelmed. If they have to do the same thing every time, they are bored. If they break the rules they either get another day or have to stay after school....you get the picture.
I love my job and I take great pride in my craft. This job will eventually allow me to become a teacher, which is a major goal. I really want a nice, quiet, normal life. Until that happens, I will most likely use this place as a soapbox to rant and maybe someone will listen. If not, oh well.