These emails represent the unseen battles waged over actually going through with a senior projet this year:

Dear Faculty
I found the level of animosity at yesterday's faculty meeting highly discouraging. Perhaps most disheartening is the sense of distrust evident between faculty members. It seems that people no longer make the crucial assumption that all of us are working for the same goals. To argue against a proposal is very different from arguing against a person or an administration and I feel like that line is often blurred at our meetings. I also believe that we can do a better job of practicing the decorum and mutual respect that we teach and enforce in our class rooms.
Thank you for your time and warm regards,
Chris Johnston
room 317

Dear all,
On the contrary and with all due respect ot Mr. Johnston, I was very pleased to here all sides of the debate on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, I am very happy to be part of such a spirited group and I detest the "its all good" attitude and the let's all buck up and "toe the company line" because " we're really in it for the kids" argument. Well, no kidding. What we teach and how we go about it should be a highly contested battle. When its not is when I'll start to worry. "Decorum and mutual respect" are wonderful ideals but they breed complacency and stagnation.
If anyone wants to get in touch with me, I'll be napping during my conference period with the door closed.
-MC

Dear Colleagues--I have something like 175 student contacts each day. I do not care if I am supposed to meet with a few more kids on Wednesday or during a Counseling Period. I just can't do it. There is a human limit to what I can care about. I teach a bunch of seniors, already. I will help these kids with their Project No problem. But, if I am asked to take on more kids.=, I don't think I can do it. I will try, but I do not think it is humanely possible. I can go through the motions, but I can't possibly care anymore than I do. That makes me a phony, when it coes to the Senior Project. I can't do it. I'll do it as best I can. But that won't be much. All the best on you, teachers.
PPWB