Column: There's vacation, and then there's V A C A T I O N !

I can finally say I’m on vacation.

But not really.

I’m a school librarian, and school is out for the summer. But, like most educators, the work goes on for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I love having the summer “off,” even if I do have to put that word in quotes. Everyone should have eight weeks of vacation per year, a chance to truly relax and recharge. The summer break is a definite need for all involved in education. By the middle of June, teachers and students are more than ready to part ways. Everyone is at the breaking point. We know we’ll feel better in the fall.

The change of scenery is what counts, in that regard. So even those of us who continue to labor away get that much needed break from the old routine.

Who are we? Educational technicians, or assistant teachers, usually are paid by the hour. Since there are no hours during the summer, and the other three to four weeks most school districts have off, their income may be below the poverty level. They may need a summer job, or even a year-round part-time position, just to keep afloat.

New teachers often work a second job in the summer. They’re at the bottom of the pay scale, and have student loans to pay off.

Sometimes the work doesn’t take us too far afield. I ran a library program for our district’s summer school for five years. It was two days (eight hours total) per week. I enjoyed working with the young students, as well as the chance to make a few extra bucks.

Teachers often will spend hours during the summer preparing for the fall. High school teachers, for example, may be assigned to teach a course they haven’t taught before. An English teacher might have spent years teaching writing and American authors. An upcoming class on British authors means she has to do a lot of reading, as well as come up with new assignments.

There may be committee meetings and training sessions to attend. Of course, being educators we have to keep our own educations up-to-date.

I’m fatigued just thinking about it.

My own summer started a week after school ended. Librarians typically have “behind the scenes” work to do before we can call it a year. I was completing book and supply orders, catching up on cataloging and attending to various other details. When my first day of vacation finally arrived, I opened up my day book and saw—nothing. It felt like a miracle! 

But that didn’t mean I had time to laze around. I had writing to do, for one thing. That’s a part-time job for me, year-round. I had a few items from school that I had yet to deal with. The two graduate-level classes I’m taking provide me with plenty of work. And I wanted to get as much done as I could before departing on what I think of as my official vacation—a week away at the seaside.

Later in the summer, I have some library-related trainings to attend, as well as a curriculum workshop in my district. My biannual visit to the dentist is planned for August. That wouldn’t be a big deal except that all my x-rays have to be updated. I suspect I’ll be there all morning.

Still, I’m sure I’ll manage to enjoy my time off. Sleeping in would be delightful, but impossible when cats and dogs expect to be fed by 5:30 a.m. I still get to lounge around in my pajamas and drink a second cup of coffee while watching the morning news, and I do like that.

This morning I was able to walk on the local rail trail with my husband, Paul. That’s another perk—not just having the time to walk two miles, but to be able to do it in the morning before it gets too hot.

I like to cook, and it’s a blessing to be able to have both the time and the energy to prepare a delicious dinner.

Speaking of eating, being able to have lunch at home with Paul is another highlight of summer. During the school year, I am constantly debating with myself about what to eat and where to eat it. Do I want to bring salads, leftovers, sandwiches or a frozen entrée? I really shouldn’t eat at my desk, but I do it more often than not. At school, lunch is rarely fun and is always hurried. While on vacation, I can eat on the deck or the front porch, or even go out to a restaurant. It’s mind-boggling!

Finally, one of the best parts of my summer is the feeling of playing hooky when I go out with Paul or a friend on a weekday. Heading to the beach on a Wednesday is extravagant. A movie on a rainy Friday afternoon is delicious.

My classes will end by August, and I should have a couple of laid-back weeks. Then I’ll be back, a week earlier than everyone else, getting the library ready to open. I’ll be ready for everything, except my dreary lunch routine. I’ve got to do something about that.