Desk warming, as it is affectionately referred to by NETs, refers to the days during which we don't teach any classes, but must come to school and sit in our office all day (as per our contracts.) Thus, keeping our desk and chair nice and toasty.
The amount of time a NET is required to desk warm is determined by the school and, as a result, the native teachers I know have vastly varying experiences with, and opinions towards, the practice. In exhibit 123434534 of "My School is Awesome," I haven't been required to deskwarm for extended periods of [wasted] time. As such, I myself don't have too much experience with desk warming beyong a day or two here and there for exams, and today when we have Sports Day rehersal..another story altogether; so, the few days I do get are often a nice surprise and break from teaching.
Today, thus far, I have planned all my lessons for the next 3 days, roughly planned the first of my summer camps, read about 15 blogs, stared into space for a while, watched The Daily Show and successfully chopstick-ed my hair, as demonstrated above. For the next two hours I will be listening to "This American Life" via podcast, and planning my summer adventures to Vietnam and Cambodia.
Desk-warming, in my experience has been just lovely; but, as I said, I've only had experienced these joys for a day or two at a time. Some of my fellow NETs, especially those at the high school level, have had to desk warm for weeks, or months, on end without teaching a single class Because attitudes in SK are a bit intense (understatement) when it comes to testing, extra "English Conversation" (read: NET taught) classes during the weeks before exams are used for self-study and review, which is then followed by 2-3 weeks of actually exams and continued prep time, not to mention vacation periods when school is out of session but NETs must come to school unless they are using official paid vacation days. While I like to give my secondary school counterparts a hard time about the fact that, as far as I can tell, they don't actually teach (this isn't true, I promise) I know that after a day or two of desk-warming with no productive goals/requirements in sight, I would likely rip my hair out. This is especially likely when I think about all the other exploring/adventuring/sleeping-in-the-comfort-of-my-home I could be doing with my time. The latter is why I love Elementary School and am totally o.k. with teaching 2-4 times the amount of English Camp most of my friends have been tasked with. Honestly, no complaints. Camps = awesome. Desk-warming for a month instead = not awesome.
Knowing all this, I maintain that a day or two of keeping my swivel chair nice and toasty is good for the soul, not to mention the organization gods. I do, however, understand how many of my fellows have reached different conclusions resulting (for example) in the following probably inappropriate, yet very funny video, of Hitler being told he must desk warm during summer vacation. Enjoy.
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