Another reason so many trees died: Often, to raise test scores or improve student behavior, the administration created an activity which supplanted my lesson plan for the day. In many cases, I didn’t have time to get back to the activity since future days were already planned. But I hate to throw away a fully prepared lesson, so I kept these papers and activities, thinking a day would come when I could use my lecture and materials for reinforcement. That tomorrow never arrived, though, and more of my plans were laid waste by other administrative brainstorms.

Many trees died this year. I feel sad as I throw some of these aborted lessons into the recycling.