Teachers Give Up Coffee for Lent 

In this season of Lent, teachers at Mount Carmel have come together and agreed to try to give up one of the most treasured daily necessities–coffee. MC facultys decided that they wanted to take a more natural approach in this season of sacrifice. Coffee machines have been taken out of the teacher’s lounge, and faculty are encouraged to donate to the missions rather than buying coffee. Although they are saving money and helping to reset their addiction to caffeine , the students have reported some negative consequences that have occurred.

“Mr. Stimler has ‘teed off’ on me multiple times this week,” said sophomore Ryan McCormick. “Good for them for trying to give something so important to them, but the school needs it back.” 

Studies show that “teeing off” has increased by 47% since the first day of Lent. This number is expected to grow exponentially. By the end of Lent there may be record numbers of upwards of a 303% increase. 

“Mrs. Smola hasn’t put in her gradebook the test we took two weeks ago,” said sophomore Leonard Siegal. “She always complains about being too tired to grade, but I need this test to be put in soon.” 

Grades have been getting entered slower than usual across the school. Average grade in Blackbaud (AGIB) time was 2.5 days in Mrs. Smola’s class, but Lenten AGIB time has been a staggering 13.8 days. School average AGIB time has been 17 days. Grades not being put in the grade book fast enough is resulting in more kids on the F list due to not having grades in to get the grades up. It’s certainly not those students’ own faults that they have failing grades.

Students have reported seeing teachers sleep in class. While teaching their lesson plans, teachers have been dozing off at their desk. In a recent Merchant survey, teachers reported that they have been falling asleep much more often than usual. In March alone, teachers' average days they fell asleep in class was 4. Five teachers said they had fallen asleep while giving a lesson, and 17 said they had fallen asleep while giving time for students to complete work.

Ms. Rebecca Kniebusch has struggled to find her role during Lent. As the Mount Carmel coffee supplier, she feels a gap in her life that coffee used to fill. 

“I have tried tea, hot chocolate, and lukewarm water,” said Ms. Kniebusch, “but nothing is the same as coffee.” Her morning chat at the coffee machine has also been missing. Even if it's just a simple hello, she misses it. 

Fourteen teachers have checked in late to school in Lent. 238 students have been without a teacher for at least a few minutes during the first period when teachers were late arriving to school. The increase of tardiness has the Director of Lenten Promises, Mr. Matthew McGuire, rethinking his choice for Lent. 

“I don’t know if it was the right decision,” said Mr. McGuire. “There are so many negatives, and what good is it even doing? Is it breaking a small addiction? Does it really matter in the long run? What are people going to think of me? Will I lose my Director of Lenten Promises appointme-?” 

McGuire quickly passed out mid-statement. 

Teachers are not happy with this. It is not expected to last until the end of Lent, but some dedicated teachers are trying to stick it out. Mr. Daniel Haggerty and Mr. Tony Vasquez have been a few of the longest to last through the torture. Mr. Haggerty hasn’t drunk coffee in his life, but Mr. Vasquez has been struggling to make it through class. 

“His classes just aren’t the same,” said sophomore Ryan Clark, who is in Vazquez’s AP Comparative Government course. ”He just kind of sits at his desk and looks forward toward the back of the class while slowly going through a slideshow.” 

Students are arranging a boycott of his class until the end of his coffee fast. Students plan to wait in Mr. Medina’s room until the period is over, as Coke Zero was not part of the Lenten promise.

This short season of Lent has caused so many issues. Teachers are falling asleep, grades are behind schedule, and boycotts are planned to happen. It is safe to say that there will not be more school wide promises.