~ the Bunster tapes ~
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As you know, music teachers have needs that are sometimes different from classroom teachers. We have pointed out many people who helped Ms. Vasco and me. We now look at the Home & Careers Department.

We will start with the Bunster. As mentioned earlier she allowed me to use her kitchen as a film set for my general music class video projects. When we were done there were cheerios everywhere but we got a very cool piece of backwards video where the cheerios appeared to get sucked up into the box. But I digress. We music teachers were always needed something sewed back together, or repaired in some way. These teachers were always happy to help in any way.

One of the units the kids studied in H&C involved practicing for a job interview. I had always helped Ms. Bunster by coming into class and conducting mock live interviews with the kids.

This year the Bunster wanted to make how-to, and how-not-to videos to show in her classroom. She came to me for my technical skills in making a video. Little did she know of my keen sense of comedy improvisation. Nor did I for that matter. We had a lot of fun. Two of the videos are linked to the photos at the top.

The Bunster set up interviews with half dozen or so teachers to be videotaped. I would play the part of the fictional principal Mr. Bloom, the interviewer. The other teachers would be the interviewees. No one involved actually knew what was going to happen.

 There was no script or discussion between the participants. In front of me, I had a yellow sheet with possible job interview questions that the kids had discussed in class. I did not know who the other teachers were until the door opened and they walked in.

As the tape rolled (or in this digital age, scrolled) I was seated at a table and would look up and say "Mrs. Sorce, please send in our next candidate." Now, the real Mrs. Sorce was the principal's secretary and was not a part of our shenanigans. She is, however, a true loon in her own right and probably would have approved if asked.

The door would open and in walked ... someone. I would stand and greet them and shake their hand. We would then conduct an interview. I would ask a question, and they would answer.

Ms. Alahverdhian took the physical comedy approach. Ms. Krull, a superwoman math teacher used the interview to air some of her actual gripes regarding being interrupted while teaching. Apparently the school psychologist was something of a nuisance. The interviewees and I reacted to each other, and this is what we produced for the education of our students.

I do vaguely remember Ms. Alahverian, at the tavern after a faculty music concert, relating a hilarious story of an unnamed male former staff member washing his clothes in the H&C room. A story that ended with some mention of boxer shorts and a pubic hair.
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