When I transferred to El Diamante High School is 2003, I moved into a science room that had not been used, because the school had just opened the previous year. Each science room had its own prep room (wasteful) with its own fume hood (wasteful) and its own refrigerator bay (heaven!). This post is a paean to my fridge.
When I was hired, I was assured by the principal that I could have a refrigerator, but that I would have to pay for it and install it myself. Off I went to the used appliance store, where I selected a very used, outdated refrigerator. No ice maker, no water dispenser. Just a basic fridge in a “harvest gold” color that screamed “1970’s”. Once in my prep room, it continued to work without an issue for the next sixteen years.
During those sixteen years of faithful service, my family went through two refrigerators at home. In each case, we were told that the motherboard had burned out, and that replacing it would cost as much as a new refrigerator. Needless-to-say, my fridge at work didn’t have a motherboard. One of the lessons that I have had to learn repeatedly in life is that many times, simpler is better. I’m no Luddite. I love technology as much as most people. However, it is a universal truth that the more complex the appliance, the shorter its life expectancy.
I gladly provided space in the fridge to teachers and students who needed a place to put perishable food. I kept cups in the room so that students could get ice and some water for a cold drink. The last six years at El Diamante, I kept bottled water in the old fridge. When students were thirsty, they knew that they could get a bottle, no charge.
Sometimes, when retrieving a bottle of water, a student would see bagels, yoghurt or fruit in the fridge. In a real life example of “If You Give a Cat a Cupcake”, I began fielding occasional requests for food as well. And, it turns out, if you give a student a yoghurt, they ask for a spoon. So, I stocked plastic forks, spoons and knives. In fact, I had a cabinet in my room that we all just called “the Walmart cabinet”. Paper towels, napkins, paper plates, plastic bags – you name it, it was in that cabinet. Over the years, that fridge cost me a lot more money than I paid for it, but it never cost me as much as a burned-out motherboard. And that old fridge bought me so much more.
The old harvest gold fridge, some bottled water, food and the contents of the Walmart cabinet bought priceless amounts of good will in my classroom. On my last day at work, I thoroughly cleaned and then unplugged my faithful fridge. I put the “Unplugged for Summer” sign on it, and then I left it for the next teacher.
I hope that outdated, ugly appliance serves him as long and as well as it served me.
