8/02/2017 The Principal Entrepreneur: 3 useless items every principal has on or in their desk

I’m back at work looking at my desk and going through the drawers as I prepare for next school year. As I’m digging through the random items, I see a bunch of stuff that I’ve never even touched since I started 2016 as a first year principal. The following are the three items that are completely useless and only fulfill the purpose of completing in my mind what a principal’s desk “should” look like.

Clear Tape Dispenser.

Seriously? I haven’t taped anything in the entire 18 months I’ve been on the job. The best thing that this tape dispenser has been used for is as a weight holding doing a six inch stack of paper. That and for any number of students that have come in and asked if they could use some for a project.

Ruler

Speaking of useless, I don’t even know why I have a ruler. I don’t need to know the dimensions of my laptop or need to use the ruler to convert distances on a map like we did in the 80’s. As a matter of fact I think I have a rubberbanded bunch of rulers. I’m sure as heck not going to use them to teach a lesson in the many being stronger than the one . . . Well, actually that would probably be a good use for them. For now tho, they’re just taking up space. But for some reason I’ve still got them in my drawer.

Magnetized Paperclip Holder

We’re in the digital age. I can’t remember the last time I needed to paperclip something to hold them together. That might also be because I’m a staple person. But really, there’s no reason for it. I don’t have enough things to paperclip that I need a special holder to contain 300 of them. Most items I get are in a digital folder. The paperclip holder with the clear bottom and the black top is useless.

What else do you have on or in your desk that is actually completely useless? Share your observations in the comment section below.

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For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, new episodes weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at jonathanroyce@theprincipalentrepreneur.com Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group.