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Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2013
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A two beer rant
I won't be long, as I am completely exhausted.
Today the teaching staff was told that our district will be broke on November 1, unless, of courses, concessions can be made. The district is in the red by better than two million dollars. Should we actually go broke, the state would presumably send in an emergency finance director who would then slash away.
I have been far too involved in the inner workings of the district to not be absolutely livid at the sheer incompetence that has brought us to this point.
All of the buildings in our district are ancient and certainly would not get the energy star rating. So, how many grants have we pursued in order to reduce our long-term energy costs? I'm betting that the number is closer to zero than it should be.
Let me tell you about the educational foundation that the teachers' union tried to establish three years ago. We had a name, started writing by-laws, but we could not get a single administrator to agree to sit on the board. A foundation could have funneled much needed donations into the district.
Or howabout the $350/hour the lawyer was paid to handle negotiations? He racked up nearly $40,000 in two years. Yup, but we're broke.
When the vulture-like charter schools began to move in, did we do anything like offer language classes (i.e. Arabic) that might entice parents to keep their kids in our school? Nope. On the topic of charter schools - would someone in Michigan please look into them. It is my understanding that religious indoctrination is being taught. I know for a fact that one of the K-8 charters did not teach social studies because the federal standards didn't use social studies to measure and grade schools. My favorite is, of course, if a charter school doesn't have enough students, it will just shut down completely, two weeks into the school year. Us, we would just lay-off teachers, not shut down entirely.
My beer buzz in wearing off and I need to sleep. I need to do my job, as I always do, with gusto and enthusiasm.
Today the teaching staff was told that our district will be broke on November 1, unless, of courses, concessions can be made. The district is in the red by better than two million dollars. Should we actually go broke, the state would presumably send in an emergency finance director who would then slash away.
I have been far too involved in the inner workings of the district to not be absolutely livid at the sheer incompetence that has brought us to this point.
All of the buildings in our district are ancient and certainly would not get the energy star rating. So, how many grants have we pursued in order to reduce our long-term energy costs? I'm betting that the number is closer to zero than it should be.
Let me tell you about the educational foundation that the teachers' union tried to establish three years ago. We had a name, started writing by-laws, but we could not get a single administrator to agree to sit on the board. A foundation could have funneled much needed donations into the district.
Or howabout the $350/hour the lawyer was paid to handle negotiations? He racked up nearly $40,000 in two years. Yup, but we're broke.
When the vulture-like charter schools began to move in, did we do anything like offer language classes (i.e. Arabic) that might entice parents to keep their kids in our school? Nope. On the topic of charter schools - would someone in Michigan please look into them. It is my understanding that religious indoctrination is being taught. I know for a fact that one of the K-8 charters did not teach social studies because the federal standards didn't use social studies to measure and grade schools. My favorite is, of course, if a charter school doesn't have enough students, it will just shut down completely, two weeks into the school year. Us, we would just lay-off teachers, not shut down entirely.
My beer buzz in wearing off and I need to sleep. I need to do my job, as I always do, with gusto and enthusiasm.
Monday, June 21, 2010
What a school year!
I'm always one of the last people on staff to finish all my grades. I am endlessly disorganized and suffer completely from self-diagnosed ADHD. If I can find an activity, no matter how mundane, that does not involve grading papers, I'm there. Well, almost any activity. I am now in the midst of cleaning my house. I have just located the corner of the dining room side board (I think it's called that). It had been buried under a massive pile of papers for most of the school year. I'd like to publicly apologize to my son for allowing the house to become a pig sty. Of course, this is all he knows, so a mess is normal.
I've chronicled some of the events that happened this past school year. I've flipped out over the testing pressure we were all feeling. I've mentioned the fights. But good things did happen. Here are just a few.
My student teacher kicked ass. That's such an 80s thing to say, but it's true. He comes to the profession a little older (31) than most college grads and with tons of crappy job experience. He understands the value of an education and the dull monotony of dead-end jobs. I think that his passion for the job comes from his "real world" experiences. An English teacher from our school retired and while he might not get that job, if he doesn't get a job somewhere in the district, I will shake my head forelorningly (not a word, I don't care) for ages and ages hence.
My friends Laurie, Laura, and John kept me sane when I was most likely to lose all hope. They are like family to me and I would just die if any of them abandoned me at the high school. Thankfully, in two weeks Laurie accompanies me to Columbus and Chicago to see Squeeze and we have meet and greet tickets for the Columbus show. That's right Glenn Tilbrook, I'm looking at you, longingly with desire warming my soul.
Uhhh anyway, I also made new friends. For one, there's the English teacher who I had previously categorized as straight-laced. I learned better one evening over Bloody Marys as we debated the proper spelling of the adverbial form of the word "fucking." It's a great word and I'll post my thoughts on it later. Additionally, I can't forget the teacher who taught me how to play Keno while spiking my Bailey's with his Irish Catholic/Irish Protestant/Irish Buddhist whiskey. Yeah, but he plans on taking a job at the middle school next year (where, they aren't even human), so he's dead to me.
Finally, I have an awesome new Executive Board for next year's Student Council. If they can stay focused, they will give the class of 2002 a run for their top class title.
My summer starts in earnest today. I'm cleaning and straightening while I write. The National Writing project at Eastern Michigan starts on Thursday. After that, I'll be tied up with Creative Writing camp. I want to take Andrew somewhere, anywhere this summer - even for just a weekend. In the meantime, I better get back to the household chores that I've been neglecting since September.
I've chronicled some of the events that happened this past school year. I've flipped out over the testing pressure we were all feeling. I've mentioned the fights. But good things did happen. Here are just a few.
My student teacher kicked ass. That's such an 80s thing to say, but it's true. He comes to the profession a little older (31) than most college grads and with tons of crappy job experience. He understands the value of an education and the dull monotony of dead-end jobs. I think that his passion for the job comes from his "real world" experiences. An English teacher from our school retired and while he might not get that job, if he doesn't get a job somewhere in the district, I will shake my head forelorningly (not a word, I don't care) for ages and ages hence.
My friends Laurie, Laura, and John kept me sane when I was most likely to lose all hope. They are like family to me and I would just die if any of them abandoned me at the high school. Thankfully, in two weeks Laurie accompanies me to Columbus and Chicago to see Squeeze and we have meet and greet tickets for the Columbus show. That's right Glenn Tilbrook, I'm looking at you, longingly with desire warming my soul.
Uhhh anyway, I also made new friends. For one, there's the English teacher who I had previously categorized as straight-laced. I learned better one evening over Bloody Marys as we debated the proper spelling of the adverbial form of the word "fucking." It's a great word and I'll post my thoughts on it later. Additionally, I can't forget the teacher who taught me how to play Keno while spiking my Bailey's with his Irish Catholic/Irish Protestant/Irish Buddhist whiskey. Yeah, but he plans on taking a job at the middle school next year (where, they aren't even human), so he's dead to me.
Finally, I have an awesome new Executive Board for next year's Student Council. If they can stay focused, they will give the class of 2002 a run for their top class title.
My summer starts in earnest today. I'm cleaning and straightening while I write. The National Writing project at Eastern Michigan starts on Thursday. After that, I'll be tied up with Creative Writing camp. I want to take Andrew somewhere, anywhere this summer - even for just a weekend. In the meantime, I better get back to the household chores that I've been neglecting since September.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Schadenfreude
Normally, I do not wish ill on those I do not like, especially if young children will be impacted at some point. I do, however, have to admit to feeling a slight giggle in my soul when I read this yesterday. You see, the principal in question is my former boss. I want to share one story about this guy. I have dozens more, but those involve other people and I don't have their permission to tell their stories.
The story starts in the November before Andrew came home. Our home study had just been approved by Ontario and was in the process of being translated into Chinese. Out of no where, a co-worker and his wife adopt a domestically born baby girl. Their process had been far more covert and it seems that paperwork from the employer was not needed. For Andrew's adoption, I needed to supply a letter of recommendation from my direct supervisor and a letter from HR stating my salary and length of employment. The sudden news shook me up a little and I found myself in anxious tears and even feeling guilty about crying at their happiness. Of course, I wasn't actually crying at their happiness, just at my own situation. I was even terrified to attend the first staff meeting after their bundle arrived because I couldn't handle all the emotions seeing of cooing co-workers and the delivery of baby gifts. Thankfully, the new parent wasn't there and a number of other teachers seemed to sense my anxiety. I remember quite distinctly a veteran English teacher gently grabbing my arm and sincerely asking me how I was doing. Of course I dissolved into tears. I crawled to a corner and sniffled into a tissue for the whole meeting.
Perhaps ten minutes after the meeting was adjourned, I was in my classroom, preparing to leave when a friend of mine came to my room. She told me that the principal (the guy mentioned in the article) asked her "Why was TC crying?" She, as best as she could, explained that the recent adoption news had hit me pretty hard. He replied, "What, why? She jealous?" My head spun, I just couldn't believe it. I work in a small district where I have worked hard to earn the respect of people at all levels of the hierarchy. This sometimes helps me open doors that others can't even find and I was able to make an appointment with the superintendent the very next day. At this meeting, he assured me that I would immediately receive an apology letter.
I don't know how many days passed, but a typed letter did eventually show up in my school mailbox. It said something to the effect of "sorry you were offended." Two more letters, with the same sentiment were tried. Two months later, the superintendent, the principal, my union president, and I sat down in my classroom. After an hour of I can't remember what, my union president exasperatedly asked,"Are you going to to say sorry or what?" Like a child forced to apologize for hitting a sibling, he said something that resembled sorry and he and I spoke less than 15 times in the next four years. That's amazingly low considering that I was and still am the Student Council adviser.
This is just one story. I could regale you with the time he told a student I was bullshit because I taped the pep rally plans to his door. Or about the time he told other people in the district that he had the worst staff in the district. Or the time he actually told his staff that he didn't "do e-mail." Or the way he pounded his chest and slapped hands with some of the biggest, most violent assholes in the building and allowed them to call him "Vic." But I can feel the hate in my soul rising to a dangerous level.
You see, I took a leave last year and I told everyone that it was because Andrew was starting school. It was really because I was going to break and my whole being was consumed with rage toward this moron. I am in a much better place mentally because of my decision.
The story starts in the November before Andrew came home. Our home study had just been approved by Ontario and was in the process of being translated into Chinese. Out of no where, a co-worker and his wife adopt a domestically born baby girl. Their process had been far more covert and it seems that paperwork from the employer was not needed. For Andrew's adoption, I needed to supply a letter of recommendation from my direct supervisor and a letter from HR stating my salary and length of employment. The sudden news shook me up a little and I found myself in anxious tears and even feeling guilty about crying at their happiness. Of course, I wasn't actually crying at their happiness, just at my own situation. I was even terrified to attend the first staff meeting after their bundle arrived because I couldn't handle all the emotions seeing of cooing co-workers and the delivery of baby gifts. Thankfully, the new parent wasn't there and a number of other teachers seemed to sense my anxiety. I remember quite distinctly a veteran English teacher gently grabbing my arm and sincerely asking me how I was doing. Of course I dissolved into tears. I crawled to a corner and sniffled into a tissue for the whole meeting.
Perhaps ten minutes after the meeting was adjourned, I was in my classroom, preparing to leave when a friend of mine came to my room. She told me that the principal (the guy mentioned in the article) asked her "Why was TC crying?" She, as best as she could, explained that the recent adoption news had hit me pretty hard. He replied, "What, why? She jealous?" My head spun, I just couldn't believe it. I work in a small district where I have worked hard to earn the respect of people at all levels of the hierarchy. This sometimes helps me open doors that others can't even find and I was able to make an appointment with the superintendent the very next day. At this meeting, he assured me that I would immediately receive an apology letter.
I don't know how many days passed, but a typed letter did eventually show up in my school mailbox. It said something to the effect of "sorry you were offended." Two more letters, with the same sentiment were tried. Two months later, the superintendent, the principal, my union president, and I sat down in my classroom. After an hour of I can't remember what, my union president exasperatedly asked,"Are you going to to say sorry or what?" Like a child forced to apologize for hitting a sibling, he said something that resembled sorry and he and I spoke less than 15 times in the next four years. That's amazingly low considering that I was and still am the Student Council adviser.
This is just one story. I could regale you with the time he told a student I was bullshit because I taped the pep rally plans to his door. Or about the time he told other people in the district that he had the worst staff in the district. Or the time he actually told his staff that he didn't "do e-mail." Or the way he pounded his chest and slapped hands with some of the biggest, most violent assholes in the building and allowed them to call him "Vic." But I can feel the hate in my soul rising to a dangerous level.
You see, I took a leave last year and I told everyone that it was because Andrew was starting school. It was really because I was going to break and my whole being was consumed with rage toward this moron. I am in a much better place mentally because of my decision.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
It's almost here
Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I'm really excited for Tuesday to roll around. I know that I said earlier that I'm nervous and I am, but I think it's a good nervous. I just can't wait to stand in front of my students and start the year.
First of all, the start of the school year has given me a reason to go clothes shopping. I know it is a completely superficial reason, but after dropping 25 pounds in the last year, I need a whole new wardrobe. Yesterday, I did a power shop through the mall and bought a suit, a skirt, a jacket, and a new fall outfit from Jones of New York. I found a pair of shoes. Last week, I finally replaced my old, fat jeans that I could pull on and off without unsnapping or unzipping.
Secondly, many of my AP students are in Student Council or on Facebook. They have been talking enthusiastically, to each other, about the summer reading they had to do. They had to read Frankenstein and Oedipus Rex. They all went out and immediately got the books and promptly read them. Many of they e-mailed me or wrote on my Facebook wall (unprompted) that they really liked the stories. A few of them have helped me in my class and have seen the books we'll be studying and I could see the excitement on their faces. Even one of them furtively put the books to her nose and inhaled deeply. That class will be my last class of the day and what a way to end the day.
I just can't believe how much I've missed adult company on the last year. I knew that I went through a pretty extensive bout of the blues while on leave, but now I know one reason why. During our two days of meetings this past week, I just couldn't shut up. Of course, many people were interested in how Andrew is doing and some remarked on my weight loss, but other than that, I just chatted with anyone who would listen.
The communication for our opening day procedures has been abysmal and I am anticipating nothing short of chaos. I can't wait.
First of all, the start of the school year has given me a reason to go clothes shopping. I know it is a completely superficial reason, but after dropping 25 pounds in the last year, I need a whole new wardrobe. Yesterday, I did a power shop through the mall and bought a suit, a skirt, a jacket, and a new fall outfit from Jones of New York. I found a pair of shoes. Last week, I finally replaced my old, fat jeans that I could pull on and off without unsnapping or unzipping.
Secondly, many of my AP students are in Student Council or on Facebook. They have been talking enthusiastically, to each other, about the summer reading they had to do. They had to read Frankenstein and Oedipus Rex. They all went out and immediately got the books and promptly read them. Many of they e-mailed me or wrote on my Facebook wall (unprompted) that they really liked the stories. A few of them have helped me in my class and have seen the books we'll be studying and I could see the excitement on their faces. Even one of them furtively put the books to her nose and inhaled deeply. That class will be my last class of the day and what a way to end the day.
I just can't believe how much I've missed adult company on the last year. I knew that I went through a pretty extensive bout of the blues while on leave, but now I know one reason why. During our two days of meetings this past week, I just couldn't shut up. Of course, many people were interested in how Andrew is doing and some remarked on my weight loss, but other than that, I just chatted with anyone who would listen.
The communication for our opening day procedures has been abysmal and I am anticipating nothing short of chaos. I can't wait.
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