I almost quit today.

[Catshrink]

Just walked out.... sometimes the bullshit is just too much.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Here or school?

[Catshrink]

3. School.

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

2. hang in there .... jobs are hard to come by

or line that new job up first
my supervisor told me 816 applied for my job.

:grouphug:

[Catshrink]

4. That's the only reason I didn't.

[txlibdem]

25. I'm glad you decided to stick it out

You sound like a teacher who cares and tries their best (despite having 20 strikes against you as far as successfully teaching our beleaguered kids nowadays).

There is so much going on that I don't understand. This administration's penchant for blaming teachers for everything, privatizing schools with no plan or requirement to improve outcomes for students, etc., it perplexing.

I hope you find some way to release the stress of these days and keep your good outlook on teaching our kids. They're worth it and it's not their fault that our society is broken.

[Catshrink]

30. It's hard to stay positive in front of the kids

but I do... and beer is good. (at home of course)

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I did the same thing last Friday. A day from hell, and I just left for the

rest of the day. The weekend was a little healing, but not entirely. I am still trying to figure out how to go permanently without becoming a bag lady. But actually, reading the stories here about people trying so hard to find a job and getting desparate keeps me thinking of how thankful I should be. Step back and don't take it as seriously as you do....at least, that is my problem and I have to deal with it.

Because of the numbers of people looking for jobs, I think we are being treated worse than usual. Don't let them get to you.

[jillan]

6. The parents or the administrators?

:hug:

[Catshrink]

8. Neither

check your PM

[Starry Messenger]

7. ((hug))

I'm a week in and I already have a clay tosser. Now I have to catch him. *sigh* 40 kids in the class and I have to be a friggin' ninja to ride herd.

[dkf]

9. A clay tosser huh?

Okay no matter how bad it gets here at least I don't have a clay tosser. :)

[Catshrink]

10. Thanks....

Sounds similar but...

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. A clay tosser

I'm going to remember that the first day I want to explode. And I'll make sure there's no clay in my classroom. LOL

[femmocrat]

21. 40 students in an art class?

:sigh: That is TWO classes! Good luck, my friend.

(P.S. I don't get out the clay until January! LOL )

[Starry Messenger]

24. Yeah, it's a ceramics class.

They have to use clay. :) The school lost the woodshop last year, so the counselors directed a bunch of disgruntled woodworkers into the ceramics classes. That's why the numbers are so high, I think. They will probably (gulp, I hope) pare down to 35 next week. It's a small room and they are all on top of each other. Gah!

[southerncrone]

11. I feel your pain.

I am going to take an early retirement in May. Won't get but around $400/mo (won't even pay my health ins. on my hubby's policy), but this has become unbearable. I'm fortunate that hubby has good retirement, but I will work a the truck stop rather than continue in this horrible environment.
We have admin. pushing their responsibilities down on our backs, while parents blame us for their shortcomings & kids act like hellions.

When do we teach? There are so many std. tests & interruptions to the class day, yet WE are held responsible for ALL of it. Administrators don't lose their jobs if "test scores" are low, teachers do. Parents suffer not for being absentee, or worse, promoting bad behavior in their kids.
This is a dying profession, & it's killing those still in it. Our society is in shambles.

But never forget, it's ALL the (underpaid) teachers' fault!!! :sarcasm:

[Catshrink]

12. I wish I could do the same.

It's ridiculous. What really pissed me off is the lack of respect for my instructional time and my time in general. And the disregard for the research based methology our department uses because one particular student can't handle it - apparently I'm supposed to compromise the education for the rest of that class because of that one kid.

It's coming to a boil, the shit is gonna fly. There is a very thin veneer gently resting on the faculty -- it won't take much to blow up big time.

[southerncrone]

15. "We don't get no respect." for sure, from anyone.

We have the same problem. Small town, politics are rampant & bordering on blackmail. If the "right" kid (w/"right" parents) hollers, we're expected to bend over backwards to make them happy, regardless of how it effects the rest of them. This includes changing grades to allow graduation, even if they have failed.

Our administration likes to talk a good talk (to impress the state & public who don't know better), but EVERYTHING is based on bottom-line & how it will impact our super's image & his chosen ones (but mostly him).

I am disgusted & sickened more every day. I no longer want to be associated w/what is going on in schools today. :(

We had 10% of our teachers (HS) retire last year. None of them had any intention of doing so when school began. These were ALL the cream-of-the-crop teachers. One is known state-wide as one of the best teachers ever. He would have kept teaching for many more years, except things got too impossible.
I know of 5% more who already plan to go this year (yours truly included) & we've only been back in school 3 weeks!

If we are to do what is now expected of us, we would need to live in dormitories on campus & have absolutely NO LIFE outside school. Indentured Servants by definition.

[reggie the dog]

26. as a fellow teacher i say do a half assed job

If the administration does not let you properly teach then stop caring about the kids and just go to work to get your money, do the bare minimum to not get fired and when the administration asks you to kiss a kids ass just raise that kids grade and look forward to summer vacation. we shouldnt work our lives away for 20 grand a year, our profession is dieing anyways, i hear more and more people saying that schools should just be places where kids watch a tv with the "best" teachers in the country on it so that everyone would get the same education all over the country (but would just never have any interaction with an actual teacher) In general parents, administrators, kids and the general public do not like the work we do even when we try our hardest so there is really no point in doing that, parents blame everything on anyone but themselves, kids would rather be out getting high, playing video games or having sex, and the administrators want happy parents at all costs. seeing as we will get fired just for having a class full of difficult underachieving kids why bother wasting energy?

[Catshrink]

28. If it ever came to that I really would quit.

Maybe I just care too much. The kids I'm really concerned about are those in the middle - the sped kids and the honors/AP crowd are pretty well advocated for or self-directed. Those in the middle are getting shafted by the educational system, especially those at the lower end. My problem is getting the LAW thrown in my face when I try to teach appropriately for the majority of my students and not allow - attempt to not allow - one student to disrupt the class or interfere with other students' learning.

It's out of control.

[YvonneCa]

31. I'm sorry to hear about...

...the stress you are dealing with. From one with experience...don't let it ruin your health. :hug:

[MichiganVote]

13. Yup. Somedays you feel like a shit cleaner.

[CoffeeCat]

14. I can't even imagine what you teachers endure...

I'm a parent to two girls--one in 4th grade and one in 5th grade.

Parents often don't understand, or are unaware, of what you teachers go through. Most are unaware of
what is going on politically, and how those standardized tests impact how you are judged by administrators.

I do know that one teacher was so kind and wonderful--that she helped my daughter to be a better person. She
had been bullied the year before and her self esteem was deflated. That one teacher was patient, kind and
supportive--and she helped her blossom. That was two years ago, and my child is still benefiting academically,
psychologically and emotionally from that teacher.

My other daughter has a teacher this year, who is all ready making a difference. She really cares. This daughter
still talks about her first grade teacher and how she made her feel so special--and how she made learning so much
fun for all of them.

I know you guys endure so much. Please remember the difference that you make in our childrens' lives. When it
all gets too much--just remember that your hard work changes lives. I know it did with my children!

Thank you.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Your kind comments always mean so much

Thank you :hug:

[femmocrat]

19. Thank you CoffeeCat! That means a lot.

Parents like you and children like your daughters are why we put up with all the stress and why we hang in there.

Big :hug: -- I hope your girls have a great year. :)

[Catshrink]

22. Thank you...

Most of the time, I love my job and the kids. The admin. and paperwork is an annoyance that the kids make up for a bazillion times over. I think most of my parents are like you so I'm very lucky. So far this year they have been helpful and positive.

And then there are days like yesterday. (It wasn't a parent that set me up but the school situation, number of students, etc.)

[Billmelater]

16. another function of the corporate state

Create overwhelming fear of unemployment to keep the mortgaged slaves bent to their task.

No turnover of jobs means that when the music stops those caught without a chair are screwed
unfortunately for me, the music has stopped and I seem to be "out"
Is there another game somewhere? I don't seem to be very good at this one.

[femmocrat]

20. That is true.

I often refer to myself as an "indentured servant". I can't retire because of the health care insurance situation.

I have no advice, so sorry. If you really need to teach, and you are very, very lucky, sometimes subbing leads to permanent positions.... but it's like waiting to win the lottery. Good luck to you.

[Catshrink]

23. I think people are leaving the profession in droves.

Your wait may not be too long. We had a tough time filling one position of course the salaries in my district are lowish.

Is it too early for a beer?

[NYC_SKP]

27. Ugh... Been there. So sorry to hear, hope Monday is better.

The kids always made me feel better on days like those (except on the rare occasion that a student was the cause).

Usually, crap from admins or just a moment of "what the fuck am I doing here" would send me nearly out the door.

Take care and thanks for your service to future generations.

:hug:

[Catshrink]

29. Yeah, most of the kids are great.

That's why we do what we do, that's why I love the job except when, as you said, others interfere. It isn't really my admins - their hands are tied to some degree.

[NYC_SKP]

32. I've often said, "we teach despite the administrators".

Most experienced teachers, given the simple freedom to spend 100% of their time teaching, would do a better job, a magnificent job, absent the paperwork and required in-services, etc.

Some PD workshops have been memorable, marvelous, but these were almost invariably those of my own choosing.

:hi:

[LWolf]

33. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry it was one of those days.

I'm even more sorry that you reached that point this early in the year. That's scary.

:hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. I don't even report back officially until Monday and I'm ready to quit

LOL

I hate the start of the year. We're supposed to be excited and enthused and instead we get involved in all this nonsense that takes the joy out of teaching.

My job has changed. Again. Third time in a week. Oh well, Tuesday I had two jobs. That was interesting. :)