Well we officially began the second half to the semester (quarter #2) yesterday...this has been a long week and that always seems to happen when the week is shorter (we had Monday off for fall break). I really don't enjoy the change over with classes. I get to know 103 students well over a nine week period (and I enjoyed my last group of kids) and today, I meet a new 105 students that I have until December to get to know....yes, I can't believe I teach over 400 students every school year...that's a lot of kids!! I feel like a herder and a factory worker more than a teacher sometimes. Its no wonder why so many students slip through the cracks, in many cases they are a just a number....
I was talking to one of my good friends who teaches at school with me earlier today. I told her I was in a mood where I didn't want to be at school because I was sick of things and I wanted to just got home at the end of the day. After going back to my trailer (yes our school has trailer classrooms) to eat my lunch and re-focus, I decided to stay late as originally planned and run my faculty fitness class. While heading back up to my friend's room at the end of school to tell of my change of heart, I said, I need to change my attitude and not let the negative things that happen at this school bring me down. However, teaching in public school is so much more difficult than I thought and so more mentally draining....it is so disappointing to see people with the opportunity to have a positive affect on the lives of our young people take the easy road. There are so teachers at my school have the just collect a paycheck mentality and don't realize how important their jobs are. There are so many people in positions of authority/leadership that should not be there. To be constantly bombarded with mounds of random paperwork, poor thought out ideas handed down from leadership to implement daily, and just unnecessary hoops to jump though.
I constantly ask my husband, if his company was run like our school where would it be...he promptly replies, "it would no longer in existence or bankrupt, but remember you work for the government so that factors into the quality of workers you have." It sad to think of the state of education now and daily I lose small bits and pieces of my desire to stay in education any longer.....I will try to keep a positive mindset the rest of the school year and I always work hard, but that optimistic mindset is beaten out of me almost daily......
What do you think about the state of our public school and our students today???
5 days ago
3 comments:
It's unfortunate that you and so many other caring people can see so much that needs to be done with our kids, but are unable to do as much as you'd like to do.
But, my belief is that you are having more of an impact than you think. I really wish your job was less stressful.
I read a book named The Essential 55 and another named the Freedom Writers; both authors telling amazing success stories. But I wonder, at what cost. They spent HOURS beyond the call of duty, which is impossible for most of us.
Things change when you least expect it.
I forgot to say: my kids go to public schools and I am satified with the education they are getting. But we live in the suburbs, in a community where people "choose" to live because of the schools. The kids are also well disciplined for the most part. I really can't comment beyond what I am experiencing, but even though I am not familiar with other schools, the evidence of a child not learning is in the child him or herself. I've known more than a few people that finished school but were not educated.
I teach in a very affluent suburb of Atlanta...I guess its easier for me to compare because I used to work at a very expensive private school. It is like night and day between the two even though we have some wealthy (former pro athletes kids) that attend our school. My husband and I are products of Atlanta area public schools and we both agree schools are not as good as they used to be. Its just disheartening to witness that first hand.
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