(Rally for Respect, Mel Lastman Square)Why you ask?
It's not about money. It's not about benefits. It's about Respect. It's about giving the Principals more power to deploy us as security guards in the schools. The trustees want us to monitor the hallways, stairwells, and cafeterias in the schools. They feel this is a solution to the growing safety concern in some if not most schools. Give teachers more to do. Yeah. Good one.
In our school we have had four fights, that I know of, just this week. One hall monitor got punched in the eye and another one in the ribs.
Alarming isn't it? Especially so when I tell you ours is not an "inner city" school. Why then?
- There are about 300 students more than should be in that school while neighboring schools are under-enrolled.
- There is a reluctance on the part of the administration to involve police as a result of the "progressive discipline" law which was put in place because of racial profiling in some schools.
- There is a growing population of students whose needs are not being met by the curriculum and with whom teachers are ill-prepared to deal.
Anyway, the bottom line is - Houston, we have a problem.
The problem cannot be solved by unleashing teachers into the hallways. What is it that we are trained and allowed to do? Can I take down a student? No. Will the student listen to me if I tell them to cease and desist? No. Will I get punched? Oh hell, no!
As it is, this week I have been working almost non-stop at school and at home, nights and on the weekends, to prepare lessons, mark, prepare grades, call parents, meet with parents, run the department, go looking for a missing projector, counsel students, photocopy, meet with administrators, plan courses.
I am exhausted.
When I am done work, I have turned into a boiled cabbage leaf. I have no energy to do anything other than sit and stare.
I have done no painting. I missed Wishcasting Wednesdays. I am having trouble catching up with my favorite bloggers. I won't even mention that I have no time to go for a coffee or a drink and chill.
And what is my employer telling me after all this? That I am not doing enough. That all my work in preparing interesting and relevant lessons, providing modifications for students, making sure all my students have the requisite skills, making time to tutor and counsel students during lunch and after school is not enough!
I challenge them to come and do a better job, because, honey, I know I can do their job better.
Anyway.
I have a meeting after school today with Publishers. They have contacted me to write two textbooks. That is good news, as that means extra income, and being published. Is it a dream come true? No, but it's a step in the right direction for sure. When will I find the time to do this? Who needs sleep, right?
Dude.
March break cannot come soon enough.
20 comments:
Bless you for being a high school teacher!!!!
I wish parents would step up and teach their children how to act.
Not to toot my own horn, but I wish for you a whole room full of teenagers like mine. She rocks. She's the best! Her teachers always say "Pleasure to have in class." :)
~Magick~
Melissa
Amen, Genie ! Teachers are so under recognized for the multi-faceted job that they do every single day ! Drives me nuts ! I know so many teachers who have just laid down and given up the fight - it is a hard one ! Thank God there are still those like you who care enough to keep the protest going !I offer my support and wish for change to come ! If the parents and the rest of the community would re-claim their role in teaching our kids about life, imagine what such a team approach to education could accomplish ! Get with it people !
(Make sure you take that time for the drink or coffee, not matter how limited time seems ! You need your wonderful energy high for all your fantastic works ! ;-))
Hi Genie,
I pulled my children out of public education and started homeschooling them five years ago (they are now 9th and 7th grade).
Our school system was good, but I could see how demanding it was for the teachers to get everything done and the no child left behind act didn't help with the teachers work load.
I was one of those parents who volunteered at the school and was there everyday to see what was going on in the classrooms. Much of the problem stemmed from kids with discipline problems. The teachers had little time to teach because of discipline issues everyday. I can't imagine adding more to a teacher's work load with security work.
Hope that you get the respect you deserve as a teacher!
Teachers are so under appreciated now-a-days. I don't understand why either.
I also don't understand why so many of today's kids are violent, but am betting that over crowding is part of the problem.
Get out your kitchen timer girlfriend - set it for 30 minutes and put yourself, a cup of hot chocolate and listen to "Angel" in "time out". "They" won't let you talk to us if you end up having a nervous breakdown!
I wrote this on another post but I feel it can be said again. Teachers ARE the parents away from home. They most certainly deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. It has always been upsetting to me that they are sooooo underpaid and not appreciated. Congrats on writing the textbooks- it is a big deal. How many people can do that? Please take time for yourself and know that your friends here won't fault you for taking a breather.
Much love,
*L*
Dude. I am so sorry. I know exactly what you're going through and it's heartbreaking and frustrating and exhausting. Stuff like that is why I quit teaching.
Many people have it in their minds that teachers are glorified baby sitters. I can't believe they want you to patrol the halls.
Maybe every person who is a public servant, a politician, needs to spend a year teaching to understand what is going on.
But then... I wouldn't really wish them as teachers on the kids.
I think it's insane (and irresponsible) to expect teachers to teach material, provide individual attention, plan, counsel, keep kids safe, keep them informed--bascially be held responsible for molding decent human beings--and THEN police them on top of it??? Welcome to Crazy Town. The world needs to WAKE UP to what Education is about. You are Educators, not Law Enforcers.
You can do it Genie, take that boiled cabage leaf and make sour kraut! (Man do I love grandma's sour kraut...)I know you're burnt out, but good things, GREAT things are coming your way--I can feel it. :)
(((Sending you R e l a x i n g and Healing Vibes)))
Much Joy, Many Blissings~*
Molly
You are doing so much and in the end you will stand Victorious!
Love Ya!
First of all "Thank you" for teaching our children and making a future for them.
I live in small community and one thing is lacking I would say is funding here.
But I'm please with my boys education though the public schools.
The whole school dist here has a school population of about 1200 or so.
My son Bart will graduate this year and his class is less the 150 kids.
Coffee is on and many blessing.
It is a world wide problem. Primary teachers are used here to monitor the playgrounds during recess. Not high school teachers yet. We have special staff for that.
Discipline is key. Unfortunately the teachesr are not respected as they used to be, specially in private schools. Some parents think that because they pay they are entitled to do as they please.
Energy vibes your way. :)
If more teachers were as caring as you there would be less problems! You are so wonderful, Genie! Don't let them tell you you don't do enough. Take a break, you deserve it!
Teachers should not have to add "security guard" to their resume. My daughter is a reading teacher but she teaches elementary in a very poor district that in itself brings a whole different set of problems. This is a district of mainly uneducated immigrants (many illegal) that work two or three jobs each just to make ends meet. Kids don't have enough to eat, they come to school dressed in the same outfits, have no hats nor gloves in the cold, winter months, etc. Every Christmas they are asked to write a letter to Santa Claus and write to him what they want most. Not one ever asks for anything themselves. They ask that "he" bring something for their mom who works so hard or their little brother and sister. It's so sad. My daughter keeps her drawer full of snacks and goodies and juices for these children as it makes a difference. This is a woman who lives alone, like you, and given today's economy and what they pay teachers, it is hard to make ends meet. Yet she does it. And every Christmas the teachers rally and get these children many of their essentials plus toys. And they have people they know outside of school contribute as well. As such, every Christmas I buy a toy and an outfit for a boy and a girl.
Different problems for different grades but it all boils down to the same thing: being a teacher is a profession birthed from the heart and you have to love it because it is not the easiest. Like you, by the end of the week, my daughter is physically and emotionally exhausted. No, it is not for the faint of heart at all.
But I will tell you what I tell my daughter: you are doing good in this world Genie and all of your efforts will not go unnoticed. There will be many a children who will one day speak of you with fondness and respect and how you made a difference in their lives.
I am so sorry to hear this is happening in your school. I think teachers have been under appreciated for AGES! Teachers shape the lives of our children; they are incredibly important. I often think that if the people making the rules were to spend some time in a teacher's shoes, they would see how much teachers are over worked and under appreciated.
And its ridiculous to expect you to fill the role of "security guard" too. That requires extra time and, to be effective, special training. It is definitely not a job requirement that comes to mind when I think of teachers-- its a totally different bag.
Congrats on the textbook contracts! That's wonderful! I hope it will lead to more opportunities along the path you are seeking.
First of all, thank you for doing what you do to benefit society. Second, way to for you and your colleagues to stand up and not be door mats.
I am doing my "field work"- the final step before student teaching- and I can see how worn out teachers are. Teachers are being spread so thin that it makes it difficult for them to teach well- or be well. Then, of course, when students are not performing well- it is the fault of the teacher...they must being doing more. Yech...
Thank you for your strength and inspiration.
Sincerely,
Anna
Genie, hold your head high. You and many teachers deserve so much more. I too find the system here such a stress for children and teachers.
I wish for you much needed TLC. Sending you loving vibes! Can you feel it? :)
I am so thrilled about the textbooks.
Teachers are so unappreicated! And on the hand are expected to provide the solution for all ills. The problems are rarely dealt with - only the symptoms of the problems. Hang in there!
Hi Genie! My thoughts are with you on this subject. I am saddened by the choices schools have been making over recent years. I just dont get it. Are you finding you have parental support in your area? Could parents rally along with you? I just wonder what it is going to take to get the administrators to open their eyes and see the children not the $$ signs??!!
Your strength to stick this one out shines for the right reasons. Love to you!
Wow.. this really is appaling. And unfair. And crazy. Really really crazy. Stand up for what you believe in. And throw in coffee and the occasional margarita for good measure.
I was blessed with good teachers and realize what a positive impact they had on my life. So thank you for doing the tireless, thankless work that you do.
For some reason I lost the feed to your blog on my following list. I have got to get this figured out because I have been missing you.
Genie... go on with ya bad self....
Oh, Genie, I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I agree with the other commentors and find it appalling that you are expected to play so many roles. I give all respect to teachers and pray that there is a positive change soon so they can concentrate on what they are really meant to do.
Sending strength and love your way. :)
i wish you well, genie. it seems preposterous that they are trying to impose even more work onto teachers.
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