Educators with PRIDE Unite

spritzerJ · 08-21-2012, 04:30 AM

So today is our annual special education department day. Last year we had 2 days. I am grateful this year we are more efficient (unlikely but let's go with it). We lost our day with our school team day, thank goodness. I was telling Stoney the story of how I met the special ed team at the school I work at last year. My goodness I forgot how odd that was.

I was brand spanking new to the school last year. New to the east coast and very nervous about "social norms" in NH. Every thing seemed so difficult. Getting to work was a challenge and I was going in for the first time and I needed to be on time. I get there, find a seat which was tricky because well I was obviously the new kid.

I ended up sitting next to the occupational therapist for preschool, K and 1st grade. She ends up being a lifesaver to me last year and a wildly adored friend now. At that moment she was a stranger who seemed a bit bristly. We open with an ice breaker the vice principal has planned. We are supposed to answer a question and be ready to share our partners answer with the group. The question was....

What was one of your most difficult moments in life and why?

I am sitting next to a stranger thinking to myself... What life moment that was difficult is appropriate to share at work with someone I don't know? And of all the ice breaker questions my god what was this woman thinking. I did learn why the woman I was sitting next too was a bit bristly, her father recently died. I don't even remember what I said.

So today I am thinking that how ever long this day will be I am not answering that questions again and having my answer shared with a group of strangers. Thank heavens.

bkisbutchenuff · 08-21-2012, 04:57 AM

Yes SpritzerJ... a day of fun... I have training during my planning and after school...yay me!...

Chancie · 08-21-2012, 01:24 PM

I am starting to get anxious about returning to work full time.

I don't want to wear shoes, or get up early, and

I don't want to deal with several of my colleagues.

The jury is still out on the new administrators, but

Though I don't really like change, fresh ideas and energy can be great.

spritzerJ · 08-21-2012, 04:51 PM

Well if pigs don't fly... the principal came to our special education team meeting, we agreed on a goal and actually got clear directions. It was such a relief to know what is expected and not have to guess. hee hee! I could just flap!

Made my to-do list and organized myself some tonight. sigh I have a goal... it is amazing.

bkisbutchenuff · 08-23-2012, 03:44 AM

So....here's the update...7th grade has 61 students (one class), 8th grade 62 (one class), 6th grade 25 in one, 35 in the other...I'm now at the 'bring it on' stage of rediculous...with that many students they want me to do Advanced Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra and General Music at the same time - 75 minutes a day....just crazy...I don't even have enuff chairs...the General Music students will rotate out every 9 weeks...
The thugs have been no problem - as they really don't want to draw attention to themsleves...not good for their groups...its the many attention seeking wannabe's that are the problems...Still moving forward toward my plan....
Have a good day Educator's...it's almost Friday!

spritzerJ · 08-23-2012, 04:00 AM

BK your story reminds me of one of the reasons for moving to NH. I put up with the small towns, -isms of people that are very isolated (they are everywhere though, just more outspoken in the town I work in), grocery stores that close at like 7pm on Sunday, bugs, humidity (although compared to other places it isn't that bad), crappy winters for....

My daughter entering elementary school that has music, art, pe, technology, library as specials and a class size of like 20. We were leaving class sizes of 30 and music once a week and pe once a week and no art, tech or library.

For myself I was leaving a case load of 40 for a case load of 16.

bkisbutchenuff · 08-23-2012, 04:25 AM

The biggest problem we have is a State Law which prohibits State employees from unionizing...therfore continuous:
BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again) and
FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond Recognition)

B

spritzerJ · 08-23-2012, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkisbutchenuff

The biggest problem we have is a State Law which prohibits State employees from unionizing...therfore continuous:
BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again) and
FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond Recognition)

B

Totally Agree BK... unions are good for working conditions. I know folks have varying opinions about unions. I am at times more involved than others yet I am consistently happy to pay my dues.

lusciouskiwi · 08-27-2012, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkisbutchenuff

The biggest problem we have is a State Law which prohibits State employees from unionizing...therfore continuous:
BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again) and
FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond Recognition)

B

How can it be illegal to belonging to a union????? I just don't understand that.

08-21-2012, 04:57 AM	#2
bkisbutchenuff PPoA - Southern Gentle Butch How Do You Identify?: BOI/Butch/Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: she, her, he, him, handsome, Daddy Relationship Status: Single. 😉 Join Date: May 2011 Location: GA Posts: 2,398 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,071 Thanked 10,845 Times in 2,247 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Yes SpritzerJ... a day of fun... I have training during my planning and after school...yay me!... __________________ BK "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Randy Pausch.

08-23-2012, 03:44 AM	#5
bkisbutchenuff PPoA - Southern Gentle Butch How Do You Identify?: BOI/Butch/Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: she, her, he, him, handsome, Daddy Relationship Status: Single. 😉 Join Date: May 2011 Location: GA Posts: 2,398 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,071 Thanked 10,845 Times in 2,247 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	So....here's the update...7th grade has 61 students (one class), 8th grade 62 (one class), 6th grade 25 in one, 35 in the other...I'm now at the 'bring it on' stage of rediculous...with that many students they want me to do Advanced Orchestra, Intermediate Orchestra and General Music at the same time - 75 minutes a day....just crazy...I don't even have enuff chairs...the General Music students will rotate out every 9 weeks... The thugs have been no problem - as they really don't want to draw attention to themsleves...not good for their groups...its the many attention seeking wannabe's that are the problems...Still moving forward toward my plan.... Have a good day Educator's...it's almost Friday! __________________ BK "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Randy Pausch.

08-23-2012, 04:25 AM	#7
bkisbutchenuff PPoA - Southern Gentle Butch How Do You Identify?: BOI/Butch/Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: she, her, he, him, handsome, Daddy Relationship Status: Single. 😉 Join Date: May 2011 Location: GA Posts: 2,398 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,071 Thanked 10,845 Times in 2,247 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	The biggest problem we have is a State Law which prohibits State employees from unionizing...therfore continuous: BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again) and FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond Recognition) B __________________ BK "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Randy Pausch.

08-21-2012, 04:30 AM	#1
spritzerJ Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: Queer (gender), female (biological marker) Preferred Pronoun?: she will work as a default. Relationship Status: engaged to jac until 8/10/14 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 3,154 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,307 Thanked 15,802 Times in 2,905 Posts Rep Power: 0	So today is our annual special education department day. Last year we had 2 days. I am grateful this year we are more efficient (unlikely but let's go with it). We lost our day with our school team day, thank goodness. I was telling Stoney the story of how I met the special ed team at the school I work at last year. My goodness I forgot how odd that was. I was brand spanking new to the school last year. New to the east coast and very nervous about "social norms" in NH. Every thing seemed so difficult. Getting to work was a challenge and I was going in for the first time and I needed to be on time. I get there, find a seat which was tricky because well I was obviously the new kid. I ended up sitting next to the occupational therapist for preschool, K and 1st grade. She ends up being a lifesaver to me last year and a wildly adored friend now. At that moment she was a stranger who seemed a bit bristly. We open with an ice breaker the vice principal has planned. We are supposed to answer a question and be ready to share our partners answer with the group. The question was.... What was one of your most difficult moments in life and why? I am sitting next to a stranger thinking to myself... What life moment that was difficult is appropriate to share at work with someone I don't know? And of all the ice breaker questions my god what was this woman thinking. I did learn why the woman I was sitting next too was a bit bristly, her father recently died. I don't even remember what I said. So today I am thinking that how ever long this day will be I am not answering that questions again and having my answer shared with a group of strangers. Thank heavens.

08-21-2012, 01:24 PM	#3
Chancie Senior Member How Do You Identify?: queer femme-inist Relationship Status: I'm lucky. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Western Mass Posts: 3,774 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,518 Thanked 14,540 Times in 2,744 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	I am starting to get anxious about returning to work full time. I don't want to wear shoes, or get up early, and I don't want to deal with several of my colleagues. The jury is still out on the new administrators, but Though I don't really like change, fresh ideas and energy can be great.

08-21-2012, 04:51 PM	#4
spritzerJ Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: Queer (gender), female (biological marker) Preferred Pronoun?: she will work as a default. Relationship Status: engaged to jac until 8/10/14 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 3,154 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,307 Thanked 15,802 Times in 2,905 Posts Rep Power: 0	Well if pigs don't fly... the principal came to our special education team meeting, we agreed on a goal and actually got clear directions. It was such a relief to know what is expected and not have to guess. hee hee! I could just flap! Made my to-do list and organized myself some tonight. sigh I have a goal... it is amazing.

08-23-2012, 04:00 AM	#6
spritzerJ Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: Queer (gender), female (biological marker) Preferred Pronoun?: she will work as a default. Relationship Status: engaged to jac until 8/10/14 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 3,154 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,307 Thanked 15,802 Times in 2,905 Posts Rep Power: 0	BK your story reminds me of one of the reasons for moving to NH. I put up with the small towns, -isms of people that are very isolated (they are everywhere though, just more outspoken in the town I work in), grocery stores that close at like 7pm on Sunday, bugs, humidity (although compared to other places it isn't that bad), crappy winters for.... My daughter entering elementary school that has music, art, pe, technology, library as specials and a class size of like 20. We were leaving class sizes of 30 and music once a week and pe once a week and no art, tech or library. For myself I was leaving a case load of 40 for a case load of 16.