Educators with PRIDE Unite

[Martina]

So the entitled annoying demanding TFA intern?

She still is that. And she WAS raised privileged, so she has those assumptions and expectations in her bone marrow.

BUT at 19, her father had a catastrophic health problem, and her family lost pretty much everything, including their house. Her mother has become his 24/7 caretaker, and the TFA intern and her sister now pay their parents' rent.

It's true that she has all these other annoying qualities of a TFA intern, but wow. Just wow.

It was a lesson for me that there is ALWAYS more to the story than how people present. In fact, this woman is what she appears to be. But she is more, much more. She is courageous and strong. And a good daughter. She is disciplined. She had to work all the way through college. No big deal, but still. She did it. My view of her has so changed. Such a lesson.

It's also a lesson about how vulnerable the middle class has become, how easily people can lose everything. She was still able to finish college. But she did have to give up her goal of going to law school. And she did it AFTER she spent a year after college studying for the LSATs while working a semi-shitty job. After much consideration, she decided that the job market was too soft for lawyers to risk being out there with a gigantic debt load. Not when she has obligations. She watched her good friend, who she had studied for the LSATs with, go off to law school. This is not the same harsh reality that our students face everyday, but this girl started out with more privilege than I had as a youngster but has had fewer options than I did -- because of long-term economic changes.

God, life is tough for all of us. I do so need to recall that.

Seriously, being middle class is not what it used to be. When a privileged, healthy, well-educated, disciplined young person can not enter the halls of power because she is not privileged ENOUGH, think of how hard it is for the working class to get ahead. And the idea of the law profession as a whole being peopled only by the very elite or very lucky . . . that is scary.

So as a result of my guilt, I have given this girl a lot of time. Re some Special Ed stuff, I have seen the scales fall from her eyes. Re other things, she's still overwhelmed and won't get it till she gets it. That's typical. But she's all grateful and thinks I am wonderful. Little does she know how I was reacting to her at first. Gawd.

My boss still thinks she is a useless waste of space (an opinion arrived at independently of mine, thank the gods). But, fortunately, my boss will not be evaluating the interns this year. The other principal will be.

[lusciouskiwi]

So I've gingerly started job hunting. Hate job hunting! Mind you, does anyone actually enjoy it?

Sent off about four feelers today (although I have to actually sit down and update my CV), including contacting an ex student of mine (adult) from Saudi to see if he has any contacts.

I'll let you know if I get any interesting nibbles.

If only I had a teaching license or at least my Master's completed.

[Scots_On_The_Rocks]

Figured I would drop an intro here. Been working in education for near 15 years as a "school bus bouncer" (okay, the real title is far less fun to say...Bus Supervisor I). And I specifically work with Special Needs (Read: Sp-Ed, EBD, deaf, HOH and blind students). I think this year has by far been the toughest due to my school district beginning the year with a $2mil deficit as well as cuts to Title 4 and other federal funding. Sadly, the students are the ones who suffer as result...but I am sure I am "preaching to the choir" about that.

Anyhow, wanted to join the ranks here and wish my fellow educators a smooth year.

[girllikeu2]

I hate my new job. My boss is insane (no seriously, I am willing to bet my annual salary she is or could be clinically diagnosed) My class is pretty OK but I am so afraid of my boss and her illegal antics that my medical issues are cropping up. It isn't pretty. I am in the process of considering a career change. It sucks.

[girllikeu2]

Thanks to all who sent love across the internets! It isn't lightly that I am discussing a complete career change (at middle age with a fairly young kid at home) and I thank you for your love and kindness. You, and all teachers, will always be in my thoughts and prayers even if I leave the ranks! {{{{{you}}}}}

[Chancie]

I have my first cold of the school year. I should have stayed home on Monday, but I was too tired on Friday to stay late to prepare sub plans. I had to HAD TO go to an optician in another town, and $875 later, I have new regular glasses and new sunglasses.

Anyway, I had to go in early yesterday morning, praying I wouldn't run into too many people, because I was wearing leggings and a sweatshirt, which I do not usually wear to work, and I thought the sub was an old student, so I was counting on her excellent math skills, but the subs got moved around, and well, who the hell knows what went on in tenth grade geometry.

A good friend got her first teaching job at 58. She's in a large city, in a middle school that's really struggling, and she's having a terrible time. Her classes are way too big, and she's not getting much help, and she's so disappointed. I don't know what it's like to teach math to eleven year olds, and certainly not 27 in one class, and she's so flipped out and unhappy.

[bkisbutchenuff]

[Scots_On_The_Rocks]

Got the "School year cold #1" here too. Was hoping to maintain a perfect attendance for the first semester...but that didn't happen as that I took Friday off because of being sick .

Hope these little buggers don't have a new plague lined up for me waiting once I get over this one.