I Feel Loved

One of the benefits of being on FU time is that I don't have to worry about unsatisfactory lessons, or letters in file. I am even able to break my number one rule OF "NEVER TALKING TO AN ADMINISTRATOR." I always worried about "gotcha". Going to an administrator and asking for help always ended up with a classroom visit and either a letter or some really nasty words. (This never happened to me because I was smart enough to adopt this rule very early on in my career.)

Yesterday my algebra one class was so awful that I had to down four Motrins just to be able to drive home. I had two kids removed by my AP, followed by two deans in the class (they too had a hard time settling them down) and then a visit by the principal who had to remove a student as well. I should add that a boy was removed the day before.

Last night, I fired off this e-mail to the Principal.

HELP!!!!! I CAN'T TAKE THAT CLASS.
IT WILL BE A MIRACLE IF I EVEN MAKE IT TO MAY, AFTER THE AP EXAM.
THAT IS THE GROUP THAT IS GOING TO GET ME TO HAND IN MY PAPERS.
CAN I PUT IN A REQUEST FOR GIL TO BE A SECURITY GUARD IN THAT ROOM?

Today, I actually got help, lots of it. The principal spent a good part of the period in the room being a presence, observing the students, and not interfering. For once, even before he walked in, the class was fairly well behaved. I guess Mr. AP was right. Making some parents come to school helps all of them. I gave them new seats and forced them to sit where assigned. They grumbled, but for the most part complied. They were even working before he arrived. But, the tension in the air was so thick it could have been cut with a knife.

He left and I thought it will soon be back to normal, but surprisingly enough it stayed pretty calm. I did see him lingering outside the door, but I don't think the kids saw him out there. Unfortunately the calm did not last for long. A boy kept looking at some of the girls and when I asked him to stop, he said "NO! Then the girl jumped up and started threatening him. Her friend (a girl who had been taken out yesterday) and I got her calmed and back to her seat. Before I could even dial security, two deans appeared and escorted him out of the room. Next thing I knew, a few more security guards appeared and the girl was then removed.

The class now knows I mean business and I have back up to help. I don't know what will happen tomorrow. I still have knots in my stomach thinking about them but I also feel appreciated. In a career that has spanned over 30 years, this is the first time I got help, real help. When I wrote the e-mail yesterday, a part of me thought, this e-mail is my retirement statement. I figured admitting defeat would certainly land me on the top of the doo doo list and somehow I didn't care. I knew that staying here would ruin my health and it was just not worth it. I still can't believe anyone would think I was worth saving, after all, I am just another fat cat on maximum salary, costing the system a fortune.