Saturday, November 27, 2010

Letting My Feelings Out

I'm the same teacher, maybe even a better teacher than I was years ago.

I am always available to help my students.  I even answer their e-mails at night and on weekends.  I come to work prepared to teach daily.  I never take off and I am always in my classroom on time.

I come to school early, stay late and have even come in on weekends and holidays to give the kids extra help.

I've stayed until 6:00 PM and later marking regents that needed to be marked and copying papers to send to Albany.  (Yes, to help Mr. AP meet his deadlines.)

I've always done my best to get the job done, given it my all.

I wanted one more year of being in the classroom before I closed off that part of my life.  I wanted a year to enjoy my students and help as many as possible reach their full potential.  I didn't seek retirement on the job.  I've learned to use the 21st century technology available to me.  I reach out constantly to parents, counselors and anyone else I think can helped some of my troubled students. 

I am not perfect, in fact I am far from it.  I always strived to be the perfect teacher.  I've come to realize that will never be me.  I'm not talented enough or smart enough to achieve that goal.   But, I've also come to realize that many of the teachers I wanted to emulate were not perfect either.  And, sadly, I now see that the teachers who are set up as "master teachers" are anything but that.

I'm not looking for accolades or for special privileges or recognition.  I want to be left alone to do the job I know I do well.  I don't want to worry about "big brother" watching my every move, waiting for that first second when the bell rings to catch the few kids that cannot make it to class on time.  I don't want to start harassing good kids for being 30 seconds late when I know these kids do everything in their power to be perfect students.  I don't want to spend my energy fighting with a spiteful administrator who is after me for nonsense.  I've done nothing to warrant this type of treatment.  Call me dumb and naive but I don't understand why it is allowed to go on unless there really is some underground  policy about getting rid of older teachers.

9 comments:

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Moriah Untamed said...

There is nothing underground about the Bloomberg policy of getting rid of older teachers. If its happening to you with your support network, they must doing the same thing to many many teachers across the city.

A+++++++ Educatorette said...

There is no "underground" policy; it's all rather blatant. The treatment you are receiving is the result/application of this policy. There are no "friendly" administrators. Trust them not!!!

BronxEnglish said...

Amen to everything you wrote.

Anonymous said...

Similar occurrence to those 'newer teachers' who need to be masters in the classroom.
It happened to me which was also a way to save money. After the admin got rid of me, they cut the reading teacher's position and gave her my class.

It is also happening to a friend of mine, also in her third year. She got moved from 4th, to 2nd and then to Pre-K. By her second year, they found fault with every little thing she was doing.
How can a new teacher gain experience when they get moved 3 times to 3 different grades?

Pissedoffteacher said...

I know it isn't an underground policy, but I wanted to believe things were not as they seemed. And, I know the truth about admins. Some are better than others but underneath, they are all the same.

And, I still believe Suit was the worst of them all. He wouldn't have even let other sides be presented. He would never have even pretended to help.

Anonymous said...

Suit may have a match with my former principal. They could have a duel for the crown 'worst'.

Anonymous said...

What happened to the dog story??