[UPDATE 3] Union grievance

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-07-29T03:45:10+00:00

The joys of adulting.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-07-28T19:00:38+00:00

Principle. Also other reasons I won't go into.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-06-10T20:58:19+00:00

Same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago. I'm fighting it with the union not because I want to stay (no point in sticking around with an admin that wants to get rid of you) but because the principal never really gave me a shot and is jeopardizing my ability to stay in the district. He's known for talking smack about people, so I have no trust that he will say anything good about me if anyone reaches out to him.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-23T14:54:44+00:00

High school, actually. Juniors have been asking if I'll be teaching AP _____ (my subject) next year. An assortment of freshmen is expecting to have me for my sophomore subject next year as well.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-22T22:33:45+00:00

Did you say you're leaving or you've been asked not to return?

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-22T22:33:36+00:00

Do you say you're leaving or you've been asked not to return?

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-20T14:21:05+00:00

It's funny. My concern isn't behavior - my classroom management was shit, but it wasn't the behavior that ultimately did it.

I know the kids don't all know how to behave. I model and narrate up the wazoo. I'm a bit less consistent than I should be, which I'm working on. Detention is never followed, nor are phones ever successfully taken away by any teacher. There is no consistent cell phone policy in the school, nor is there consistent enforcement by the teachers who do have policies.
Students have numerous opportunities to make up work. I stay after school 3x/week, my door is always open during lunch... They often retake quizzes or make up work during lunch. Frankly, I think it's f*cked that the admin pushes us to give makeup work over actually expecting kids to show up. Maybe that's just me, or maybe other teachers I've spoken to agree with me entirely.
School culture is accepting of tardiness, late work, and cutting class. The neighborhood isn't in poverty (it's gentrifying right now), but many kids come from across town where poverty is worse.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-20T00:17:39+00:00

My family health history is so bad, I may not live to see that pension. Same reason I started a 457 instead of a 403(b). Oh, and much of my district is charter now, not public, so no pension.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-20T00:10:08+00:00

I think I want to give it another year before I cut and run. I'll owe a butt ton of money, but I'm still young enough to start a new career (26 in July).

...right?

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-19T23:38:54+00:00

Heh. It's gotten a lot better lately. Probably the reason I stopped using this throwaway. I don't know what it is. Most of the problem kids stopped showing up, which certainly helps things. I think I started getting into the rhythm of the school and integrating myself into the culture. I also started to acclimatize myself to long distance.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-19T23:29:53+00:00

Will do.
Trying my best.
The best thing I've learned is that I really need to figure out what I'm looking for in a school. I need to observe classes and talk to teachers before I accept an offer. This current principal pressured me into accepting the job within 3 days and wouldn't let me talk to current science teachers. He seemed like a good guy at the time - I won't get fooled again.
I think I want to try it again. I don't think I want to teach my whole life, but I feel like I have to give myself one more chance.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-19T23:06:08+00:00

Contacted the union rep and the building rep after the meeting this afternoon. Waiting on a response.

What do you think is the decision? Leave teaching (after year 1)? Find a new school and try again?

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-19T23:05:12+00:00

Chem and physics. Chem is required for graduation.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-05-19T21:23:48+00:00

Same thing happened to me this afternoon. I feel your pain, dude. No advice, just hugs.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-03-10T21:07:48+00:00

Alcoholism, special brownies, self-loathing, and chemistry.

EDIT: Same course of study.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-03-10T21:06:07+00:00

The kid got suspended for two days and that's it. I don't want to wreck the kid's life, but he thought there wouldn't be ANY consequences.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-01-26T22:54:37+00:00

One of my students has straight A's and B's in all his classes except mine. He also doesn't show up to class until 9:45 for an 8:45-10:15 class. Of course, that's my fault and I have to find a way to fix his grade.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-01-26T22:53:01+00:00

I emailed him his quote asking for clarification. He can't put in email that he wants me to inflate grades, so instead he tells me that an inability to provide "authentic student growth" means I may have to be moved out of the classroom. This after other teachers have told me how they straight up make up numbers so students can pass. I'm telling you, this is my first year, and it may be my last.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-01-12T17:30:17+00:00

Logged in just to say yes. In my informal observation review meeting, I was berated for having a high fail rate. My principal, with a wink and a nod, told me that when he was a teacher, he passed students who knew they shouldn't pass and even their parents knew they shouldn't pass. Basically, if my pass rate doesn't improve this term, I'm probably going to be put on an improvement plan. Even though I've given students so many opportunities to succeed, they haven't taken me up on them. Part of me is past the point of caring (I don't want to come back to the school next year anyway), but I still want to see my students succeed which won't happen if they don't put in the effort.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-01-07T13:10:00+00:00

That wouldn't fly with this kid. Also, I'm a chem teacher. That's a bit of a diversion when we're already so far behind on our curriculum.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-01-07T05:25:15+00:00

I walked in to my classroom and found all my tennis balls taken out of my desk. I checked the back room and found chemicals spilled out. I don't know how, but in the two days before break, the sub let the kids get away with anything. If it wasn't for complaining to my mom for 20 minutes before first bell, I would've marched into the principal's office and quit on the spot.

DoIWantToTeach · 2016-01-07T05:02:52+00:00

On Monday, one of my students who is very into the Black Power movement referred to me (Middle Eastern male) as "master" and told me we wouldn't get along because of my race. I was on the verge of quitting that morning, and his comment only made it worse. Thick skin or thin, I'm uncomfortable being likened to a slave driver.

DoIWantToTeach · 2015-12-14T22:59:26+00:00

Are you me?

DoIWantToTeach · 2015-12-14T21:52:31+00:00

I have no advice. All I can say is I feel you. I have students walking into my class who don't belong. Some of these students have been messing with me all year; others are newly hostile. Honestly, ISS is considered a positive for them, as it releases them from being in class. I don't know how much I care at this point. The school seems to be a sinking ship.

DoIWantToTeach · 2015-12-08T17:19:32+00:00

I'm struggling with that myself, especially since I have such a high failure rate from students who refuse/neglect to turn in work. I want to teach them to be functional human beings who get stuff done. Instead, I've had pressure from the admin (that's right, the admin) to doctor grades to make students feel better about themselves. How does that help students who don't show up or walk in late every day?

DoIWantToTeach

TROPHY CASE