I quit!!!

On Thursday afternoon, I quit my job.

I know what you all are thinking. WTF?

But let me explain. The story goes something like this:

On Wednesday, while one of my colleagues/friend and her class was on the playground, one of her students (We'll call him "Crazy Boy", CB for short) threw a ball at another student. My colleague took the ball away from this student.

Please let me start this story by saying that I was not outside on the playground, because my class had PE that day, and we didn't need recess. If I would have been outside, the following incident probably would not have taken place.

Anyway, back to our story. After CB threw the ball at the student and my colleague took the ball away, CB was so angry, and decided to go on the other side of the playground and found two huge 4X4 and 4X8 pieces of wood that were nailed together like a cross. (I know what you are thinking, what the hell was this doing on a playground where children have play time? The answer is I have no idea, but that's where we are) Anyway, CB picks up this "weapon" and begins charging at his teacher and tries to hit her. Now, this is not the first time that CB has tried to kill or maim someone. At the beginning of the year, he picked up a chair and went to throw it at another student to which I got between the two boys and asked CB to put down the chair because I was too cute to be hit by a chair. (Sarcasm, does work in these situations). CB also stabbed another student in the hand with a pencil. Now you may be asking yourself, why CB is still attending our school. Here in lies the problem.

Ok, let's return to our story. So CB is in one of his "moments" and is charging for my colleague. Luckily, she got her students up to the school into safety and away from danger. She also deflected CB's thrashing and was not physically injured. The police were called, a report was issued and CB's dad was called to take him home. He was "suspended" for 10 days. No, not expelled, "suspended". (I use this term loosely and you soon find out why).

Now, the next day, my colleague and I received a visit from "the powers that be" to retrieve information and statements from my colleague and other witnesses. We were then informed that because CB has a a learning disability and is receiving special education services to help him with his "problems", he cannot be held accountable for his actions. Therefore, legally, he has the right to return to school. (Ok, now are you beginning to get the drift. This is why education is so fucked up and teachers are get nothing accomplished with students. We are basically fighting situations like this everyday.)

So because we were gravely concerned about CB being allowed to come back to school after trying to attack a teacher, my team and I decided to meet with the principal about the situation. The minute we walked into her office, as a fourth grade team (6 in all, one had tutoring and one was not there. One came into the meeting late, so we walked in as 4) our "leader" says, "I really see no point in this meeting." We began to express out concerns for CB returning to school. She said that we were jumping to conclusions and that we were too emotional.

We explained what we had learned today and asked if we could maybe all meet with her and "the powers that be" to express our concern for our safety and the safety of our students, "That's not your job. It mine!" she said.

We then explained that the attitudes of our students were escalating. It wasn't just CB but several of our students were going "out of control". If CB was allowed to return to school, it would show other students that there were no consequences for their actions. The disrespect, the cussing and yelling at teachers, the walking out of class, basically children doing whatever they wanted and getting away with it, we were so tired of it! We were looking to her for leadership, guidance and suggestions of what could be done.

She told us that our school was "a hard school". We had to learn good classroom management and stick to it. I explained relentlessly that it wasn't just our team. "It's all teachers at the school, in every grade level. Can't you feel it? Don't you feel how the moral in the school is so low? Don't you feel it permeating through the halls and being pushed onto our students?"

To be honest, I can't remember exactly how she responded to this statement. But it was something like she just threw up her hands, and said that there was nothing she could do. Suspending students was not always in their best interest.

I explained that we were not asking for suspension, but a resolution to this huge problem. Her response, (wait for it) "Well maybe you just don't need to teach at this school."

And with that I handed in my resignation and left her office.

So I'm a therapist, but don't get paid like one

Every Monday and Wednesday after school, I tutor two students who are having difficulty with basic fourth grade objectives. I do this on my own time for the betterment of my students. (Just in case you're wondering, because another teacher asked, "Are you getting paid?"

"No." I responded.

"Really? Then why do you waste your time?"

UM, BECAUSE I GIVE A DAMN YOU LITTLE DIPSHIT!!!! GOD, HELP ME THAT I WANT MY STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE AND SUCCEED!!!!)

But I digress, back to tutoring. On Monday, one of my tutoring students, we'll call her "Wood" asked me, "Ms. G, are we having tutoring today?"

"No, baby I have to go therapy. We will meet on Wednesday."

"Wood" gave me a funny look and returned to her seat. At the end of the day, as we were walking to the bus lot she asked again, "So we are not staying after school?"

"No, I have a doctor's appointment."

"Do you really go to therapy?" she asked. I could tell she was thinking about this all day.

"Yes." I answered.

Still thinking, (I could actually see the gears turning in her head) "But isn't therapy, for like, crazy people?"

I smiled. It's amazing how kids think and what goes through their little uncultivated minds. "No, sweetie. Sometimes adults just need time to talk to someone about things that are going on in their life. It's nice to have another adult to listen and not judge them."

Wood : "So, you are like, my therapist. Because you listen to me and help me."

Me : "Yeah. I guess you could say that." Funny, I never thought about it that way. "But if that's the case, I need you to pay me $100 everytime you 'talk' to me."

Wood: "Dang, you must be rich or something, because only rich white people go to therapy."

Me : "No, babe. It's called 'Health Insurance'. I only pay a little my insurance takes care of the rest."

Wood: "But why do you need to go?"

I had to laugh a little. "Because you all get on my nerves, and in order that I don't "Go crazy" like you said, I need to go to therapy to make sure I'm not driven off the deep in."

I could actually see the light bulb go off in her head. She laughed and with a smile says, "I got you, Ms. G! We are really bad sometimes, and I'm glad that you get to talk to someone so that you can come back to teach us. Have fun at therapy!" And with that she skirted off to get in on her bus.

I just stood there thinking, "Me too, Wood. Me too!"

A dedication...

This post is dedicate to my favorite blogger, Ms. Mimi at :
www.itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com

Seriously, it's my favorite educational blog. (Well, after mine of course). Take time to go and view all of the great posts. But this is my favorite because it echos my thoughts and sentiments exactly. So here it is:

This blog is dedicated to all the ass-kicking teachers out there (especially those in public elementary schools- holla)!! I have taught in the public system myself for many years and am currently pursuing my second advanced degree in education.

Teaching is my passion and I love nothing more than being with my students. However...teaching isn't all rainbows and kittens...there's a whole other side to teaching which makes it one of the most difficult, mind-bending excercises in patience ever!!! I whole heartedly believe that teachers demand a million times more respect and consideration than they currently recieve. Who else could shape the future of education better?

Just FYI for those of you who don't know a teacher personally...it's not all half glasses, flat behinds and thematic sweaters. The teachers I have met are some of the smartest, funniest most amazing people ever and they shatter the stereotype most of you have in your mind. We're not Michelle Pheiffer in Dangerous Minds, but we're also not up-tight b*tches with meter sticks.

Basically, there are two types of peoples working in schools....my fellow rockstars and a bunch of IDIOTS who have no business near a school. And these are the monkeys who are dragging the rest of us down. Seriously, it sounds harsh, but there are some real losers out there who really did take the job for the few days we have off in the summer (please, don't even start with me with the whole "must be nice to have summers off" crap because it's NOT the whole summer, it's about 7 weeks, and it's long overdue since I hold my urine for eight hours a day, five days a week, 180 days a year).
These people are the ones who can't master the photo copier, feel it is beneath them to work a full day and insist on leaving before the children do. Come on teachers, you know who I'm talking about. That lazy moron who shows up in the middle of your math lesson and wants you to chat, or that lazy staff developer who spends her morning reading the newspaper while you are running morning meeting....do I need to continue?Well, this blog is ABOUT them and DEDICATED to YOU!! (because you ROCK!!!!)

This is my attempt to not let those jerkoffs get to me, to make me laugh at their ridiculousness and to keep me focused on what really is important....the kids.

No! This didn't happen to you too!

This week, a colleague of mine came to me inquiring about one of my little darlings being suspened! I was totally confused! I had not given him a write up, nor did I know about any misbehavior from his other classes! What misbehavior had taken place that I was not aware of? It must be a mistake!

I went searching for the Assistant Principal to inquire about the incident. She was not in her office, so I walked across the hall to the home of our fearless leader.

"Ms. Leader, quick question, would you happened to know why "The Man" was suspended? He's not here today, but I just assumed he was sick until I was told by Ms. FaFa that he had a refferal."

"Yes, I suspended him!" responded our Leader.

"Oh. OK. Well may I ask what happened, because I was not aware of any incidents arising."

She proceed to tell me the following story:

"Well yesterday, there was an incident of the bus. Ms. Assistant Leader went on the bus to relieve the situation, he was being very rude and disrespectful. She had to take him off the bus, and brought him to my office to call his mother. When he entered my office, he was yelling and screaming at Ms. Assistant Leader, smacking his lips and rolling his eyes. I told him to change his attitude and he refused and was rude and disrespectful to me! Once his mother showed up, he continued to be disrespectful to her, and continued to have an attitude with me. So I told him he was suspended for two days, until he learned some manners! A student can not disrespect their Principal like that, rolling his eyes and smacking his lips."

"The Man" being disrespectful to an authority figure. Shock and awe! I tell you, Shock and awe!

"Well Leaders," I proceeded, "Welcome to my world. I get disrespected every day by "The Man". If I am not cussed out by him, it is one of my other darlings that have to save face infront of their peers. I've written him up several times because of his attitude, why should this time be any different?"

"You just can't come into the Principal's office carrying on like that and being disrespectful."

"What did his mother say about his suspension?" I asked.

"She just said that she knew his attitude would get him in trouble one day. He was being extremely rude to her as well."

"Well, I'm glad she knows that it's not just me. And that I'm not just picking on him."

"No, I will not accept that behavior."

"Um, I hope you understand that I don't either. But smacking his lips and rolling his eyes is a daily occurence with "The Man". If I would write him up for every offense I would spend my days just writing refferals."

"Well, you just don't do that to your Principal."

With that I left, learning a valuable lesson:

A student my cuss his/her teacher out daily, rolling his/her eyes, smacking his/her lips. He/She may threaten to kill teachers and other students. Violently thrashing about the classroom, and proposing to attack anyone who gets in their way. They may run out of class, tripping over the garbage can and act like complete lunatics. But if you disrespect a principal, only then will you have the consquence of suspension.

Gee, I must have been absent when they taught that one in my education classes!