Saturday, January 27, 2007
Bless you
Haven't been blogging much because I am afraid that I have a terrible case of the Whiney-itis. It sometimes masks itself as the easily-cured with chocolate Kvetch-amonia. Both of these are very contagious during TAKS season. Yesterday I was doing my "guerilla-type checking of my mailbox hoping that no one sees me" stroll when my principal pops out of her office and says those dreaded words, " I'd like to speak to you in my office for a moment." Deer, headlights...rabbit, hawk. Good analogy. Now to set up this scenario, you have to know that I spent a good deal of time filling out job applications during the "district called off school/didn't call off school/ 85 % student absentee rate" ice day. I also played a lot of Texas Hold 'em with the 8th graders. Anyway, she sits me down and tells me that she still wants to continue my position next year but wants to expand my duties. Since my duties have never been really outlined and change on a day to day basis, this is a surprise. Not because she wants to give me new duties but because she wants me back period. This a whole new administration this year and I sorta fill that gap between administration and teachers. I am like the caulk of the school. I have done every possible job including mopping, ordering supplies, co-teaching classes, profiling students, coordinating state tests, printing ID badges, copy room attendant, substitute teacher...My point is that I was really thinking I wouldn't be needed next year. That they would all somehow find their groove. I also miss being in the classroom and I told her that. She seemed stunned and asked me why I would want to be back there again. Her response really blew me away. How important does she consider teachers to be and what are her attitudes toward them? Was my principal asking me why I would possibly want to be in the classroom? Until I figure this one out, I am still in phase two of sending out resumes and as the cashier at Chick Fil-A told me yesterday, "God Bless You and Good Luck". Dear school, I think we are going to need it.
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2 comments:
I find it scary that there are principals and APs that don't understand why teachers want to teach. I would think that a really good principal would see teachers as the most valuable people in the building, and see their job as helping the teachers do their jobs better. I get the principals who were teachers but found a broader vision, or who burned out on daily teaching but still have expertise to offer, but your principal's comment makes it sound like she never liked teaching to begin with...
So why are all of these people who don't like teaching running schools anyway? Good luck, I hope you find a teaching position somewhere that values teachers more.
I believe that before anyone can take an administrative job, they should have to write a 15 page paper on why they love teaching and how they as administrators plan to create an environment in which teachers can best do their jobs. If they can't do it, they shouldn't be allowed to be administrators.
And every time they move to a new position, they should have to write a new essay, complete with examples of how they have accomplished this goal and what they still love about teaching.
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