Those of you who have read my blog, and know that I'm a teacher, have often left remarks commending my teaching ability.
Do not be fooled.
I have been asked, in order to receive a stipend which was promised to me upon National Board certification, to teach a 12 hour staff development class. If I do not, I will not receive the stipend which I have received since 2004.
I'm enraged.
Now, there's the camp that says, "You're a professional. You ought to be leading other teachers with the knowledge and experience you've acquired."
And, there's me, who says, "I do! I lead Institute Days, and Building Articulation Days. I've implemented the teaching of Regie Routman's writing curriculum at teacher in-services. I teach my children to the best of my ability every day of my life. Isn't that enough?"
Apparently, not. Apparently, there is never too much that one can do for the sake of one's profession.
But, it doesn't make me less tired. Or, less burdened by expections which increase exponentially every year.
My husband and I are thinking about buying a sweet cabin in the Northwoods. As I rant to him, he says, "Tell you what. I'll get a job in Wisconsin. You can be the Porch Monitor."
Now that's a job which has exactly the expectations I'm looking for right now.
I feel the same way about my profession -- often! Apparently I can never do enough presentations, additional coursework, writing for publication, yada, yada, yada ... on top of actually doing my job. Tired just writing that. I like the sound of porch monitor very much!
ReplyDeleteI would be angry too, simply because they've changed the rules, and we all know that's not right!
ReplyDeleteYou're a professional. You should be treated as a professional; that is, "they" should not be changing the rules on you midway through the game. Besides which, wouldn't they rather you were teaching the kids???
ReplyDeleteYou would make an awesome Porch Monitor ;) I hope you get that cabin.
Oo, that sucks. I hate it when they change things like that. Not fair.
ReplyDeleteI think Porch Monitor would be a fantastic position. Your husband sounds adorable.
As a fellow teacher, although in a small private school, I certainly feel your pain. I think a cabin in the woods of Wisconsin sounds just perfect :)
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't sound fair to you. I hope that who's ever in charge will realize this soon.
ReplyDeleteHaha, "Porch Monitor". I can't empathize, but I can relate to the feeling of exasperation and weariness. It really is a pity that "enough" seems to evade your grasp. Good luck, and take courage in the fact that there are books to escape to (when you find a minute)!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is the way it is today. Standing still at work is going backwards, and only people who are continually breaking new ground are considered to be doing their job. Management also delegate their responsibilities to other staff to meet their workload. I think this is especially true when you stay in a job for a long time; unfortunately, you often only get what you deserve if you go out and look for someone else to give it to you...
ReplyDeleteAw, I'm sorry ): They shouldn't do that.
ReplyDeleteYou should come to Wisconsin, it's pretty awesome here XD haha.
It doesn't matter whether you work for a school or a corporation. They will suck the life and breath and blood out of you. I am probably NOT the right person to talk to about such things. I could write a 5,000 word essay on why I quit working in 2004. What really stinks is that I KNOW you are like the world's best teacher, yet they continue to bleed you dry. My advice would be to move to the Dells, the mountains, or Bali, and spent time with those that appreciate you. Love ya girl.
ReplyDeletePorch Monitor. I like the sound of that. I know you do too. What would it take for you to accept your husband's offer?
ReplyDeleteA push from a gnat? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, Bellezza. That's a bum deal. I've lived through that kind of rule-changing evil. When we moved to Vicksburg, we were told we qualified for a home-owner buyout if we couldn't sell our house in Oklahoma. Then, we got here and were told, "Oopsy! Sorry, you don't qualify." 14 months later we sold our house and we were broke for a solid 5 years. Does that make you feel any better? Probably not. But, that was our worst rule-changing experience. :)
ReplyDeletePorch Monitor... That brings images of uniform and marching and not things I would associate with you in general. What is this job? Anyway I am sorry to keep hearing this. Teaching is a pretty important profession, which sadly is still under appreciated and under paid and people that shouldn't be working in that field are. It's messed up, so I am not surprised at all that this too would come.
ReplyDeleteDs' question strikes at the heart of the matter: "Wouldn’t they rather you were teaching the kids?"
ReplyDeleteToo often, the answer is "No."
I have seen this in other professions, some of which might surprise you. The imposition of additional burdens in the form of inexplicable demands and wearisome requirements has nothing to do with the children and everything to do with the preservation and expansion of a bureaucracy which imagines itself necessary.
I can't tell you how many times, in how many circumstances I've pulled Tom Wolfe's "Mau-Mauing the Flak-Catchers" off the shelf for a dose of perspective and salutary laughter. It's not the sixties, but in some respects it hasn't changed a whit. I highly recommend the book ;-)
My name is Gnat, Gnat da Pusher. Push! You're it!
ReplyDeleteBellezza, if you don't take that Porch Monitor job, I might apply for the position.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, though, if my hubs tells me once more that I can quit my job, I just might.
You know what? A lot of it has to do with wisdom and giving, yes, but giving to someone, something different from the classroom, or the corporate boardroom.
Maybe we're tired. Maybe we have a lot to do.
But we're wiser. And it just might be a wisdom thing.
And I think we'll find that very thing that's next. And it just might not have anything at all to do with teaching (in your case) and managing internat'l offices (in mine).
Ever onward.
Rule changes are never fun... Maybe something amazing will happen and make it worth it in the end, though? One could hope, I suppose!
ReplyDeleteAFter a week of driving to and from work while listening to the Dixie Chicks sing I'm Not Ready To Make Nice on my Grammy CD, I'm feeling a little better.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it helped to hear your sympathizing comments, and have my love talk me off the ledge. He knows me better than any one else, and his voice of experience after years of seeing me teach, was the most soothing of all.
Let me know if you and your husband need to caretakers for your cabin in the woods. I just happen to know two who would love to move to the Northwoods. One even has her own kayak. :)
ReplyDeleteLes, IF we get it I'll be sure to let you know. I'm scared to dive into funds right now, as if they haven't been dived into enough with the economy...on the other hand, it's a rare opportunity to find lakefront property. Don't worry, you'll know, and perhaps we can kayak together some day.
ReplyDeleteI found the same to be true in my teaching experiences. The cry ringing in my ears was, "Do more but do it on your own time without monetary compensation." I felt like I could have spent every waking hour preparing and doing for the school district. Hey, I probably should have spent some of my sleeping hours as well.
ReplyDeleteYou know exactly of which I speak, then, Booklogged. It's exhausting, and sleep sounds good right now. I hope you're getting some for both of us!
ReplyDeleteAmen to being enraged. I'd be right there with you. That porch monitor gig sounds ideal.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I really have enough experience in the working life to be commenting about what you're going through, Belleza, but from the little that I've learned in the past 6 years of my life in the office, I can say that the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction we all want rarely comes from your boss. Most of the time (especially in your case, I guess) it comes from within you each time you realize what you've already accomplished for the benefit of others. And of course in your case, there are your students who I'm sure appreciates you :)
ReplyDeleteOh, about being "porch monitor", that sounds like a good day job for a book blogger (if I understand it correctly). I myself like to spend quiet moments alone, just sitting in a coffee shop or somewhere, watching the streets, watching the people, and just relaxing. As one favorite quote of mine says:
ReplyDelete“We all need some time to ourselves—just a few minutes a day to get reacquainted with the one who’s been there since the beginning.”
Mark David, there's no such job as a Porch Monitor; he just means that I could sit around all day on the porch reading. It's a play on words because schools used to use 'monitors' all the time: for the bathrooms, the playgrounds, the lunchrooms.
ReplyDeleteI love your last quote. Despite all the hullaballoo we're constantly surrounded with, we're the ones who need to be at peace with ourselves. And, you're right: the most important people in my job with which to find satisfaction are the dear children. Every one else be forgotten. ;)
Oh yeah that's what I thought. I was thinking of something along the lines of being retired and sitting at the porch all day, looking across a vast field (a vast field would be nice, wouldn't it?) and occasionally looking down at your book :)
ReplyDeleteForget about your boss? That works, I guess. And perhaps healthy too :)