Two steps forward, one step back...
Every time I think I'm getting ahead... you know the rest.
Anyway, it's about to turn May-- testing is in another week or two, then it's count-down until the end of the school year. And frankly, I'm wondering how I'll get by without this particular group of kids.
The other day the assistant principal floated (again-- though the original hints were from last year) the possibility of my going to 6th grade-- "looping" as it were with my current class. I have looped in the past-- followed a 3rd. grade class to fourth, then after a few years a fourth-grade class to fifth.
But it's hard to explain-- I do not want to do it-- and not because of the kids, whom I love-- it's the whole politics of the thing. The sixth grade teachers we have now were rather cut loose when the out-going superintendent decided to stop sending 6th grade to middle school-- and our principal, ever the micro-manager, tried whatever he could to put his own people into those positions, only succeeding in maybe two cases. I was rather a vocal (and not regularly, but what I did say I like to think carried weight) opponent of any efforts to sabotage any 6th grade teacher's chances of joining our school.
And just because another year has passed, I've not changed my mind. I am very high up on the matrix-- I've been at the school and in the district since 1986. I can pretty much bump whomever I want other than the Principal and Assistant Principal. And I refuse to bump any of the 6th grade teachers.
I love my job-- I just don't love the shit going down at my school under this administration. In the end the principal can assign me wherever he wants (stupid union is ball-less)-- and I will serve-- but it will be my last year in such a place, I will move Heaven and Earth to transfer, and if that is NOT possible, I swear I will resign. I will try to get early retirement, and if that doesn't work, I shall quit, and take my chances elsewhere.
Slavery ended in 1863. I will make sure this District learns this message.
Anyway, it's about to turn May-- testing is in another week or two, then it's count-down until the end of the school year. And frankly, I'm wondering how I'll get by without this particular group of kids.
The other day the assistant principal floated (again-- though the original hints were from last year) the possibility of my going to 6th grade-- "looping" as it were with my current class. I have looped in the past-- followed a 3rd. grade class to fourth, then after a few years a fourth-grade class to fifth.
But it's hard to explain-- I do not want to do it-- and not because of the kids, whom I love-- it's the whole politics of the thing. The sixth grade teachers we have now were rather cut loose when the out-going superintendent decided to stop sending 6th grade to middle school-- and our principal, ever the micro-manager, tried whatever he could to put his own people into those positions, only succeeding in maybe two cases. I was rather a vocal (and not regularly, but what I did say I like to think carried weight) opponent of any efforts to sabotage any 6th grade teacher's chances of joining our school.
And just because another year has passed, I've not changed my mind. I am very high up on the matrix-- I've been at the school and in the district since 1986. I can pretty much bump whomever I want other than the Principal and Assistant Principal. And I refuse to bump any of the 6th grade teachers.
I love my job-- I just don't love the shit going down at my school under this administration. In the end the principal can assign me wherever he wants (stupid union is ball-less)-- and I will serve-- but it will be my last year in such a place, I will move Heaven and Earth to transfer, and if that is NOT possible, I swear I will resign. I will try to get early retirement, and if that doesn't work, I shall quit, and take my chances elsewhere.
Slavery ended in 1863. I will make sure this District learns this message.