It's Versatile! It's Soft! It's Toilet Paper!
I ran out of toilet paper last week, and as I went to the store at 10:30 at night just for some toilet paper, I wondered what the clerk would think of me.
My preferred judgment is that he would assume that I was going to use this late-night TP run to build my arsenal for a wicked night of TPing. And then I remembered a time, many moons ago, ( Read more... )
My preferred judgment is that he would assume that I was going to use this late-night TP run to build my arsenal for a wicked night of TPing. And then I remembered a time, many moons ago, ( Read more... )
I read quickly. I know the story of your last year (most of it). I now know what Comic Sans looks like, and formed a theory about why educators like it (it bears a resemblance to the perfect blackboard writing--at least, if Wikipedia's sample is accurate!) I know the saga of the paper and your job.
Two things. One is a recollection of my senior year of high school, a year that almost made my beloved choir teacher quit. First the band teacher was fired for allegations of financial misconduct and possible misconduct with a student. Then the school principal was given a choice between not having a job and being demoted to an elementary school. The school board said he hadn't handled things with the band teacher appropriately. Then we found out that he really had taken the ax because people within our district has listened to the beguiling strategy of an 18 year old who ran on the premise that she knew the schools in the district from the inside and elected her. Well, she became "close" to an ex-teacher from the high school who'd been fired for that same sort of "closeness" with his students. I might not give credence to rumors except I knew the girl who had blown the whistle on him for coming on to her and she was really troubled by the whole situation. Well, Ms. Schoolboard Member saw her opportunity and orchestrated the principal's downfall. The community found out and recalled the school board. Lots of fun, huh?
The point I'm making is that cruddy stuff like this happens--even to good leaders and teachers. I wish that you hadn't borne the brunt of it and that you still had a job. But maybe losing a job because of principles is easier than losing it because you just weren't good enough, or because the economy stinks, or whatever. At least you can feel (sometimes, when your feelings let you) that you gained something too, in the example that you set and the students and parents that you influenced.
The second thing was about my journalist mother-in-law who found herself in a similar situation. I think I've already made the point, though.
Have you thought of spending a year teaching abroad? I had a roommate who did and loved it, even though she had to be evacuated from China during the outbreak of SARS!
Cathy
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Anyhow, keep reading, and I hope I stay interesting!
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