Thursday, April 10, 2008

Eff You?

Yesterday, first period, upon completing a great reading lesson using a story in the--gasp!--anthology, I said, Okay, we'll finish this up tomorrow!

"We won't be here!" they all piped up.

"And why not?" I demanded.

"We're going on a field trip!" they cried.

I just shook my head. "When I was I going to be told about this?" I muttered to myself.

Fast forward to 10.00am. I had just given the students a fun crossword to practice different word forms.

Announcement: "Pardon this announcement. Grade teachers, please be advised that there will be an assembly starting at 10.10. Please bring your classes down at that time."

"Okay, guys, so I guess you've only got ten minutes to work on it, do what you can..."
--

Seriously, what the f%$#? If anyone has a question about the level of respect given to teachers today, or lack thereof, direct them here.

This kind of thing is just plain old rude. The administration clearly has zero respect for anyone else in the building--not teachers, not students, either. I feel like they're saying to me, "Eff you. We don't care about you or the fact that you're actually doing your job. Do whatever random shit we throw at you, because actually teaching and setting good examples for the children is at the end of the priority list."

It is absolutely ridiculous and it is EXACTLY why I'm leaving my school and the NYC public school system. Eff you right back, I say. I don't have to take this nonsense!

8 comments:

Nancy Cavillones said...

down with the system! i mean, seriously, bloomberg and klein pride themselves on a business model but this kind of thing would never fly at any corporation. at my school, when this happens, one of my fellow-teachers actually has the balls to ignore it. i love him for it. he just goes right on teaching and doesn't give a shit about last-minute assemblies.

17 (really 15) more years said...

My AP got pissed at me when I used to make a fuss about testing schedules. Seriously- do state exams come as a big surprise? All I wanted was to know what periods the test was, so I wouldn't plan needlessly. To give it to us the morning of the test, rather than the Friday before, was professionally insulting, and I made sure that they knew it.

You complain long enough and crap like that stops.

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain--It's amazing. Neither teachers nor students were told when our state testing would be until the Friday before--so all the plans I made had to be completely changed over the weekend. Surely, that was planned in advance and SURELY we could have been notified.

I just don't get it!

rachelblue said...

My administration regularly uses my office for testing and doesn't tell me beforehand, so I come back (lugging all the crap I carry all over the building, mind you) to find my office door closed with a sign on the door that says TESTING -- DO NOT ENTER!

They also regularly switch up my schedule without telling me and then call me up and demand to know why I'm not where I'm supposed to be.

I feel your pain!

East Coast Teacher said...

We've got the final round of MCAS testing coming up in a few weeks, but instead of giving us time to prepare, the principal thought it'd be a great idea to send grades 3-6 (the ones TAKING the test!) to watch their classmates perform "Annie."

During school time.

A show they can see THIS WEEKEND with their parents!

Seriously - unbelievable!

CaliforniaTeacherGuy said...

Are you really leaving NYC? Where are you looking?

Anonymous said...

WOW! How stupid and with such an easy solution. Our principal had a large whiteboard put on the wall outside the lounge, where we sign in. It was divided into a calendar. Everything important is put on that calendar.

From your comments I'm guessing that your testing doesn't shut the whole school down for the whole day.

We have the next round of TAKS the last week of April. Our school will be shut down for 3 days. The students have to be given all day to the test in a quiet environment.

This means that K-2 can't have outside recess, specials and must eat lunch in their rooms.

The specials teachers are all monitoring bathrooms or giving the test to small groups.

Our lunchroom is very near some offices that are used for small group/individual testing. So the kids get sack lunches on test days and these are taken back to the room or gym.

The 5th grade is in portables and the playground is disruptive to their test. The younger ones are allowed to go to the gym and play during recess.

Nacho Lover said...

Nancy, that's awesome! I wish I had the guts to do that. :)

15 and NB--the testing stuff is the one thing we will get the day before. not more than that, really. and it's really up to the teachers to remember the dates ahead of time so we don't plan any real teaching.

R--I would ignore that bullsh-t. Or write a stern and firm letter to the admin. That is just not right and it makes me really mad on your behalf! I hope you find a better school that will respect you and your space/time more.

ECT--That is just utterly ridiculous! Why didn't the teachers protest?!

CTG--I'm leaving my school and the public schools. I've applied and interviewed with a number of charter schools, most of which are still here in NYC. but I do want to leave NYC at some point...

KH--That whiteboard idea is actually sensible and helpful--must be why my school doesn't have anything like that! :D
And testing? haha. Our first state exams are in JANUARY. by april we're all done! And they 'lock down' the school for just the first half of the day. Which means that the kids you do get to see are extra jumpy and energetic the second half of the day.