Kontan.

Lots of changes about to take place and I brought it on myself. My thoughts have been consumed with the changes and I have neglected my blog and my WWW friends. Sorry guys, and thanks for continuing to stop by my spot on the web.

As I have posted, I’m changing jobs. I am very excited about the prospect, but feel guilty about leaving my current job mid-year. My resignation was accepted and I have been released from my contract. Instead of working until the 22nd and starting my new job on the 25th I will now only work until the 15th. This is great for my students b/c they will start the new semester with their new teacher. Part of me is glad that I was so easily replaced, but wow…it was that easy? Did admin have someone on the back burner waiting? Nah, just the nature of the biz. We are all replaceable and it is something that no one should forget. I’m hoping to renegotiate with my new school and start a week earlier. It would be nice to have a week long break before starting, but let’s face it…family economics would not benefit from the extra vacation.

I’m wondering just how crazy I am for pursuing this change. Most teachers would jump at the chance to be where I am leaving. Six periods per day, two plannings, modified schedule that is similar to what you have in college, virtually no paperwork, and freedom to do your job in your own classroom sounds rather attractive- and it is! But…

You also have to deal with the frustrations of teaching students who think they are smarter than they are, and have WAY too much say in the school. IMO students should have little input in teacher evaluation. That’s about like asking the disgruntled employee to evaluate his boss. It is just not a valid tool. Having to validate everything you say in the classroom b/c the student thinks their answer is better than yours is not cool either. The fact that you have 15 years and a wealth of knowledge on them doesn’t seem to matter…not including that the student hasn’t bothered to read the textbook material that would invalidate their own answer. The school also became my life. The usual grading and class prep, plus other club responsibilities compounded by the fact that most students (and myself) live at least 25 minutes or more from the school. Students are involved in everything so creative schedules have to be maintained. There were days when I didn’t leave until 8 or 9 PM.

Freedom in education is wonderful, but there is something to be said for structure. I have grown lax and know that things are about to change. Formal lesson plans will be due. Admin observations will be performed. When I say lax I do not mean that I have not done my job. I have and I think I did it rather well, but I didn’t stress over things like formal lesson plans with over documentation of every move in the classroom.

There are positive aspects of non-traditional education. The students were in that school by their own/or parent’s own choice. They were not all above average and many thought they were and were not, but they all had a desire to learn. Lack of behavioral discipline was not an issue. (Which is a good thing b/c there were few strategies in place to deal with it if it was.) For me, there is something that is not fulfilling about being in a school where the students really don’t need you to care about them. They have support systems at home. They have the tools needed to “make it” in this world. What can I give them that they cannot get from their textbooks or research if they choose to utilize it? Where I am going the students need someone to care. They need someone to help them learn how to utilize the resources available. I feel like I can actually make a difference in some little thugs life. Yes, they are considered thugs…but they will be my thugs. I’m looking forward to stepping back into the traditional classroom. I do not view this as a step backwards, I view it as a step that I need to take for personal fulfillment.