So we had a meeting. Our school has been identified as "low-performing." There are nine low-performing middle schools and some of them are closing. We are not closing, but instead are being put into a "turnaround model." This means an "outside partner" (whatever that means) will come in and fix us. Supposedly 50% of the staff will be fired.
Principal got up in front of the whole staff and said that the only reason we aren't closing is because of the IB program (which is actually the biggest joke ever). She then proceeded to tell everyone that the rest of the staff should thank us for their jobs.
Also during this meeting, she told us that she "could've retired yesterday" so these problems we're having "aren't her problems" and it's "up to us" to get this stuff together. She said that if our standardized tests come back low then she is going to retire because she doesn't want to deal with it, but if they are high then she will stay on (to take the credit).
It really makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Spreadsheets are hard.
For those of you who've been on the edge of your seat waiting for the new schedule, today is the day. That's right. January 22 was the beginning of the 2nd semester and today, February 5th, is the day we received the schedule for the 2nd semester.
And it's crap.
Of course it's crap. Why would it be decent? They are giving me a new class of 7th graders and taking away my sweet 6th graders because they hate me and want me to hate myself. That's the theory I'm working with now, anyway.
Several teachers spoke with Principal about possible scheduling options, one of the office workers even made a perfectly feasible and logical schedule. One of the administrators made 3 separate schedules and Principal rejected them all in favor of her assbackwards version.
This schedule was handed out today 10 minutes before school let out, it starts Monday and Principal was "too busy" to talk about it today after school.
We did, however, listen to extensive rants about how difficult and time consuming and stressful and etc. etc. etc. the schedule process was. yaaay.
And it's crap.
Of course it's crap. Why would it be decent? They are giving me a new class of 7th graders and taking away my sweet 6th graders because they hate me and want me to hate myself. That's the theory I'm working with now, anyway.
Several teachers spoke with Principal about possible scheduling options, one of the office workers even made a perfectly feasible and logical schedule. One of the administrators made 3 separate schedules and Principal rejected them all in favor of her assbackwards version.
This schedule was handed out today 10 minutes before school let out, it starts Monday and Principal was "too busy" to talk about it today after school.
We did, however, listen to extensive rants about how difficult and time consuming and stressful and etc. etc. etc. the schedule process was. yaaay.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Quotes by Joseph
[after I cleaned off desk graffiti with some bleach] "Miss Vinson, you is the only teacher who keeps they room clean. It's cause you was raised right. That's why."
[After another teacher had accidentally called me by another teacher's name, a teacher who is in her 50s and African-American] :"Haha, that's funny. They don't even look alike because that other lady has a ugly nose."
[After another teacher had accidentally called me by another teacher's name, a teacher who is in her 50s and African-American] :"Haha, that's funny. They don't even look alike because that other lady has a ugly nose."
we don't like to make sense here
today started the 2nd semester. last week our administration decided to push the 2nd semester back another week because the kids are out thursday and friday of this one.
mostly they decided this because they still don't have a schedule for 2nd semester. they had one which changed every.single.teachers. schedule in the entire school but they don't really consider it important that we see this schedule any time before monday.
today could have been my last day with some of my classes, or it was just the half-way point. nobody knows. we'll probably find out friday if we have entirely new classes or not.
i mean, it's not like it's important or anything.
mostly they decided this because they still don't have a schedule for 2nd semester. they had one which changed every.single.teachers. schedule in the entire school but they don't really consider it important that we see this schedule any time before monday.
today could have been my last day with some of my classes, or it was just the half-way point. nobody knows. we'll probably find out friday if we have entirely new classes or not.
i mean, it's not like it's important or anything.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Two Things
1. Cortez, Eric and Derrick all got suspended today for freaking out on their teacher, cursing her and kicking her door in. They also ran around the building for about an hour. Once they got caught, they were all really pissed. Nobody answered the phone at Cortez's house so they sent him back to class. Pissed. And already suspended.
2. Chantea's mother told her not to eat school lunch anymore because it makes her stomach hurt. Chantea's mother, however, does not provide her with any food to replace it with. Chantea said she couldn't go in the cafeteria anymore because even though the food makes her stomach hurt, she's still HUNGRY and wants to EAT so she has to get away from the food. All week she's been sitting in my room eating my lunch instead.
2. Chantea's mother told her not to eat school lunch anymore because it makes her stomach hurt. Chantea's mother, however, does not provide her with any food to replace it with. Chantea said she couldn't go in the cafeteria anymore because even though the food makes her stomach hurt, she's still HUNGRY and wants to EAT so she has to get away from the food. All week she's been sitting in my room eating my lunch instead.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
When It Rips Your Heart Out
Sometimes things happen and I come home and write about them that day. Sometimes I forget to write it down and I'm reminded later on by a conversation and I'll write it down then. Sometimes I know I should write it down, it's just not possible at the time. It's been about a month since this happened, and it's pretty terrible.
Bianca has been in one of my 7th grade classes all year. She's always been incredibly sweet and a little silly. She's in 7th grade, "a little silly" is a godsend. Once I was talking to her language arts teacher about her being so great. Now, this particular teacher hates everyone (you, me, puppies, flowers) so I wasn't surprised when she rolled her eyes and launched into one of her "just you wait" speeches. But I was a little surprised that she had called Bianca's house. Turns out, Bianca is in a foster home. This teacher had called to discuss Bianca being silly. The foster mother had then told her that she had "better watch Bianca around the boys" and "don't let Bianca be alone with a boy or she'll have sex with them"...like in the hallway or a closet. Now this teacher had apparently took this information and labeled Bianca a crazy whore. I'll admit, it was a little shocking, but do I have to rent a fucking billboard?? ELEVEN YEAR OLDS DON'T JUST WAKE UP ONE DAY AND KNOW HOW TO HAVE SEX!!!!!!!!! Obviously she has some abuse in her past (or present). Obviously she needs counseling.
You know what she doesn't need? A teacher giving her the side eye every time she walks past a boy. I found out from this that I did need to pay more attention to what she was doing and who she was talking to, but listening to the obvious disgust coming out of this teacher's mouth, I find it hard to believe she's able to conceal it from Bianca.
So, that was about 2 months ago. I kindof took this information in stride, assigned seats so Bianca is away from distractions, kept my eye on her, etc. No big deal.
Two weeks before Christmas, I am on the 2nd floor and I hear screaming and yelling coming from the stairwell. A whole class is crowded in there, and Bianca and a boy are about to fight each other. I take the boy and someone else gets Bianca. Nothing had really happened, so the boy goes back to class. Bianca runs away screaming and crying. They call her foster mother.
20 minutes later, I see Bianca in the stairwell and she's still sobbing. She tells me that she doesn't want to see her foster mother, that she's going to run away. She tries to get away from me, but I put her in a bear hug-type embrace and won't let her go. She starts sobbing worse, still insisting she is going to run away. I see another teacher in the hallway, one that she is really close to. We take her into my classroom and almost immediately her foster mother walks in.
Bianca starts telling us that the boy had tried to push her down the stairs and she was yelling at him to stop. The foster mother, very calmly says, "You're lying, Bianca. I know you're lying. You always lie about stuff like this. Now tell us the truth." She starts sobbing worse and yelling, "I am telling the truth! I am telling the truth!" The foster mother continues to insinuate that this boy rejected her advances and that was why she was upset.
I walked out in the hallway because I just couldn't listen to it anymore. One of the office workers was walking by, and he asked me what was wrong (I was crying.) I told him and he said that he had somebody from the Department of Social Services in his office right at that moment, and she could come see the interaction.
They were in my classroom for over an hour while I stood in the hallway. Every now and then you would hear Bianca say, "I didn't fuck him! I swear I didn't fuck him!" and the foster mother often repeating her "You're lying" statement, in calm, almost detached voice.
Eventually I had to go back in. The lady from DSS was saying, "Bianca, do you want to stay in the house with (foster mom)? Remember, if you don't, you'll have to go somewhere far away and you won't be able to go to this school anymore or see any of your friends." Bianca said, "Yes, I want to stay."
This BITCH then says, "Bianca, I don't think you were nice enough about that. How about you ask (foster mom) in a polite tone?"
"Ms. (foster mom) can I please live with you?"
Foster mom says, "I guess. I don't know why you thought anything different."
Bianca says, "I just don't think you love me."
Foster mom: "Don't be ridiculous."
Bianca has been in one of my 7th grade classes all year. She's always been incredibly sweet and a little silly. She's in 7th grade, "a little silly" is a godsend. Once I was talking to her language arts teacher about her being so great. Now, this particular teacher hates everyone (you, me, puppies, flowers) so I wasn't surprised when she rolled her eyes and launched into one of her "just you wait" speeches. But I was a little surprised that she had called Bianca's house. Turns out, Bianca is in a foster home. This teacher had called to discuss Bianca being silly. The foster mother had then told her that she had "better watch Bianca around the boys" and "don't let Bianca be alone with a boy or she'll have sex with them"...like in the hallway or a closet. Now this teacher had apparently took this information and labeled Bianca a crazy whore. I'll admit, it was a little shocking, but do I have to rent a fucking billboard?? ELEVEN YEAR OLDS DON'T JUST WAKE UP ONE DAY AND KNOW HOW TO HAVE SEX!!!!!!!!! Obviously she has some abuse in her past (or present). Obviously she needs counseling.
You know what she doesn't need? A teacher giving her the side eye every time she walks past a boy. I found out from this that I did need to pay more attention to what she was doing and who she was talking to, but listening to the obvious disgust coming out of this teacher's mouth, I find it hard to believe she's able to conceal it from Bianca.
So, that was about 2 months ago. I kindof took this information in stride, assigned seats so Bianca is away from distractions, kept my eye on her, etc. No big deal.
Two weeks before Christmas, I am on the 2nd floor and I hear screaming and yelling coming from the stairwell. A whole class is crowded in there, and Bianca and a boy are about to fight each other. I take the boy and someone else gets Bianca. Nothing had really happened, so the boy goes back to class. Bianca runs away screaming and crying. They call her foster mother.
20 minutes later, I see Bianca in the stairwell and she's still sobbing. She tells me that she doesn't want to see her foster mother, that she's going to run away. She tries to get away from me, but I put her in a bear hug-type embrace and won't let her go. She starts sobbing worse, still insisting she is going to run away. I see another teacher in the hallway, one that she is really close to. We take her into my classroom and almost immediately her foster mother walks in.
Bianca starts telling us that the boy had tried to push her down the stairs and she was yelling at him to stop. The foster mother, very calmly says, "You're lying, Bianca. I know you're lying. You always lie about stuff like this. Now tell us the truth." She starts sobbing worse and yelling, "I am telling the truth! I am telling the truth!" The foster mother continues to insinuate that this boy rejected her advances and that was why she was upset.
I walked out in the hallway because I just couldn't listen to it anymore. One of the office workers was walking by, and he asked me what was wrong (I was crying.) I told him and he said that he had somebody from the Department of Social Services in his office right at that moment, and she could come see the interaction.
They were in my classroom for over an hour while I stood in the hallway. Every now and then you would hear Bianca say, "I didn't fuck him! I swear I didn't fuck him!" and the foster mother often repeating her "You're lying" statement, in calm, almost detached voice.
Eventually I had to go back in. The lady from DSS was saying, "Bianca, do you want to stay in the house with (foster mom)? Remember, if you don't, you'll have to go somewhere far away and you won't be able to go to this school anymore or see any of your friends." Bianca said, "Yes, I want to stay."
This BITCH then says, "Bianca, I don't think you were nice enough about that. How about you ask (foster mom) in a polite tone?"
"Ms. (foster mom) can I please live with you?"
Foster mom says, "I guess. I don't know why you thought anything different."
Bianca says, "I just don't think you love me."
Foster mom: "Don't be ridiculous."
Thursday, January 14, 2010
My Two Raekwons
Kids in America are over-medicated. I get it. However, there are a few kids in America who should have their medication pumping through the ventilation of their house, injected into their breakfast and sprayed on their clothes every morning.
One of these kids is Raekwon. In the morning when he comes in the door, I say "Good Morning, Raekwon!" When is medicated, he says "good morning!" When he is not medicated, he says, "OOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII YAYAYAYAYAYAYA OOOK OOOK WEEEEEEEE"
If, for some reason, I happen not to see him in the morning I know which Raekwon I'm getting before he even walks in the door for my class. There's the "I'm here to work" look and the "I'm here to ruin your life" look.
I wish when I went to the store to buy hand sanitizer, tissues, band-aids and air freshener for class, I could also pick up a little extra medication for the ruin your life days.
One of these kids is Raekwon. In the morning when he comes in the door, I say "Good Morning, Raekwon!" When is medicated, he says "good morning!" When he is not medicated, he says, "OOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII YAYAYAYAYAYAYA OOOK OOOK WEEEEEEEE"
If, for some reason, I happen not to see him in the morning I know which Raekwon I'm getting before he even walks in the door for my class. There's the "I'm here to work" look and the "I'm here to ruin your life" look.
I wish when I went to the store to buy hand sanitizer, tissues, band-aids and air freshener for class, I could also pick up a little extra medication for the ruin your life days.
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