Sunday, April 10, 2011

For Whom the Bell Tolls

I am dreading work tomorrow. Dreading.

For one thing, tomorrow begins state testing week. Our school cancels P.E., Music, Art, and Library so those teachers can help test students with testing accommodations. That means I have the twenty-three precious treasures with me from 7:45am all the way until 2:35pm every day: no breaks!

Really, though, it's not testing week that is making me dread work. Testing week marks the passing of time in a school. It is the beginning of the end of the school year. Trust me, I am ready for this school year to end. It's not that I don't like the kids; it's just that I am exhausted! The kids I have this year are so hard to teach and I am ready to roll the dice and get a new crowd. The odds of it being this bad again are low, also the upcoming gradelevel doesn't have the reputation of the kids who are now in third grade.

The thing that I am really dreading is the bad news on the horizon. I have gotten a series of e-mails from the superintendent saying that program cuts are coming. This means a rif, pay cuts, or both.

When the president is on his way out, they call him a lame duck. I think the district is refusing to tell us the exact nature of the cuts because they don't want a bunch of lame ducks administering tests that determine labels and funding. I get that, but I feel the storm approaching. Also, because of my lame duck theory, I am pretty sure that Monday we hear the bad bad news.

I read in the local paper yesterday that 39% of the people in my age bracket (18-28) in this metropolitan area are unemployed. My stomach turns a little when I think about the peril my job is in. I know that I am a good teacher, but that doesn't mean I'll find a job.

Inside the walls of my house right now all is well. I have a job that pays the bills and a roof over my head. I pay my all my bills and don't have any debts or loans. I am dreading going to work, because I feel like the Grim Reaper of jobs is lurking there waiting for me. Once he finds me, there is no escape.

3 comments:

Mr. W said...

yeah I agree this does sort of usher in the end of the year. I'm not sure where you teach, but in CA it's pretty much the same thing with the whole budget mess. So much uncertainty right now in education. It discourages veteran teachers, new teachers, and anyone thinking about going into education.

Our district didn't give RIF notices because they were hoping to have the CA tax extensions on a special election. That didn't happen so it looks like there could be as many as 70 teachers that will get a special August RIF, one week before school starts over the summer. Talk about a mess and being discouraged.

On a lighter note, how come you didn't go with Metallica's For Whom the Bell Tolls? It was made for this post...

ms.understood said...

Thanks Mr. W, for the song suggestion. I'm not so familiar with Metallica. Usually, I prefer softer music, but yes, it is perfect to express my current sentiments.

Also, August RIF notice is awful, just awful. I hope they don't do that here!

luckeyfrog said...

Our school let us know early. It's frustrating to find out, but I think they trusted us enough to know that even if a few people were angry with the school, we care too much for the students to sabotage them.

I hope you are not cut. It's hard, though, to feel so much uncertainty, so I hope that either way, you find out soon.