thehallway

So basically I was 'offered' the chance to teach my favorite elective next semester today. I haven't taught it in two years due to the shortage of teachers in my department. They first wanted to just collapse a section of my AP World History and sort those kids into my other AP World classes and give me the elective. But that just means I'd have the same number of kids, plus my new section of kids, and just more grading and prep so I said I'd do it as an extra-contractual. Took them 28 minutes to move through the process and jump through the hoops of approving my extra-contractual. Yeah, it's more work, but at least this way I get paid for it. I'm already tired.

I am officially on break. Am I working 8 hour shifts scoring tomorrow and Sunday? Yes, I am. But at least I managed to get all my grading (well, most of it) finished before I left school at 5 tonight. The kids left at 10:30 for their half-day. Baby is up on his perch staring creepily down on me and somehow that is all right. He's left the tree and presents alone so I'm pretty happy about that. Trying to be happy about the food and presents and time with family that Christmas brings, even if current events unfolding are a real shitshow.

Oh, and my principal is leaving as of today. So once again, we will be the good ship without a captain. I've had ten principals in my twenty years in the building. They come and they go as do the APs. And everyone acts like the building depends on the admin to run. No one ever suggests that the building runs just fine with all admin gone, just like no one ever seems to mention that the building won't run at all without teachers, secretaries, and custodians. Education, especially public education is fucked. I wish someone would offer me something else to do that I want to do and that would allow me to continue to pay my bills.

Oh, and the House has officially adjourned, guaranteeing the government shutdown.

thank god. i came home from class tonight and there it was...burn notice, right where it belonged on my tv. michael and fiona and sam and madelyn. so pretty and witty and come back from hiatus to save me from the suckfest this time of the year has become.

one day of school left this week. graduation tomorrow night. a weekend spent writing essay answers for the test i take on monday night. then four days of school next week, packing up my room and finals, and then i am finished. well, until the sixteenth when i go back to writing curriculum. and i have my class until the eighteenth.

see what i mean about the suckfest?

thank god is right. another week closer to the end. pink slips went out to the non-tenured teachers today, as required. how many are recalled depends on which plan for closing buildings/reassigning teachers is adopted by the school board at their meeting next week. also up for debate is privatization of custodial staff and bus drivers based on consolidating routes. needless to say, there are a lot of unhappy campers in our little district.

but this came in our email today and presents the six phases of teaching. i think i vascillate between stage five and six. 

www.youtube.com/watch