Friday, January 06, 2012

How Long Can You Tread Water?

Right now, I hate teaching.

Specifically, I hate teaching under the constraints that administration has placed on me for journalism, and it has spread out to "I just don't want to do this" in a more general sense. I said last year that I was ready to give up journalism so that I could focus on teaching English (and also, in a huge-but-unspoken reason, because I hate these constraints) and was asked "well, if we can't find another journalism teacher, will you do it for one more year?" and I said yes, but that's it.

And now I feel like Bill Cosby's Noah talking to God, asking how long it's going to rain, and being asked in return, "How long can you tread water?"

It hasn't helped that, with a new administration, the rules that have straightjacketed me have gone from "ridiculous" to "cacking insane." I am full-on in survival mode, and it's awful. I hate being That Kind of Teacher.

I can't think of anything positive to say. Nothing. But there's enough poison out on the internet that I don't really want to add to it. So that's why I haven't posted anything in quite awhile. You know, Thumper's Law: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

(Not to be confused with Thumper's Secondary Law: "Eating greens is a special treat; it makes long ears and great big feet.")

Hopefully I can still get the Stupid Publications done from survival mode. The problem is that thinking about it makes me start to freak out... so I'm trying not to think about it. But I'm not sure that avoidance is the best strategy.

Fortunately, I have been very clear that this is to be the Last Year No Matter What.

Hm. Who knows. In a couple of weeks here, I am planning to go down to Disney World to try out for a summer position as a performer. And if in June/July I am informed that my administration has said "screw what she wants; stick her in Journalism again!" I may just stay down there instead of resigning & returning to teach.

Image thanks to http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

7 comments:

Mrs. Chili said...

I'm so sorry to hear this. I wish there were something I could say to make it better, but I know there isn't.

On another note, do you think you'd be willing to share a basic journalism unit with me? I've been asked to teach a bit of journalism to the juniors, and I don't have any experience teaching it.

Clix said...

Well, our Journalism classes are production classes, so I generally go at them workshop-style. How long are your classes, & how many class periods would you want to spend on the unit? What are you hoping to see them learn from it (do you have to connect to standards?)

Mardie said...

I was feeling the same way earlier this year - couldn't blog due to Thumper's law. I agree with Mrs. Chili - not much I can say except - you're a good teacher and if you decide to hang in there, there'll be lucky students next year.

Philip said...

That sucketh.

Clix said...

Thanks, Mardie. I was glad to read your new posts recently :)

And yeah, it pretty much sucks.

askthehomediva said...

I am so sorry you are being treated so poorly. :-( Hang in there.

Clix said...

It's not abusive, but I'm definitely frustrated by being required to teach publications in a way that's not consistent with my professional goals. Most of our yearbook pages? The only text is the folio. THE ONLY TEXT, RICHIE. No copy, no captions, no headline. ZILCH. And then of course there's requirement for administrative review. And no interviewing during class time. And...

I'm going to stop now before I work myself into a froth. :P

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