I wanted to share this with you.
Good sound advice right? Check it out.
The black box on the wall to the right is where we clock out, and this poster or whatever this piece of craftwork is has been hanging on that spot for about 4 months. Today was the first time I paid it any attention.
I shall analyze this.
1. Be yourself: I am. Thanks for the input.
2. Take chances: (inside joke right about now). So, I think I do that by walking in the door. Right?
3. Create Happiness: Do you know what would make me happy? The list is too long and it doesn't include condescending e-mails about, "What are you doing to help each other and what about the kids" when people complain about enforcement of I.D.'s. (ends rant here). Admin, it's your job to enforce, it can't be 100% teachers' responsibility and 0% kids.
4. Be passionate: Oh, I am. (sips tea with confidence)
5. Fall in love: With who? My husband is sitting across the table. Oh, you mean, with my job? Well, I am as long as I'm not overflowing with mundane paperwork.
6. Practice Kindness: I am. Right now. I am being kind.
7. Travel Often: This is sort of funny, because we've received 3 e-mails complaining about how 15 teachers a day have been absent for about a week or more. LOL So, I guess you 'want' us to travel? lolol okay... I include myself among the teachers who have been present every day, even though I broke my foot.
8. Be generous: I am. I think we all have been. With our time, our patience, our effort, ideas, support, follow-through.
9. Value Friendships: Wow. That's kind of loaded isn't it? I mean, if you are trying to fire half the staff, and bring in your own teachers, and then tell people they should value friendships in an environment where distrust and tattletailing has been created... you want us to value friendships.... hmmm
10. Learn New Things: Oh I do. Every day. Today I learned about Epi-pens for kids with allergies, and that we have only 5 confirmed cases, only 3 with actual epi-pens, and that the nurse can read an entire powerpoint word for word from the screen. Thank you for the 30 minutes of my life I would like back. Next time, send me a memo. I have unit plans and real problems to face. (We were really ticked off because we asked for the names of the 5 kids, and she spent 10 minutes giving us non-answers, until someone else said, "Oh, that is possible, we'll get on that.")
11. Laugh Every Day: I do. Oh I do. Humor is good for the soul.
12. Respect Others: Speaking for myself because I know that many people disagree, I do respect most people in the building, but at varying degrees.
13. Let Go: HAHA. We all have our own way of doing that don't we? One teacher I know smokes a little weed on the weekend, another drinks a glass of wine each night, another bicycles, another lays on the couch and vegetates, another goes after school to eat McDOnald's every day... we have our vices.. no?
Interesting topic this last one.. huh?
Well, such is the life of inner-city teachers in a broken system.
Some people reading this might think I'm not a great teacher, but let's be realistic. This poster is just a little bit pretentious isn't it? I guess someone can take it light-heartedly, but in our environment of hostility and distrust, it's a bit offensive. We are losing top notch faculty members because of a lot of crap going on behind the scenes. I'm talking about Ivy League graduates with excellent skills as teachers, and we're left with people who brag about 1.7 H.S. GPA's, and how "look at us, and where we are now, we're your leaders." (face palm). I guess that's great motivational speaking for kids to show them where you can go and what you can do... and I suppose anyone can change... but speaking to adults? 1.7 GPA? As a leader? Oh man. (reserves comments)
Have a great day!
Peace out.
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Blinddream
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