Is it because I'm not local? Vent/disheartened

I

INhunter

Rookie
I don't understand it. I used to love teaching, but students are cruel I guess. Anyway, I've been teaching at this school district, and apparently I'm a failure as a teacher.

Thus far:

1)I've been screamed at by the principal for saying the word "shoot" which was implied as cussing.

2)The Vice-Principal has called me in her office and told me that a parent called to complain. Apparently, I said "I hate my job here, the only reason I teach is for a paycheck," Of course it's a lie, but she told me "since you've been called in the office for cussing (by saying "shoot, I dropped the eraser", what does a child have to gain by telling her parent that?"

3)Unless my weekly evaluations are completely flawless, I get dinged for them pretty harshly.

4) I've been accused of copying/stealing lesson plans because I shared a PowerPoint with a teacher one time. While this was happening the Principal was recording me by typing what I was saying on a laptop.

5) I've been having to purchase lab supplies, which I don't think is fair.

6) What is really infuriating is that students act poorly for me, but nice for other teachers. Could this be because I am not local? My school is in a very tight knit community, and I'm an outsider. Students behave well for other teachers but not me.

7) The Principal told me I need to build more "positive" relationships with students. By being nice to students I have been told "I hate science", I've been told "we want to see the Vice-Principal, we don't want to be here in your class," I've been told "Why do you send us to other teachers when we act up? Why can't you manage problems in your own classroom?"--(which by the way other teachers told me to do just that), I've been told "Why don't you teach another grade. I'd rather have my old science teacher," and the best kicker today was that a student told me I could "$uck it", yet he has a wonderful relationship with the social studies teacher.

8) Maybe I really am a pathetic excuse for a teacher? I mean, even well behaved students choose to read AR books rather than follow along in their science book or participate in discussions I try to lead.

9) The Vice Principal tells me to do one thing. The curriculum coach tells me to do another. It seems like i can please no one.

10) The Nurse is a word I won't say, but she is extremely rude to me. One day I was standing behind her at copy machine and she couldn't copy something correctly. Thus, she rudely said to me "I can't copy anything with someone standing behind me!!!", and tore the papers out and stormed away. She also loves to cut me off and blow me off, so I don't talk to her much.

11) The teachers in my team are trying to be supportive to me, but I'm afraid about what they are saying behind my back. The reason I say this is because one of them talks behind other people's backs all the time.

12) Probably most disheartening to me is that I make parent contacts, and the students get hostile at me for doing it. I've never encountered stuff like this before.


I get I just am a poor excuse for a teacher..........
 
I'm not sure I understand - is this your first year teaching? My first year was he** - I swear. Most of the kids were horrible. The parents were (for the most part) aggressive gang members. All classroom costs were on me, from student supplies on up. According to the admin, I did nothing right, and everything was my fault (although they couldn't control my class either). To top it off, my grade level chair would decide in the afternoon that the next day, we would do a project or some such for the kids - usually it involved lots of time and $$ which, as a doctor's wife, she didn't have to worry about.

I say all that to let you know that... for most people, it gets better. Much better. AtoZ is a FABULOUS resource. Not only can you vent here, but you can get advice, hints, and learn of new resources that will actually help, because it all comes from real teachers, not someone sitting in an ivory tower with no real experience.
 
Grow a spine.

If the nurse talks to you that way, say something.

If students hate your class, make them like it.

If the principal is treating you unfairly and you have documented proof that he/she is out of line, go to the union and see what they have to say.

Don't sulk, if nothing changes, find a new school.
 
Is this your first teaching job? If not, I'm sure you are not a poor excuse of a teacher and you know this based on your prior experience. If you are a first-year teacher, I'm still sure you are not a bad teacher, but you may be making rookie mistakes - in the classroom, dealing with students and Admin.

I can't tell if the issue here is really you or if it is the dynamics of being at a new school. I think you might be a little sensitive about certain things such as the Nurse at the copy machine situation or the kids saying they want their old teacher back and that you suck; you just have to ignore this stuff and keep it moving. Also, kids go home and lie on teachers all the time - unless it is threatening you job security/reputation, sometimes you have to let these things go and keep it moving.

If you feel that your team is supportive, try to get their advice on what you can do to improve in the classroom. If you trust them, you may also want to get advice on dealing with the Admin at your school and what you can do to improve the situation with them.

Good luck!
 
:hugs: Wow, I'm so sorry to hear you're having a rough school year. Hang in there!

I agree with what the above posters say, document all of this and take it to your union rep.
 
It is my first year. I'm worried. I had an old college friend who taught in the same corporation after the old science teacher supposedly resigned last November. He quickly got frustrated and felt he had no support, but tried to make it till spring. Then in April he was told his contract would not be renewed. Teacher turnover is rather high in this corporation, as two teachers have resigned in the last week. Also, a retired teacher whom I confided in learned from her daughter that a local university actually warns its grads not to teach there. Wish I knew this information sooner.
 
I hate to say this, but it sounds like you have "lost" your class. Sounds like the students don't respect you--- and since you are in secondary, there is a chance to really turn the year around midyear. This group though, sounds like they've made you into their whipping boy/girl, being chummy with the other teachers so it looks like you are the problem and not the kids, which by what you describe couldn't be further from the truth. How did you start the year with them? Reflect now on what to change for January's group---you need to have a strict set of rules, consequences, classroom procedures, etc. Lay down the LAW from the beginning, you may not be a "native" of the area, but that is YOUR room and YOU are in charge, not them. Get mean. Work on the lessons to make them engaging.

If you go in with the goal of being the best teacher in the building and being all that you can be in the classroom (classroom management, teaching methods, etc.) and document everything, then you will survive to fight another day! document, document, document, document in the meantime!!
 
I agree with everyone above, but one thing alarmed me: why would they care if you use someone else's lesson? We should get advice and lesson ideas from colleagues all the time. It helps you develop things you never thought of, make the curriculum more consistent, and find out what works for you...them being upset about that makes no sense to me.
 
It sounds like a toxic working environment to me. I've read your other posts, and um, yeah. Take the advice given above and do the best job you can do, and come the end of the year, high tail it out of there.
 
I took the job two weeks after the school year started. I never got time to form procedures. Their original teacher quit on day one then they had a sub for two weeks. It's been a battle of trying to teach and reteach procedures.
 
INhunter said:
I took the job two weeks after the school year started. I never got time to form procedures. Their original teacher quit on day one then they had a sub for two weeks. It's been a battle of trying to teach and reteach procedures.
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Ugh, these kids sound like that really have it in for you. You shouldn't have to reteach procedures to secondary students. I started with my 4th graders in late September, and I don't have to reteach them anymore. They got it pretty much by the 2nd week I was with them. Of course, with them being 9/10 years old I have a lot more leverage over them: no recess, silent lunch, notes home, behavior logs, getting sent out, ISS, "I'm calling your momma," etc--most of those don't work on teenagers :(

At this point, your only choice is to get mean. When you see those kids reading their AR books, snatch it out of their hands. Cutting up construction paper? Drawing? Snatch it up. Talking? Call them out, tell them if they are gonna waste your time, you are gonna waste theirs---give 'em detention. Get a little elementary on them, give them a certain number of "offenses" with certain consequences. If that means half of your class is in detention after school, or lunch detention, or in "chill out" the next few weeks then so be it.

What is your current discipline procedures for your classroom??
 
INhunter said:
I took the job two weeks after the school year started. I never got time to form procedures. Their original teacher quit on day one then they had a sub for two weeks. It's been a battle of trying to teach and reteach procedures.
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Oh no. That's a terrible situation for you and for the students. Routines, rules, and procedures need to be implemented from Day 1 or else you will spend the remainder of the year trying to catch up.
 
I was in a very similar situation during my first year. I took over a mat leave in April. The kids were honest about actively trying to get me fired. I stuck it out till June, but seriously questioned whether I wanted to continue to be a teacher. When jobs were posted at that school, I didn't even consider applying and when the principal and VP of that school changed (in that district, they switch admin up every 5 years or so) I refused to apply at their new schools. I will never work under those people again.

If you feel as though you can stick it out the rest of the year, do so, but were it me, I'd be looking for another job.
 
I agree. I think the lack of respect your admin has for you is visible to the students and that lets them think that it's okay to treat you poorly.

They are right about one thing though. Try to find a method to resolve all discipline problems within your classroom. I tried sending students out last year, and a couple of them misbehaved just because they wanted to walk around in the halls, when they entered the other teachers' classroom they misbehaved and disrupted their class, and it seemed to the student that I was releasing my authority by simply sending to another class or the office. You want to hold as much of that authority as you can.

I know some think it's not appropriate for their age, but I have a time-out corner. I've simply named it something more mature (independent work bench). Figure out what works for you, and I would think about leaving your school for greener pastures.
 
Luv2TeachInTX said:
It sounds like a toxic working environment to me. I've read your other posts, and um, yeah. Take the advice given above and do the best job you can do, and come the end of the year, high tail it out of there.
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Some workplaces are really horrendous & yours is a good example of that. I agree with the above post, except IF you cam get a better job now, why wait & finish out the school year. Quit now if you can! Good luck!
 
I agree with the other posters-I'm confused about sharing lessons. In fact, when struggling, that could be a huge bonus-one less thing to worry about. I make an extra copy of absolutely everything I do and stick it in my teammates' mailboxes. Why wouldn't I? I would hope they would do the same for me-we are here to build each other up and give help/resources. Not close our door and pretend we're an island.
 
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