Money and Class Sizes

I was finally called two days prior to Halloween to substitute for the first time this school year. I was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with my phone. So into one of the newer schools I walked, and into a Kindergarten classroom of 30 kids. No, that is not a typo. 30. 3-0. THIRTY. Now, I did have an aide who worked in the classroom... she had other duties until 9:30, so I had the kids to myself for an hour and a half. Try taking attendance and getting an accurate lunch count with a bunch of kindergartners who don't know you and who are scheduled to have "choice time" right off the bat. Oh, and also try to figure out who the problem kids are since the teacher didn't leave that kind of info. Oh, and she also forgot to let me know how she calls attention in the classroom, how she disciplines, etc, etc. But I digress.
What I am hearing from others is that this is a typical number. 30 kids per classroom. From this experience, I can tell you that no teaching ever happened. I was playing a steroid hyped game of whack a mole all day long. Aside from the parade of parents who came in to help (and I had been given nothing to give them to do) and the administrators who came in to talk to the constant pencil stabbing kid, I was in a state of chaos. I'm not sure I can even say controlled chaos. I have taught a class of 28 before, although they were 4/5 graders, not age 4/5. I could handle the 28, because they knew how to behave, what was expected, and so forth. Kindergartners are a whole different story.
So now that the election is over, I am starting to see reports of how much money was spent on the election - you know, those really annoying ads vilifying the "other guy" that we are all thankful we no longer have to be subjected to, and should include travel, hotel, and gas expenses...

Here are some links to some interesting monetary expenditures:

http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance
Obama and Romney raised close to 15 million ($15,000,000). If one was to divide that equally into each of our 50 states, that would be $300,000. How many teachers could work then? And how would that affect class sizes?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/nov/5/virginia-senate-race-tops-52m-outside-spending/
This article by the Washington Times speaks to several Senate races in states like Virginia, Wisconsin, and Ohio. 52 million dollars in just Virginia. How far could that money have gone to lower class sizes and employ teachers? 52 million divided into 50 states gives over a million dollars to each state. $1,040,000 to be exact.

So when we are told that we don't have money, I find it a bit hard to choke down. The money is there. It's just being held by people who don't care about education, evidently.

What is worse, on a side note, is that several states had issues allowing people to vote...  Florida had long lines, Hawaii ran out of ballots... so places hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy were able to get folks in to vote, but Hawaii... RAN OUT OF BALLOTS? Yet another issue...

I realize I am a little rambly here. The point, my point, is that all of that money that everyone complains is not available, is really available, just not accessible for education. To promote self serving politicians, yes, but not to educate our youngest citizens.

Which returns me to class sizes. The more teachers we employ, the smaller the class size, which means the more attention each student is likely to receive from the teacher. The better the teacher can assess student performance, assess his/her own teaching performance, and get down to the essentials of teaching students to think. The more teachers we employ, the more taxpayers we have. The more teachers we have, the more other businesses, local ones in particular, are helped by teachers shopping for their classrooms. The more teachers we have, the more educated our young have the opportunity to become. The more teachers we have, the differentiated we make our classrooms, and thus, the more inclusive.

Maybe instead of spending all those millions on one job, we could spend those millions on thousands of jobs, and affect millions in the future generation.

First Week of School is Over

     So it's Friday, and the first week of school is officially over. I survived that angst ridden official first day of school as an unemployed teacher.  Phew. I signed up to be a sub in my old district, so I am ready to start receiving those crazy morning phone calls.
     The best part of this week was reading through the excited posts from my friends who finally - and deservedly - landed full time jobs this year.  A friend who is teaching in Ecuador is enjoying his position, and it is with such excitement and pride that I read through his blog. Another friend who landed a last minute kindergarten job is also briefly posting updates, and I am so thrilled for her, as she stayed true to the one district she wanted most to teach in. I am also in touch with another friend who has been teaching in Vietnam for the past 3 years, and she generously has shared her daily journey with me via phone calls and e-mails. All of these experiences that I am observing from afar allow me to "stay in the game" and learn from other teachers' experiences, just as I might in teaching at a school like a normal person. It's nice to feel included, even if I am working vicariously though others.
     Another fun part of the week is seeing all of those pictures of children of friends who are starting school... the eager faces, the new clothes, the stiff nylon backpacks, and the proud parents digitally downloading all of the images for all to see.  While I delighted in watching my god-daughter board the bus for the first time, I wanted so much more to be on the receiving end of that same bus. And yet, had I been on the receiving end, I never would have had that opportunity.
     So for now, I have to sit back and await the trill of the phone. And while I wait, I can lesson plan with the CCSS in mind, look into charter school establishment, research STEM schools, and take breaks from cleaning the house by playing with my dogs. Not such a bad life. Hard to make the transition, but once I begin to ease into it, the angst of unemployment will fade.

WARNING: Cranky and Angry Post

WARNING: If the post title did not warn you, I am warning you yet again. This is a post based on personal observations and is not happy, positive, or perky. Read at your own risk.
    
     The local paper ran a headline that bemoaned the local unemployed folks and how they were facing the end of their unemployment benfits. It also talked about how unemployment was like hopelessness. Huh. http://www.oregonlive.com/money/index.ssf/2012/09/oregonians_out_of_work_for_mon.html
     The article talked about how it was really hard to stay positive when looking for a job.  One guy they interviewed said he had applied to just over 100 jobs. (Catch up to my 300+, dude, and then we'll talk.)
     I wonder how many people know that teachers who can't find jobs are not able to collect unemployment? And that you cannot collect unempoyment during the summer months. I wonder how many people know that when applying to teaching jobs, you are up against literally hundreds of other applicants - all for ONE position? (Yeah, that's right, I said hundreds.  This is based on repeated personal experience.)  I wonder how many people have had to move out of state, even out of the COUNTRY, away from their families, just in order to get a job? (I know there are a lot of people who are doing this!)
     I also wonder how many people who HAVE jobs remember to be thankful for having their jobs? I wonder how many people who bitch about their jobs ever think about all of the people in this country who are struggling every day to get a job.
     I wonder how many people have walked into a school office and literally had the door closed in their face? And how those same people hired some 22 year old with NO experience because a principal in another district said she was a great teacher. These of course, are the same people who tell you "not to take it personally".
     Try that on for size and stay positive. Am I angry? You bet. Am I tired of all of the bemoaning of how long unemployment benefits last? Am I sick to death of people who bitch about their jobs? Absolutely.
     I wish people would simply think before they speak.

OK, Rant over.
   

Kindergarten is not my path...

     I woke up early after a fitful night of sleep punctuated with thoughts of bilingual labels and math manipulatives for five year olds. Got dressed in heels (you know I never do that!) and put together all of my professional paperwork together. Showed up to the school and ended up giving my card to one of the other kindergarten teachers who spoke with the principal. He wasn't interested in talking to me, and already had 6 interviews lined up for the day. Oh well.
     So that was the end of that venture. What I realized is that I feel good for the attempt.  I have no regrets for trying.
     Yes, I am disappointed. Is kindergarten my dream job? No. But it would have been an in, an entry towards my dream position. It would have been a challenge, an adventure, and terrific experience.
     So the path I need to take is not this one. OK, I can accept that. So I am still looking to find the path that is mine. As long as I keep on trying, I have no regrets.

On the Cusp

     I have been mentally preparing to get back into subbing for the district in which I both was trained and worked. The first step was to pay for and take the video training on child abuse, sexual harassment, and bloodborne pathogens. (That one has to do this yearly is another topic.) Then I submitted a copy of my license in order to obtain a small yellow paper card saying that the educational district has a copy of my teaching license.  The district I want to sub in has posted hours each Tuesday in order to sign up.  Naturally I hurried up to get the training completed on Monday to be ready to sign up as soon as little card appeared in the mail. Today is Wednesday, and it showed up. Of course. So I wait until the first day of school, next Tuesday, in order to go to the district office during the anticipated hours.
     As I was eating my dinner, a frantic phone call came in from a dear friend. This friend has several children who have all attended the local elementary school, and wrote a letter to the principal on my behalf, in the hope that he might look at me closely during the last week of summer as enrollment numbers rose. She and two of her girls were at the school to drop off school supplies and meet the teachers.  While they were there, it came to her attention that they were going to have to hire another teacher at the last minute. She called me to tell me I should apply and to show up tomorrow in order to be interviewed. So I filled out the online application.  And I will head over there tomorrow.
     So it's a kindergarten position.  I'm more of an upper grades teacher. The classroom is naked and holds only desks and some hopeful students. I've never taught in this district before. I've never met the principal. I have to brash and bold to meet him and get an interview.  That's not exactly my way.
     I want the job. OK, I want to work. This would give me an opportunity to work and get into a district. I'd be able to live with my husband and work full time.
     Did I mention it is kindergarten? Tiny kidlets. Tears and 10 minute lessons. Nap time and clapping and rhyming.
     We will see what happens tomorrow.

Oh August

     So here we are again, August... eyeing each other with that dwindling hope of a job in the wind as back to school sales rage all around.
     I completed my year in good stead. Based on the posted state test results, the students did a great job. (The school as a whole actually did better.) Reflecting back on my experience, I LOVED teaching my students. Yes, I felt frustrated at times. Yes, I wanted to strangle them periodically. But yes, I also delighted as they began to understand and I could finally see the light dawning in their eyes. I adored seeing them begin to take pride in their work, in beginning to think independently.
     Was it worth it? Absolutely. Worth the angst with administration, worth leaving family and friends for a few months, worth leaving an educational system I was comfortable with and trading it for one that was weird. 
     As I contemplate submitting my substitute teacher documents so that I can once again enter into that arena, I feel conflicting emotions. I want to teach, but not substitute. Not working in a school this next year would be impossible, yet not knowing who, when, or where is hugely challenging. I have to wonder if I am taking a step backward, or just taking a breather to reassess the situation.
     Then there is the idea that has been rolling around in my mind for the past year... instead of waiting for a school to offer me a job, why can't I create a school?  There is need. The more research I complete, the more I see potential for the future of our children, for the future of our country, and perhaps selfishly, my own future. Hence the idea for a name: Future Start. As in, your future starts now, and it starts here, in a school that is looking to prepare our students for the future.
     Do I long to be one of those teachers getting ready for the year? Yes. But I guess my life is taking a different turn, and for now, I need to focus on what I can do to make my dreams happen, rather than waiting for a school to finally recognize what I can offer their students and their community.

     August might just be another month after all. Not a death sentence for an unemployed teacher.

Two Months and Counting

I have two months left. State testing is coming up in less than two weeks. And then we finish the year out. Funny how the year has dragged along in many ways, and yet how it has flown by in others.

After spending two frustrating months trying to teach kids how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions, we (both of us fifth grade teachers) gave up and moved on. We covered Geometry and Order of Operations and reviewed decimals. With the upcoming AIMS tests, I decided to try and teach fractions again. And go figure... half of the class responded with "Oh yeah, I remember that." And even "That's not hard." I typed up a two page "Fraction How-to" for the students and handed them out, along with a page packet of fraction work. The kids were able to work on them with significantly less whining and moaning. Don't get me wrong - they still say that they hate fractions. But they seem to be able to handle them better now.
And I have learned an important lesson. Sometimes you have to stop teaching and change direction in order to get to your destination.
As I approach the year's end, I have to decide whether I want to be considered for employment again for next year. I am divided. I want to work. I want to teach. Ideally, I could work in my home state, even being able to live with my husband. (What an idea!) But then he just told me that one of the local districts just laid off another 100 teachers and closed another elementary school. All those kids are being crammed into classrooms with class sizes of 30-40. My class this year has ranged from 15-21. That has a certain appeal. And the teacher job postings in Oregon are pretty slim. What's a girl to do? The draw of working has to be balanced with the draw of living in my home state, with my family. I have been struggling with this decision for a few weeks now, and I have gone back and forth. Hmmm.
I'll let you know when I figure it out. There is always the possibility that I won't be asked back. That would make my decision much easier.