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.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
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.
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.
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