Two weeks ago, I took a half-day to visit the public school up the block. It is only a few blocks from my current school.
As soon as I arrived, I felt comfortable. It is a big school with 1,300 kids. I like how small my school is but walking around these hallways just felt right. Each grade has between five and ten classes. It is an incredible school. It is well organized. Teachers have the freedom to tweak and create curriculum. Many public school teachers do not have that luxury. This is a great school so they can dictate somewhat to the state what they want to do. I guess if you keep the test scores high, you can kind of do what you want within boundries.
The state testing is a little problematic for me. Basically, teachers have to start teaching to the tests everyday for a month leading up to each of the two tests given. Apparently, it is much worse in other schools where they start teaching to the test on the first day of school.
One of the Assistant Principals showed me around and took me from class to class. One of the first things she said to me was, "Public schools are a lot different than what you are used to. We have bigger classes and we don't kick out the bad kids." Ouch!
The first class I saw was a 5th grade class and I was in awe. Apparently, the teacher I saw is a legend at the school and everyone in the community knows him. I could have sat in his class all day to soak it up and learn. The second class I saw was a 4th grade class. The teacher there had student taught at my school ten years ago with Woman Who Didn't Care About Teaching But Knew How To Pretend She Did and Made Me As Her Assistant File Shit All Day and Was a Nightmare to Work With. The third class I saw was a third grade class with a Too Cool For School Teacher. As I observed each class and interacted with a few of the kids, I decided that maybe I wanted to move up to fifth grade. Or maybe I was just so in awe of that first teacher of the day.
The school felt very similar to my current school but obviously a lot bigger. I felt like I could immediately step right in in any of these classrooms and I'd be fine. The class makeup wasn't overwhelmingly white. There was a nice mix of kids there. I would love to teach in a different environment in that regard.
When my time was up, I didn't want to leave. I loved it. And the school T-shirt looks better than my current school's shirt.
It might not matter what my current school does if I could get a job there. But the public schools hire much later. I'd have to be in limbo for two months if I leave. Plus, I just don't know what my chances are of getting a job at a public school that I'd be happy with. What if I leave a good situation and end up miserable next year? Teachers don't get paid much but at least it is a job that makes me happy.
Today I received my contract for next year. In my first entry on this subject, I wrote about how the school needed to financially step to the plate for me. If they didn't, I might have to leave. As decision time has gotten closer, I have become more and more wanting to stay at my school for another year. I really like the school. But the school had to do its part? Did they? Sort of. While their offer does offer me a substantial raise, it might not be enough.
I figure that I've been underpaid by 12-15% over the years. This raise basically raises me closer to some of my peers. I'm at a loss as what to do. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe this will be what pushes me into the public schools where I know I can do well, make more money, possibly make more of a difference in kids' lives who actually need it, have better benefits (currently it would cost me $600 to get Youthlarge on my health plan), and have a pension plan.
To be continued ...
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8 comments:
You are a great teacher and deserve the freakin' $3,000 or even more.
I say really consider the school down the block :)
If you ask for more money and explain it as rationally as you do above, you'll have no regrets if they can't match what you're asking for. But then if they do match it, you may guilt yourself into staying there, even if other opportunities look like they might be more interesting or promising.
I guess in retrospect that wasn't really particularly helpful.
debbie,
i would take the other school but i have no idea if they are even hiring right now or when they will.
mitch,
i see what you are saying but that would probably take affect next year where i would guilt myself into staying. this year, i've got to decide in 2 weeks about whether or not i'm staying. i wouldn't know about the other school for awhile. i didn't have an interview there - just a look around kind of thing. it is way too early for hiring for them.
Your search for a good public school doesn't have to be over if you've found you've landed in a crappy school. I got hired into a crazy school, but in an extremely good position. I met good people.
I left and got a 25% increase in salary, from public to private, and a much improved benefits package. As it turns out, it's not all one way or the other.
The only thing I warn against is moving to an extreme situtation, where the kids lives are filled wiht trauma. If you jump into a situation like that and don't ease yourself into it is quite overwhelming emotionally.
"And the school T-shirt looks better than my current school's shirt." Why do I suspect this will be the clincher?
Seriously, you have a marketable skill and its a seller's market. If you current employer doesn't want to pay to make you a franchise player, walk (you should always emulate Pedro not Manny). As Scrappy points out, even crazy situations are not permanent and can often throw up better opportunities. What is more, you have one of the ultimate portable professions; you can go anywhere to do what you do (look at Mondale).
For what it is worth, it reads to me like you are already beginning to marshall your justifications for moving on; or is that just you getting psyched up to ask for the raise?
Good luck with whatever you plump for, though.
weasel said...
"And the school T-shirt looks better than my current school's shirt." Why do I suspect this will be the clincher?"
that was my clincher!
The time to leave is now. I think some of your fellow teachers at Old School are right. I know change is scary but my sense is the time is right for you. I also think a grade change might work with you. I work with 4th-7th often at my job and hope to work with that age range more in the future. I think, even at old school, a grade change would satisfy some off your wanderlust. I know u love your current grade but I think your ability to connect with kids would really work with slightly older kids and you could tackle some bigger issues/ideas/concepts than you can now. I have been told that the charter school Upper Car**ll is a great place.
Just to contrast I am about to apply to my dream education job and i actually have a "mole" already there....unfortunately its in Newark......
Anyway I like reading your deliberations,
Your alumni (to be...) buddy Larry
chris, i'll go to newark with you if you are driving everyday! hook me up.
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