There is a great poster from Despair.com that I just really enjoy. Here it is:
http://www.despair.com/leaders.html
Our plan of action each day is:
1. Wait for fire.
2. Put fire out.
3. Do damage control.
4. Repeat.
I know it seems like I'm joking, but I'm not.
Take today, for instance. About eight kids were in the gym today when a fire extinguisher was used. The principal spoke to each child and had him/her write their version of what happened down. Each kid claimed they were innocent, so the principal called each parent and told them that since no one would rat out the perp, they all got to stay 1.5 hours after school each day this week to work as the custodians' assistants, since the custodian was the one who had to clean up the mess from the fire extinguisher.
Okay, the principal didn't catch one parent, so, before she left for a meeting, she had me relay the message to the parent. Luckily, this parent took it all pretty well and that wasn't so bad. Then, however, school was over and these eight kids reported to ME to find out what their after-school duties were. The custodian on duty at that time speaks very little English, so I had to escort the kids around the building to locate her and try to explain to her what to do. She had to stop her work and give them all the supplies they needed to clean the windows, walls, etc. Have you ever seen what a window looks like when a 12-year old is asked to clean it? A 12-year old who doesn't really care whether it is clean or not? I think the kids did a little time cleaning some of the bathrooms, too, but they seemed to have a great time.
Time with principal: 0 minutes
Time with me, keeping me from my work: 20 minutes
Time with custodian, keeping her from her work: 1 hour
Guess what? This scene will be repeated each afternoon this week!
Day after day, I am left in the office with several kids who were too unruly to be handled in the classroom. Am I trained in classroom management? How about child behavior? Am I licensed to care for any children?
Answer "NO" for all the above.
Do I have a job to do besides watching unruly kids?
The principals (we have a principal and two APs) are in meetings nearly every day, many of them are offsite. I'm not sure how they are supposed to use all this newfound knowledge they get during these meetings since they are seldom in the office.
I've decided the policy-makers haven't been in a school (on the front lines) in so many years, they have no idea what actually occurs in a real school. Do they really think kids sit in desks in straight lines and walk quietly to and from the lunch room?
Instead, should someone from the superintendent's office happen to come by, we must suspend our work for two days cleaning and decorating so they will think things are wonderful in the schools. I'd love to have the assist superintendent walk in while a teacher, a counselor and an assistant principal are trying to coax a mean, unruly little eight year old (who weighs about 70 pounds) into the office so his screaming and crying and whining won't disturb anyone except those of us in the office.
Schools aren't what they used to be!
2 comments:
I know I haven't been in schools for a few years now, but after hearing from you and my mom, I do believe that there are some serious problems with the system.
Administrators and those who aren't directly involved with the kids don't believe it. Shame on them! Same goes for uninvolved parents and the few people who barely do their jobs, yet still get paid the same as the ones who go above and beyond.
Oh, I loved the poster from Despair.com. It was very appropriate.
I'll have to find one that fits me on a hectic day.
Their posters are the best! We have several--Sacrifice with the pyramid and Worth with the cogs. Ky has one about pressure and another one. I got a calendar for a friend this year. We often buy their calendars since they make us laugh!
Post a Comment