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Substitute Teachers Chatboard

already thinking about summer jobs

by pixie

Jan 20, 2015

I know it is only January, but the school year is flying by - about half over already!! I am thinking that if I wait until May to look for summer work, it will be too late. Many employers who hire summer help have plenty of college students who have worked for them in the past, so that is our competition. I did find a summer job last summer at a re...See More

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pixie I have applied to my neighborhood convenience store, and this weekend I'm going to apply to Home Depot, which, according to their TV ads, is hiring "seasonal" employees and pays "higher than retail average." I looked into the local summer day camps, but don't want to compete with young, athletic college students and older teens....See More

Feb 12, 2015

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BJ i'm taking the rest of June off for travel. Dont want to
be around 50 noisy kids, so no summer camp for me. My dad
recently left me some money so I can afford to get through
to the summer with my part time job at the learning center
- work is stimulating, kids are well behaved.

On 2/12/15, pixie wrote:
> I have appl...See More

Feb 17, 2015

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NYC DASA workshop

by Fred

Feb 9, 2015

The annual NYCDOE license renewal email said the Dignity & Respect for All Students workshop is required. There was a large list of organizations offering it, but I thought the UFT would be easiest. They are booked months in advance. Does anyone know of an easy alternative?

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why I never take away a kid's phone

by pixie

Jan 28, 2015

I tell them to put it away, and they keep playing with it, I leave their names for the teacher. If there is a video being shown, and the phone is the only thing keeping the kid quiet, I say nothing.

[link removed]

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Math Teach I've had kids dial up my classroom number repeatedly. I would answer the phone, and surprise! No one was on the other end of the phone.

1/28/15, pixie wrote: > Ze, You accurately described the situation that we are > dealing with. I can only add two particulary obnoxious uses > of phones that are impossible to ignore: using the p...See More

Jan 29, 2015

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BJ When I taught in Philly, kids would make calls in class.
One time I got so frustrated I grabbed a boy's phone and
threw it into the corridor. He mom camplained to the
principal and I had to explain my self. I thought it was
ridiculous.

I let high school students use them as long as they're not
filming or taking photos. Most...See More

Feb 5, 2015

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I hate subbing.

by Judy

Jan 24, 2015

I am glad I don't sub anymore. Horrible for my self esteem.

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Judy It is difficult to switch locations with my children's schedules and family obligations. Believe me, I would if I could.

On 1/25/15, Sarah wrote: > > I used to hate it too! Then I had a particularly horrible > day (Zero respect given from students OR staff, ugh! And > even being harassed at the copy machine by another teacher &...See More

Jan 25, 2015

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Hi Sarah!

Is your Dad the superintendent of that school! :):):)Just kidding of course!! :):):)

It is good to see someone have a great experience like yours!

On 1/25/15, Sarah wrote:

>

> I used to hate it too! Then I had a particularly horrible

> day (Zero respect given from students OR staff,...See More

Jan 25, 2015

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A Question For Ze

by Octo787

Sep 24, 2014

Ze,

I have read your numerous posts about how nobody in the schools should be seen as our friends - not the regular teachers, the secretaries, the principals, etc. We should avoid them, especially associating or communicating with them.

But I was wondering how you feel about other substitutes. Can THEY be trusted? Oftentimes, at l...See More

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Lafemme On 9/28/14, Ze, so sorry.. wrote:
>
>
> for the loss of your dog. I am very familiar with the
> loss of pets..........4 children, 6 grandkids and 1 Great
> Grandkid. All have had pets and gone through "the
> process". My sympathy is with you. :):)
>
>
>
>
>
>...See More

Jan 22, 2015

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Lafemme On 1/22/15, Lafemme wrote: > On 9/28/14, Ze, so sorry.. wrote: >> >> >> for the loss of your dog. I am very familiar with the >> loss of pets..........4 children, 6 grandkids and 1 Great >> Grandkid. All have had pets and gone through "the >> process". My sympathy is with you. :):) >> >> ...See More

Jan 22, 2015

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Some more close calls

by Ze Povinho

Jan 14, 2015

Good evening to those who still read this board.

I have covered two kindergarten classes; both have resulted in very close calls in the military dictatorship land.

One of them contained several students who would not behave at all and would not respond to timeouts or other measures to correct them. The disruption was sustained an...See MoreGood evening to those who still read this board.

I have covered two kindergarten classes; both have resulted in very close calls in the military dictatorship land.

One of them contained several students who would not behave at all and would not respond to timeouts or other measures to correct them. The disruption was sustained and very bothersome.

In another kindergarten, there was one student who was new to school, and he kept being very disruptive and wanted to cling to me at all times-as in physically be attached to me like a remora. He would keep interrupting the class nonstop and he did not understand the concept of "no." He would not obey any instructions at all. The concept of consequences, timeouts, or order did not enter his mind at all.

In addition, there were about 4 who were less disruptive but equally distracting.

But no, I don't do the job suicide maneuver of calling for help. Call for help means risk to be banned or fired. Remember that in the military dictatorship there are no friends.

I call these close calls because situations like this really put one in danger of being written up.

Regarding the so called Obamacare restrictions regarding subs, where I am I have been working 5 days a week in the same district with no restrictions.

Anyway, my sister is teaching the lower elementary level full time but she really finds it very draining. She has lost her voice several times, and she has some difficult students.

Yes, I still do the bells, and I am finally left alone by the other members of that choir-there is no interaction at all although I only follow what the director instructs and no more. As for the former teacher, she is no longer an issue and no longer makes me uneasy like she used to. Now she has become a nonentity to me-like everyone else in that choir except the director. It's basically as my former teacher does not exist at all. In the 6 years (no, it's not 6 years. It's just about 288 hours I have been doing this with her and the other choir members, we have exchanged maybe 20 words at the most, and basically zero with the other members. . . and I have never once called them by their names.

Why 288 hours? The choir meets once a week for one hour from September until June-this is about 4 times a month, or 4 hours per month. I have been with them for the grand total of 12 days in 6 years. So, I haven't been with them for 6 years. I have been with them for 12 days.

I have to go to bed now. In about 6 hours, I have to report to continuation school. In my new district with subscarer, continuation school equals a normal day in the high schools of the district that I had to leave.

Ze

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Ze Povinho For those of you who think that I am crazy or that I exaggerate when I compare school sites to totalitarian regimes, I speak from over 15 years of experience in having worked under these conditions in the other district that I had to leave. If you haven't experienced such a regime, congrats to you and good for you, and hopefully you will never expe...See More

Jan 16, 2015

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Why stay there? If I had those difficulties I would leave so fast you would only see a vapor trail. If it was consitant in more than one location, I would find a new line of work!

On 1/16/15, Ze Povinho wrote: > For those of you who think that I am crazy or that I > exaggerate when I compare school sites to totalitarian > regimes, I speak from ov...See MoreIf I had those difficulties I would leave so fast you would only see a vapor trail. If it was consitant in more than one location, I would find a new line of work!

On 1/16/15, Ze Povinho wrote: > For those of you who think that I am crazy or that I > exaggerate when I compare school sites to totalitarian > regimes, I speak from over 15 years of experience in having > worked under these conditions in the other district that I had > to leave. If you haven't experienced such a regime, congrats > to you and good for you, and hopefully you will never > experience that. It really will transform you completely. > > Like in a totalitarian regime, as a sub in a school site your > Constitutional rights are null and void. There is no such > thing as freedom of expression, due process, no nothing. If > you dare to express anything less than blind praise or > agreement with what the Duce/Generalissimo/Great Leader (aka > principal) or her or his lieutenants (full time teachers and > assistant principals and deans), you will pay dearly, and I > mean dearly for it. The penalty is being banned from the site > or fired from the district. You won't even be told who accused > you and oftentimes you will never be given an explanation. If > they bother to tell you, it will be weeks after the "offense" > and you will be likely facing a show trial/kangaroo court > where the punishment has already been decided beforehand > without your knowledge. You will merely be told of the charges > and the punishment for you; whatever you say in your defense > will be completely useless and will in no way prevent your > banning or firing. The truth is never an issue. What the > admins and full time teacher say is the Gospel and your word > is null and void. If the teacher or Generalissimo say that 2 > plus 2 is 5, then it's 5. If the sky is pink, it's pink. If > they say you are a creepy pervert, then you are a creepy > pervert. Period. End of the story. Blackwhite in action, 1984 > style. The truth is irrelevant. > > And if you think that it takes an egregious offense to be > treated this way, you are very sadly mistaken. It takes any > reason you can think of to be banned or fired. Just make up > your own reason no matter how trivial or stupid and that's it. > No evidence is needed. No need to elaborate. No need to > notify. Just like in a totalitarian dictatorship. Just make up > some trumped up charges and that's that. > > Like in a totalitarian regime, you soon learn the art of > thinking at least 100 times before you say anything to > anybody-whether be to a student or adults. You learn to apply > self-censorship. You learn to speak only when spoken to and > then really think about what you are going to say. You learn > that that friendly face by the full timer or the Generalissimo > is NOT and will NEVER be an invitation to be honest and open > regarding how your day went or anything else for that > matter-just like in dictatorships,where you learn to do this > in order to survive. You don't say, "The class was very > difficult." You learn to say things like, "I made sure that > the class was in control." You NEVER ever say that you need > help lest you are seen as an incompetent fool who does not > deserve to be in charge of a class at that site. You learn > that you can easily commit what the novel 1984 refers to as > "facecrime." You learn to express nothing more than a serious, > plain face to everyone, particularly women, so you are not > misunderstood and accused of anything from being insensitive > to being a sexual harasser. And committing facecrime has > severe consequences. You can be banned or recommended for > termination for "making people uncomfortable" or "for > harassing women" or some other imagined charge. You learn to > use averted vision when dealing with women and girls for the > reasons just mentioned. You learn to be silent at the lounge, > or to avoid it altogether, for the reasons mentioned above. > You learn the art of answering questions POW style so you > don't compromise yourself and unintentionally offend the full > timers and the military junta I mean the admins. And it takes > almost nothing to offend them. So it's best to stay away. It's > best to stay away from the teacher lounge conversations. > Usually there is nothing intellectually stimulating to talk > about anyway. Remember...you are the eternal outsider at the > site and some full timers will even see you as a threat (yes, > I have experienced this firsthand). > > Like in a totalitarian state, you are under round the clock > surveillance and everything you say and do will be reported by > someone-whether be the students, informants aka cooperating > teachers and adult volunteers, or parents. You learn to, once > again, censor yourself. You learn to never trust anyone. You > learn to never let your guard down even at the teacher's > lounge if you dare to venture there. You accept that high > school students and even those in middle will record you and > film you with the things that have replaced their human > contact-their smartphones. > > And of course, just like in totalitarian regimes, you see all > this ad nauseum propaganda at school sites that preach > wonderful values that sound great in theory, but if analyzed > by someone who is not blinded by the hoopla, really mean > nothing. This is in terms of how the junta and the full timers > act toward subs and others who consider outsiders....honesty, > caring, trustworthiness, tolerance, respect (you are not > laughing, are you?) You learn that those smiles and nice > treatment you get from the secretaries, the junta, and the > full times really means nothing. . .especially when you hear > them talk about their fellow colleagues, parents, and > students. It can really make you nauseated about how > hypocritical some people can be. > > And here are some examples that back up what I am saying, in > addition to my more than 15 years of having worked under this > kind of environment. I have posted these earlier but here they > are again so you can understand why I see school sites like > totalitarian regimes where you cannot ask questions, where you > have to always keep your guard up, and where you are > constantly "walking on eggshells." These are from other > substitutes: > > 1. 02-12-2014 I got blacklisted from my home district after > applying for unemployment - and getting it! They fought my > claim-and lost. I wasn't bothered. I hardly got any calls > from them anyway. > > 70 percent of substitutes would be blocked if discipline > issues were the concern. Kids are going to act up, to see > what they can get away with because some wrongly see > you as > a babysitter and not a teacher. It's probably a > certification issue. > > 2. Well... after being a sub for few years I've got an e- > mail from the district HR manager that she would like to > contact me, but meanwhile I am blocked district wide. I > know it could be anything from not taking all the calls (I > sub every day almost, just not always put unavailable time) > to having discipline issues with students (rarely, but it > happens), or leaving "honest" notes to teachers if the > students do not work well (talk)... > > I had reported a bully recently, and I had reported student > talking bad things about the teacher. The teachers might > not have liked that it had happened while they were out: > the sub was guilty. > > Now, I am just waiting until tomorrow to call the HR. Do > you think I have a chance to remain sub? Has anyone > been > banned ever? > > Thank you. > > Today, I found what it was. Here: > > In the past 2 weeks I reported two cases: > > 1) bullying (happened in my class during passing period > while I was on duty watching the hallway). The teachers > are > required to watch the hallway between the periods while > the > students are in the classrom (odd?) So, I turn around and > see that... and so on... I reported. Honestly, I thought I > had to report it. However, if I did not, no one would have > ever find out. I just felt sorry for the bullied student, > so I reported. > > 2) student insalting the regular teacher in the front of > the entire class (he made rude comment), so I reported > him. > He complained to his parents and said I have no proof that > he said that. > > 3) the same student (the rude) lied about me that I called > him bad name. Then, he told another teacher that I > allowed > him to use his headphones (while It was the opposite). The > parents, I guess, raised an issue about "bad" substitute. > 4) one day I asked the VP if they have any class > management > training available for teachers, which I could also attend, > because I would like to improve my skills. > > Here is the school complaint about me: > > 1) I had a bullying case in my class, so I am not capable > of class management 2) I had a student exiting my room > with > the headphones on 3) I had called student a bad name. 4) > I, > myself, have admitted that I am not capable of managing > classes and I, myself, therefore asked to get additional > training. > > So, I am banned by the school after subbing for them for > over than a year without making any discipline referrals. > Some teachers even liked me!I honestly tried hard to do > my > best, never just set and watched. > > Wow, I learned something: > > 1) Do not talk to VPs, teachers or other stuff other than > saying "hello" and "good buy". They are not friends, even > if they smile. > > 2) Do not report anything to the office. I've got some > "button pushers" and disrupters throughout the years, but > until raised the issue up to the office, I did not have any > trouble. > > 3) Come and leave. Just come and leave. I do not belong > to > the school, I just make my little money with no medical and > leave. No student problems should bother me. > > Now I am just wondering: should I fight to get the > complaints removed from my file? > > 3. I was banned from a school too because it was the > easiest thing for the administration to do. As the sub, I > wasn't informed that one student in one of the classes I > subbed had severe emotional problems. Later he had a > major > outburst in which he flipped some furniture, screamed and > ran out of the class yelling and crying. Had I known about > this particular student, I would have been able to avoid > that situation (he didn't like being told "no"), but I > guess it wasn't important information for the sub to know? > > I eventually was unbanned from this school but I never > returned. There is a pretty bad sub shortage in my home > district and no school can afford to ban subs for petty > reasons. > > 4. I am in a similar situation. I have had my substitute > status discontinued with one district and I was trying to > get into a internship with LAUSD and the district that > discontinued me had filled out a confidential form ( that > LAUSD requested me to give them, as I worked for them > as a > teacher for 6 years and subbed for 10 years). Something > on > the form said something and LAUSD has put me on > Inactive > sub status. No one has given me any reason. I went to > look > at my personnel file with the district to see what was said > on the form. Of course it was taken out of my file when I > went to look at it. Now I have written a letter to request > for me to see the document and all factual information they > used to prepare this document. I may have to get an > attorney, just to be able to continue my teaching. I have > never done anything wrong, except these teachers that > wrote > me up as unsatisfactory seems to be a personal > judgement. > > 5. I am curious to know if the following five violations of > which I was accused warrant the resulted write up I > received that was reported from the teacher, to the school > administrator, and finally to the superintendent. > > When I spoke with the superintendent, she did not mention > any of these five points, but when I e mailed the teacher > to apologize and to ask for more details about what I did > wrong, she said the following five things stood out. I will > now list these five, mostly using her exact words. > > 1. I specifically asked you NOT to write down the day's > work on the board, yet when I walked in, there was a list > of assignments. As I said, and wrote in the lesson plan > please do not do this this. You did not follow my > instruction. > > This is something I never do unless I am asked, so I must > have missed the word NOT in the lesson plan, and thought > she wanted me to do this. > > 2. It was explained to me that when you were working with > my students on finding a rate-for each for math that you > said, "Well I personally wouldn't work the math that far > out." I am sorry Mr. -------, but that is NOT the attitude > I expect another professional to have when working with > math. My students, as those across the district, are > expected to work their math problems to completion, and > even able to create scenarios where the lesson would be > applicable. The fact that my students, my classroom aide, > and the Education Specialist all made comment about your > statement, was of note, as the students started to get > frustrated on " why do we.. when HE said..."so that , in > reality created more work for me. > > I have no recollection of this, so I guess I plead guilty. > I was probably trying to simplify the math for the > students. Maybe I eliminated what I thought was an > unnecessary step. I find it strange that this one sentence > created so much controversy. > > 3. You left the key in the door lock. I realize the door is > difficult to open, but leaving the key stuck in the door > was irresponsible. Just because you were not able to > remove > it does not mean that someone with smaller hands could > not > ( trust me on this one). It was still in the lock past > 8:30. > > I do not plead guilty here. > > I tried for five minutes to pull that key out, and there > were no smaller hands around. I told the office secretary > that I could not get the key out, and to please let the > janitor know. It was the office secretary who let me down. > > 4. The students who needed your help the most, who were > listed in the lesson plan received little, if any > assistance on their work. > > I plead guilty here. I suppose I spent so much time with > direct instruction that I over looked the ones who needed > the most help. > > 5. Lastly, your comment about common core state > standards > stood out: " So what are uncommon core standards?" > Might I > suggest that comments like that be kept to places outside > the educational setting? We are in a time of change, and > for the better I expect, with regard to student learning > AND teaching. > > Edit: I made this statement in the teachers' lounge, not > the classroom. > > I do not know if this exact quote is accurate, but in my > poor attempt at humor, and to obtain valid information, I > have asked how these differ than the uncommon core > standards. Again I plead guilty. > > 6. Are you scared of being banned? My district never tells > subs why they are banned. They never ask our side of the > story. I hate looking over my shoulder constantly. It is a > terrible feeling for an $8,000 a year job. Before you tell > me to quit, I only sub for my kids' schedule. In rural > areas, there are no jobs. It is not worth driving 40 > minutes for a minimum wage job with daycare costs and gas. > > 7. I had a day-to-day sub job with a big urban > district...It paid well. > > I did end up getting "banned" from several schools. (I > don't think the reasons were justified. But, it's a long > story.) > > I did get scared of getting banned from another school...I > became very selective about jobs I accepted... > > But, one day, I did get another bad evaluation. It was over > for me at that district. My name was removed from the > Aesop... > > That district did offer me chances to offer written > responses each time...Those responses were placed in my > file...No, none of my written responses ever resulted in > changing their decision to ban me from certain schools. > > 8. As a sub you have the potential to work or at least have > face time with EVERY child and EVERY employee in the > corporation. As a "sub", you have more interactions than > most people in their day to day jobs. I feel as a sub you > have more "potential" to be banned because of all these > interactions and you walk into the job most days as a > "stranger" with no connections so it is easier to ban > someone you have no "connection" to. > > Subbing is not what it use to be. > > 9. I've subbed for four years now and have had many more > good days than bad and have been banned from a coule > schools, not for anything that was my fault. I am out of > college for 4 years and started out subbing, but as you > know, subs are disposable, blameable, and are easily > blamed. A principal or teacher determined they didnt like > me and said I didnt follow their lesson plans, so I was > banned. Of course I went and asked why I wasnt seeing jobs > for the building and I was told that, to which I told them > it wasn't true and would like to speak with the teacher who > complained. They wouldn't let me, so oh well.. Then at > another building I stepped into a horrible classroom, with > a teacher who had just horrible students.. huge behavioral > and respect issues. She left vaque plans, no discipline > procedures, had them do work which they knew she didnt > grade or check, so why do it. Students even told me their > teacher told them she was having the worst year ever in her > teaching career. So after a while, the principal came down > and took control of the class, and politely let me go, > after I complained to him about the lack of clear plans and > proper discipline plans for her room. I was taken off the > list for that building too. So being banned can happen, I > just sum it up to not being anything I did, but walking > into a building with problems and/or > administrators/teachers who dont care about subs. > > 10. ONE DAY IN 4 YEARS AND GOT BANNED! I just stopped > hearing jobs on AESOP. How can CO take 1 teacher's word for > banning a sub? I used to be requested there? I am > certified, dually. I am good enough for the 7:15 am call, > but not when a teacher has a planned day off? I am full of > anger at the district office. I know it is not healthy to > be this way, full of anger. If I did not have young kids to > pick up, etc, I would seek other employment. I feel stuck. > I am not driving 40 minutes one way for an $8 an hour job, > not that I am too good to do retail. My unhappiness goes on > and on. I am so unhappy subbing. There are no jobs in my > little rural town. I hate being this way. The underemployed > don't even qualify for benefits from the government. > > > > I hope you understand the point by now. And if you have time, > read the novel 1984 and you will see how all this ties up to > the situation very well. > > Ze

Jan 16, 2015

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Rude teacher

by Gwen

Jan 7, 2015

So Tuesday I was learning support all day. I was in the same room with the main teacher all day. He seemed cordial, said hi , but he never asked me once what my name was , never even introduced me to the class, not once. It was embarrassing. I had to tell them when I got some in a small group. When they came to me he said "Go to Mrs. R's group...See More

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anna Although I don't enjoy "learning support" jobs, I occasionally end up in them. Teachers are quirky (and I suppose as a sub, I'm quirky to others as well), so generally when I am learning support, I will introduce myself to the teacher first thing in the morning. "Hi Mr. Jones, I'm subbing for Ms. Smith today. My name is Anna Johnson....See More

Jan 12, 2015

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Emma K On 1/07/15, Gwen wrote: > So Tuesday I was learning support all day. I was in the same > room with the main teacher all day. He seemed cordial, said > hi , but he never asked me once what my name was , never > even introduced me to the class,

If you didn't introduce yourself to him (which is just common courtesy) - "Good ...See More

Jan 13, 2015

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Help Managing an Out of Control Class

by crawfcr1

Dec 29, 2014

I have a month long assignment teaching 5th grade English. The class has had 2 different teachers. The latest one quit. The class is absolutely out of control. I stay calm and cool and discipline according to school policies, but it is taking up my entire class period. Please help! I have tried so many different things.

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That is a good policy for..... On 1/07/15, Newman1999 wrote:

> duct tape and good sturdy closet...but I may not be up to date

> on current management methods.

Jan 8, 2015

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That is a good policy for.......
....jail time! Since there were no "smileys", I do hope
they were implied! :):):):) On 1/08/15, That is a good
policy for..... wrote:
> On 1/07/15, Newman1999 wrote:
>
>> duct tape and good sturdy closet...but I may not be up
>> to date
>
>> on current management methods.
&g...See More

Jan 8, 2015

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Happy 2015!

by Ze Povinho

Jan 1, 2015

Happy 2015 to all. Right now where I am there are a lot of illegal fireworks going on.

Ze

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pixie, seconding the message On 1/01/15, Back Attcha Ze! wrote: > > > Nice graphics and message! Wishes for a great year to you > and your loved ones! :):) > > > > > > > > > > > >

Jan 5, 2015

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Lafemme On 1/01/15, Ze Povinho wrote: > Happy 2015 to all. Right now where I am there are a lot of > illegal fireworks going on. > > Ze

Happy New year,? Ze. It is nice to see some of our old gang way back, when? I am retired along with my husband.

But, I miss being with the little ones, yikes. Your family ok? I still know your...See More

Jan 7, 2015

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On faculty holiday parties

by Ze Povinho

Dec 19, 2014

Here I am, before school starts, at a holiday faculty/staff party-we subs were invited to join.

In these parties, you realize full force that you are the eternal outsider. I see that I have absolutely zero in common with these folks. Just listening to the small talk is enough to send me into a state of depression-how can some be so vacuous...See More

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FL Teacher I can totally relate to what both of you are saying. I'm currently a teacher, been teaching at the same school for 7 years, and I might as well be invisible. Usually I'm okay with it, but I hate school breakfasts, the PTO lunches, and that type of event where I have to worry about where I'll sit and whom I'll talk with. I don't particularly want to...See MoreI can totally relate to what both of you are saying. I'm currently a teacher, been teaching at the same school for 7 years, and I might as well be invisible. Usually I'm okay with it, but I hate school breakfasts, the PTO lunches, and that type of event where I have to worry about where I'll sit and whom I'll talk with. I don't particularly want to socialize with them either, but it's awkward. I never had this problem at previous schools. I'm shy and introverted by nature, but not unfriendly. I'm not cliquey or "one of the gang". It's very stressful. You're brave, Ze, because I would have taken the easy route and sat in my classroom, hungry.

On 12/19/14, Right on Ze Povinho! wrote: > > > I have been in education as a teacher AND as a sub for 34 > years! I have seen "Christmas Parties" play out in this > manner for all of those years! First I was a regular > classroom teacher until retirement and then subbed until I > could no longer stand it. > > > > I have seen the "aloofness" in the little clique groups of > teachers since day one of my teaching experience. I have > been maligned, ignored, snubbed and rendered "invisible" in > every aspect of my teaching career! > > > > It is great that others can say these things do not exist in > their experience. That is fine and GOOD FOR YOU! But I know > what Ze Povinho is talking about because I have SEEN with my > own eyes and experienced many of the same inequities during > my tenure in education. > > > > Great post Ze! > > > > > > > > > > On 12/19/14, Ze Povinho wrote: > >> Here I am, before school starts, at a holiday faculty/staff > >> party-we subs were invited to join. > >> > >> In these parties, you realize full force that you are the > >> eternal outsider. I see that I have absolutely zero in > >> common with these folks. Just listening to the small talk > is > >> enough to send me into a state of depression-how can > >> some be so vacuous...add to this that slow holiday music > >> and it adds more to this state. > >> > >> The reason I went to that party was that they served > >> Vegas style buffet and one could seat wherever, and I > >> hadn't had breakfast. The food was decent but the social > >> perils are simply too much. I never forget that, even in > >> these "relaxed" events, one is still under military > >> dictatorship style surveillance. I just kept a very low > profile > >> and just pretended that I was in one of those Vegas style > >> buffets, where I was surrounded by total strangers who > >> owe nothing to me and to whom I owe nothing. It really > >> was like being in a restaurant. Nobody talked to me once > >> but it was reciprocal. I don't feel bad at all that I had > no > >> interaction. Pretending I was in a restaurant really helped > >> me tune out the immensely vacuous talk and the sugary > >> holiday music among other things. Dealing with them is > >> always hazardous and I deal with them as if they were > >> secret police...because anyone can report you for > >> anything, and staff parties are no exception, especially > >> when the Great Leader and his or her lieutenants are > >> watching. > >> > >> I also observed how these admins, who usually report > >> subs for anything and who treat one as if one were an > >> inconvenience, hug and joke with their fellow admins and > >> staff. One face for those without power, the cheery one > >> for their equals and superior. > >> > >> Nothing new. > >> > >> Ze >

Dec 19, 2014

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BJ I'm not the most sociable person either but would look at it as a networking opportunity.

On 12/19/14, FL Teacher wrote: > I can totally relate to what both of you are saying. I'm > currently a teacher, been teaching at the same school for 7 > years, and I might as well be invisible. Usually I'm okay with > it, but I hate scho...See MoreI'm not the most sociable person either but would look at it as a networking opportunity.

On 12/19/14, FL Teacher wrote: > I can totally relate to what both of you are saying. I'm > currently a teacher, been teaching at the same school for 7 > years, and I might as well be invisible. Usually I'm okay with > it, but I hate school breakfasts, the PTO lunches, and that > type of event where I have to worry about where I'll sit and > whom I'll talk with. I don't particularly want to socialize with > them either, but it's awkward. I never had this problem at > previous schools. I'm shy and introverted by nature, but not > unfriendly. I'm not cliquey or "one of the gang". It's very > stressful. You're brave, Ze, because I would have taken the > easy route and sat in my classroom, hungry. > > On 12/19/14, Right on Ze Povinho! wrote: >> >> >> I have been in education as a teacher AND as a sub for 34 >> years! I have seen "Christmas Parties" play out in this >> manner for all of those years! First I was a regular >> classroom teacher until retirement and then subbed until I >> could no longer stand it. >> >> >> >> I have seen the "aloofness" in the little clique groups of >> teachers since day one of my teaching experience. I have >> been maligned, ignored, snubbed and rendered "invisible" > in >> every aspect of my teaching career! >> >> >> >> It is great that others can say these things do not exist in >> their experience. That is fine and GOOD FOR YOU! But I > know >> what Ze Povinho is talking about because I have SEEN > with my >> own eyes and experienced many of the same inequities > during >> my tenure in education. >> >> >> >> Great post Ze! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 12/19/14, Ze Povinho wrote: >> >>> Here I am, before school starts, at a holiday faculty/staff >> >>> party-we subs were invited to join. >> >>> >> >>> In these parties, you realize full force that you are the >> >>> eternal outsider. I see that I have absolutely zero in >> >>> common with these folks. Just listening to the small talk >> is >> >>> enough to send me into a state of depression-how can >> >>> some be so vacuous...add to this that slow holiday music >> >>> and it adds more to this state. >> >>> >> >>> The reason I went to that party was that they served >> >>> Vegas style buffet and one could seat wherever, and I >> >>> hadn't had breakfast. The food was decent but the social >> >>> perils are simply too much. I never forget that, even in >> >>> these "relaxed" events, one is still under military >> >>> dictatorship style surveillance. I just kept a very low >> profile >> >>> and just pretended that I was in one of those Vegas style >> >>> buffets, where I was surrounded by total strangers who >> >>> owe nothing to me and to whom I owe nothing. It really >> >>> was like being in a restaurant. Nobody talked to me once >> >>> but it was reciprocal. I don't feel bad at all that I had >> no >> >>> interaction. Pretending I was in a restaurant really helped >> >>> me tune out the immensely vacuous talk and the sugary >> >>> holiday music among other things. Dealing with them is >> >>> always hazardous and I deal with them as if they were >> >>> secret police...because anyone can report you for >> >>> anything, and staff parties are no exception, especially >> >>> when the Great Leader and his or her lieutenants are >> >>> watching. >> >>> >> >>> I also observed how these admins, who usually report >> >>> subs for anything and who treat one as if one were an >> >>> inconvenience, hug and joke with their fellow admins and >> >>> staff. One face for those without power, the cheery one >> >>> for their equals and superior. >> >>> >> >>> Nothing new. >> >>> >> >>> Ze >>

Dec 19, 2014

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