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Today was my first day as a teacher again.
I’m so tired. I told my husband, “I can’t believe I used to do this every day.” We laughed together about poor pitiful Taylor, who had to *gasp* go to work again.
Of course I’m glad. After we moved here, I worked for about a week before we evacuated from Gustav. Then we were gone for a week. Then we had to re-un-pack our stuff and decide ~again~ where things went since we weren’t there long enough to remember what we had decided the first time.
Then I worked about 6 more weeks, but the storm had essentially slowed business to a halt. Then I was laid off.
That sucked, mostly.
Being unemployed sucked, but being out of that shop was a blessing. Working with people ~??~ who SERIOUSLY believe they’re not human was just a bit much for me. So much for my little unconventional streak.
Getting hired in this district was ridiculous. It took three and a half weeks. I won’t even tell you how lost I got looking for all the places I had to go. ~none of the streets or buildings are labeled in this town. none of the ones i need, anyway~ I had to get fingerprinted, background checked, & piss tested. I had to take a test to prove I can do 8th grade math. I had to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait for about a dozen signatures on a form just to START all this ~a process that took me to the prison complex downtown, among other horrors~ THEN fill out about a ream of paperwork.
After all that, I waited for more than an hour while they located the original form the principal had sent to the district office ~a request for hire~ TWO WEEKS before that.
Today I actually went to school.
There’s plenty to say ~the two hour meeting that made me want to claw my face off~ about the school, but this one thing sticks out:
THEY THANKED ME.
They were glad to see me. The principal personally thanked me twice. So did a couple of assistant principals. And other colleagues came by to see if I needed anything, to offer help & support, and THANKED ME FOR COMING.
Even a twitter bud thanked me for teaching. ~a non-teacher, even~
I was weirded out by this.
Then I realized, just a few minutes ago, that what is weird is that nobody ever thanked me before.
7 responses so far ↓
1 ken // Nov 18, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Welcome back!
Now, I’m not going to thank you, but I will tell you that now we’re tied!
Who will receive the next thank-you?
ken’s last blog post..lovely, literally
2 KittyCat // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Yay! I’m so glad it went well! I got a thank-you email from my principal today, too! And it wasn’t the first one this year either. WHAT A NICE CHANGE, RIGHT? Yay for post-soul-sucking-hell recovery!
3 diane // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Taylor,
Thank you for sharing, thank you for caring, thank you for being you.
And thank you for blogging again. You are a breath of fresh air in my occasionally stuffy life.
diane’s last blog post..Through a Forest Wilderness
4 Annette Laing // Nov 19, 2008 at 11:05 am
They should get down on their knees and kiss your feet after all the bloody rubbish you had to go through to make it through the front door. Honestly, does anyone ever read all that “paperwork” crap? Does anyone apart from the armies of Rozes (think Monsters Inc.) actually care? Sorry, rant over. Thank you for persisting despite everything. Can you tell I resigned this summer after 12 years of teaching? Not that I’m bitter and twisted, or anything….
5 Jose // Nov 22, 2008 at 8:14 am
HAHA, I don’t think anyone’s kissing anyone’s feet, as there’s a similar process for too many teachers in NYC. All the phone calls and places and people I’ve been to get one question answered over months on end make me realize anyone less dedicated would have quit by the 2nd week. All this just to make an effect. Nonetheless, you’re back, Taylor, and that’s all that matters.
Jose’s last blog post..Who Do You Love? Are You Sure?
6 Kaelie // Nov 22, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Gawd, I never realized how much I missed your blog posts! Jeez!
They better have thanked you. You are such an amazing teacher they have no choice.
How do you like teaching there as opposed to here?
Kaelie’s last blog post..Lost and Still Losing
7 Taylor // Nov 23, 2008 at 1:03 pm
@Kaelie It’s a major major change. I mean, wow. I like nola much more than gvl, but the school is a major challenge. For different reasons than before. More frustrating, but less angering. The things that went on at the old school were just inane, evil actions from people who should know better. The problems in this school are societal problems like poverty & crime, although the district still does very stupid things. But I knew it would be like this.
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