Grieving!

I have never had to file a grievance with the union, but now, I'm at the end of my rope. I always saw this process as something that people do when they want to complain or get a U rating which some of them probably deserved, others maybe not etc. I think grievances are widely overused, and I never really thought I would have to file one. I thought if I worked hard, acted professionally, cared about my students, and was dedicated to my job, that this would never come up, that I would be respected by my school's administration. Why does administration think that they can consistently and systematically do things that go against our contract? Tomorrow, for the first time in my career, I am going to file a grievance for something that is so STUPID, unnecessary, and just plain underhanded. It actually makes me feel disgusted that I work at a school where this kind of stuff flies. I think our administration thinks that we are all idiots who have no idea how things SHOULD work. Unfortunately, I cannot disclose what has taken place but I am seriously rethinking whether or not I should come back in the Fall.

No surprises, no excuses

I "tentatively" got first grade once again.  I guess I'm happy about it.  It was my first choice after all, but it means another year at my school.  I'm still going to pack up the room as if I'm moving grades because you never know...

The dreaded organization sheet

I already know that tomorrow is going to be insane with gossip about the impending publication of next year's organization sheet. There is bound to be scandal. Perhaps the principal will not post it, and everyone will be up in arms about how that goes against our contract. Perhaps there will be no changes at all and people will wonder if the principal will change it last minute. Our principal last year posted a different organization sheet on the last day of school at about 4 PM after people who it affected had already left for the summer. Maybe there will be drastic changes and tears amongst the staff. Excessing and switching of classrooms and grades (oh my!).

While I am fairly certain I will be staying in first grade for next year, part of me is secretly hoping that I will somehow get totally screwed by the organization sheet (not excessed, but something else). This way, I would have a good excuse for finally leaving my school. I know that sounds awful. I don't know how to explain it. I really love my school, but it has been so hard lately to work there. I always wonder if other schools are better.