WTF?? I am now having anxiety attacks over testing! This is ridiculous! I need a new career. And when I say anxiety attacks, I mean crying, shortness of breath and flappy hands. Yes, flappy hands, I haven't had flappy hands in years.
Okay, so everyone likes to see a number cuz that's all politicians can understand. They equate high numbers on a test with smart people and good teachers...dumbasses! So now someone can look at my class's test scores and judge me as a teacher, and they do. Most will never admit it, but they do. Sadly, no one sees, cares or deals with my students. All they see is a number. Do they care that I have 3 students in Special Education? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that one is called names and made fun of at home, by an adult in the home? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that several have to get up at 5 in the morning to be shipped to a babysitter so the parent can go to work? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that while several do not qualify for Special Education, they will in a few years (cuz then they'll be really behind and we can then give them help)? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that English is a second language to many (good for them for knowing two languages!)? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that the care giver is abusive, a drug addict, alcoholic, has limited education, a drug dealer, a prostitute, a gang member, or a petty thief who is in and out of prison? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test.
These are not excuses, but the reality of my job and many lives around our country. Do I think that R can get a 'Proficient' on the state test? No, not this year. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. R is a nice student with a lot going on in the home. Maybe when things settle down in a few years (hopefully sooner) R will be able to achieve full potential. Until then, I can only do my best. But I guess my best isn't good enough.
I see these kids for 6.5 hours per day for 180 days. Oh wait, minus three day....furlough, ya know, not enough money for the future so, cut the year short. I am NOT a fucking miracle worker! I do what I can. I work my ass off at my job. Just look at it sometime, I mean, it really is flat. I work afterschool, I come home and work, I work on weekends, summers and all vacations in between. And for what? To feel like a shitty, no good teacher.
So now I am left to beat myself up, cuz the public and the Right isn't doing a good enough job of that. I thank you for listen (well reading really) rant. I do feel better.
Oh, and if you hear of a really great job opportunity that would be great for me, give me a call :)
Okay, so everyone likes to see a number cuz that's all politicians can understand. They equate high numbers on a test with smart people and good teachers...dumbasses! So now someone can look at my class's test scores and judge me as a teacher, and they do. Most will never admit it, but they do. Sadly, no one sees, cares or deals with my students. All they see is a number. Do they care that I have 3 students in Special Education? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that one is called names and made fun of at home, by an adult in the home? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that several have to get up at 5 in the morning to be shipped to a babysitter so the parent can go to work? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that while several do not qualify for Special Education, they will in a few years (cuz then they'll be really behind and we can then give them help)? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that English is a second language to many (good for them for knowing two languages!)? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test. Do they care that the care giver is abusive, a drug addict, alcoholic, has limited education, a drug dealer, a prostitute, a gang member, or a petty thief who is in and out of prison? No, they just better achieve 'Proficient' on the test.
These are not excuses, but the reality of my job and many lives around our country. Do I think that R can get a 'Proficient' on the state test? No, not this year. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. R is a nice student with a lot going on in the home. Maybe when things settle down in a few years (hopefully sooner) R will be able to achieve full potential. Until then, I can only do my best. But I guess my best isn't good enough.
I see these kids for 6.5 hours per day for 180 days. Oh wait, minus three day....furlough, ya know, not enough money for the future so, cut the year short. I am NOT a fucking miracle worker! I do what I can. I work my ass off at my job. Just look at it sometime, I mean, it really is flat. I work afterschool, I come home and work, I work on weekends, summers and all vacations in between. And for what? To feel like a shitty, no good teacher.
So now I am left to beat myself up, cuz the public and the Right isn't doing a good enough job of that. I thank you for listen (well reading really) rant. I do feel better.
Oh, and if you hear of a really great job opportunity that would be great for me, give me a call :)