Priorities

So the last week before school starts was to be a week in which I try to salvage the summer for myself.  Instead, the stress increased.  I suffered a schedule change.  I lost my period 1 to teach period 8.   Not a big deal because I have been teaching period 8 for a few years now.  Yes, it is a horrendous bunch most of the time.  They seem to find the most challenging kids and - knowing that I work well with the tough kids - throw them all in the same period.  I looked at the roster and it looked to be the same thing this year.  OK, fine, I am used to that.  However, last year, an administrator made it know he was watching my room on the security cameras, watching who I was giving passes to, and what they were doing when they walked out of my room.  He even let me know I should be controlling what they do when the leave the room - in front of a group of other admins.  I responded that if he would grant me the favour of a certified aide, then I could escort said student and then be able to control what the does and where he goes.  Until then, I can't control what the kids does when out of my sight and out of my room.  So, essentially, when looking at this roster, I knew I would be a target of this admin again. But that is OK.  I could handle that.  I am a tough b*tch.

Then I realized what class I lost.  There were at least seven students in my first period who I lobbied hard to take this class - with me.  And that is the key here.  So I fought to keep that period 1.  I did not request my admins change my schedule back to my duty period 8 and teaching period 1.  That would be seen as being picky and rejecting the challenging kids.  I do not reject students.  I take them in with open arms.  I have colleagues who do reject students.  I do not.  I asked if I could have period 1 and give up period 2.

You see, I have a lot at stake with this program.  I was given the Photography program in 2006.  It was a dead program, apparently couldn't fill one period.  Once I got the program, enrollment went up to three periods, then five periods the following year, then two levels of the course and a full day of eight periods (necessitating another teacher) and three levels of photo.  I never toot my own horn - self esteem issues - but I will here.  I did that.  No one else.  And I maintain the interest in the course.   When you teach an elective, you need to work hard to keep your numbers up.  You must make your class entertaining, informative, challenging, and beneficial to the whole student.  There are many things to do, keep up with, and I must constantly evolve.  I see what happens to electives taught by teachers who coast - the program dies.  On top of all this, I lobby hard for my class all year.  Kids want to take my class because of who I am as a teacher, what they will learn, the measure of success they will achieve in a challenging class.

That period 1 roster has at least seven kids I lobbied for this class.  There are specific personalities and situations that I know will benefit from having me.  Now that was taken away from me, and them.  So what did I do?  I fought it.  Politely.  Respectfully.   Patiently.

However, the students' needs are not what mattered.  What mattered was that a coach wanted a free last period to get going to coaching duties right away.  I have a problem with that.  We are contracted to teach and be available for a student-help time until 3.05. I don't see us ever sticking to that for many reasons.  But teaching duties should be the main priority at least until 2.32.  I am already there for tons of students who are not mine.  I get there by 6.15 am and leave no earlier than 3.05 pm.  Practically the whole school knows they can come to my computer lab since the library is rarely open.  And students know they can catch up on darkroom work or computer based projects at any time.  Including those students who are not mine.  So this unspoken policy of letting coaches have period 8 free to skedaddle on out to the field or the coaching office in a jiffy does not fly with me.  They are paid a generous stipend for that extra time put into the job - time that should begin at 2.32, not before.  And they should be required to be available for that extra help session from 2.32-3.05 when needed.  I am paid nothing extra for the extra hours I put in being there for other peoples' students.  And this includes kids from all subjects.  Now, the teachers whose kids rely on my extra hours will say they don't expect this of me.  However, last year, when I made myself less available for those teachers' kids as an experiment, that became a major logistical issue.  Those teachers did not - would not? - have the time for those kids to make up work or come for extra needed help.  Well, well.  Looks like they do rely on my extra unpaid time.

But did the needs of the students come into play?  Did my being taken advantage come into play?  No.  My schedule has been restored by some quirk of the contract.  A teacher cannot teach four periods in a row.  And that is the sole reason my schedule was restored.  Is this fair?  Not to me.  But my students in period 1 will benefit greatly.  Will this battle come up again next year when creating the schedules?  I bet it will.  But for now, I can relax knowing that our contract saved me and those seven special cases in period 1.  And my bladder is thankful that I will not have to go four period without peeing.  Luckily, the admins involved listened to my reasons and there was mutual respect.  I cannot say the same for my colleagues who take advantage of my generosity of time.