I need to VENT

Okay, so the following is going to be some serious venting, I hope you are up to it.

So I have been teaching for almost 3 weeks... been in the school for about 4. I have a GIANT list of grievances that I really need to get off of my chest before I become a bitter sea hag.

1. I am using a horrible desktop computer riddled with spyware that I cant seem to get rid of and viruses that norton isnt touching
2. And neither is the IT staff
3. The IT staff is completely STUPID. I put in a work order, an email, and I talked to the main guy TWICE.... but it took my lead teacher sending him a nasty email to get someone up to my room to take care of some stuff
4. We are supposed to have lap tops. new ones. they are probably going to come in at the end of the month, when the head IT guy is on vacation. purrrrrfect.
5. speaking of missing materials that would help my job go more smoothly: I HAVE NO BOOKS. Right now I am teaching biology OUT OF MY HEAD. AND THERE IS NOT MUCH THERE TO BEGIN WITH. (in my head, that is) You would think you would get biology books, teachers editions, lab materials, overheads, etc etc BEFORE school starts.
6. In other good news, we were informed yesterday that it will not come in til the END OF OCTOBER. What kinda bs is that?!
7. And did I mention we have 8 microscopes? For about 90 kids taking biology. 8. 8. !!!!
8. The academy director came in today... you know what she told me? That the principal noticed that I did not have my "measurable objectives" on the board. Well EXCUSE ME, I happened to be a lil too busy TEACHING yesterday to put them up. I teach 3 subjects, and yes, I have objectives, and yes, they are measurable but 1) the kids could care less and 2) bite me.
9. Yes, I am teaching 3 subjects. Originally, I told them screw you, I dont want to teach 3 subjects, I am a FIRST YEAR TEACHER. HELLO!? are you STUPID or something!? But then the principal informed me that it was, and I most certainly quote, "It is not an option". WHA...?! I think my face gave it away when she said that. What a beeeeyotch. You dont just say that to someone. However, she threw money at the situation, and I accepted her bribe. It is money, afterall.
10. My 10th graders never shut up. Never. Ever. I am glad they are friends, I really am, but its so difficult to get anything accomplished.
11. My 11th and 12th graders cant do math. Most of them are in Algebra 1. I took Algebra 1 in 8th grade. 8th. They are 11th adn 12th. How in the WORLD am I supposed to teach my chemistry students dimensional analysis??? (That is, turning kilometers into meters... or Liters into grams, etc) THEY CANT EVEN DO FRACTIONS! THEY BARELY UNDERSTAND GRAPHS AND CHARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12. At our staff meeting yesterday, they gave us these metal paperweight coiled things that hold notecards. They probably cost 2 or 3 bucks a pop, if I want to be conservative. And I think we can estimate a good 80 people. Thats 160 bucks. For paperweights. I could use that money to fund a field trip. I cuold use that money for an awesome microscope. I COULD USE THAT MONEY TO BUY MYSELF A FREAKIN BOOK FOR MY BIOLOGY CLASS!!!!
13. Did I mention how, um, brisk it is in my room? This morning, which was a rather warm morning outside, it was a nice 64 degrees in my room. I have no thermostat. Its just that cold. And its not even winter yet. I am definitely going to buy space heaters for my room because its apparently the coldest in the school. How are my students going to be able to learn if their ears are covered by their eskimo parkas?? How am I going to teach if I am shivering so bad that I look like one of those wind-up teeth with feet on it?
14. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
15. Bite me.
16. We have a team meeting every day. Today we watched a half hour video on anaphylaxic shock. This information could have been conveyed to me in about 5 mins time. Most of the information we cover could be done in about 5 mins. But no. we have to waste a whole HOUR.... a WHOLE HOUR.... discussing bs. Type it up on a one page sheet. Stick it in my mailbox. I promise to read it. sheesh.
17. Paper. Another issue. I cant BELIEVE how much paper this school wastes. Its disgusting. We might as well just burn down all the trees in pennsylvania for fun. So many people make one-sided photocopies... USE THAT BLANK SPACE! GOSH!!!
18. The printer. We now have codes for the printer so if it breaks under our code, we are in trouble. Or if we are making 5000 copies a week, someonse going to yell at us. Great, another thing to be annoyed at.
19. I havent signed a contract yet
20. I got my paycheck 5 days late
21. Did I mention that I DONT HAVE A CURRICULUM?!?!?!?!?!
22. By the way, I am teaching biology, physical science, and chemistry.... not that I know ANYTHING about physical science OR chemistry.
23. Today I got 2 new kids added to my class that already too full and hard to handle. its the THIRD WEEK of class. I mean, come on. How can you switch kids at that point? thast sooooo stupid. ARG.

There are plenty of other reasons and things I am upset about. I was talking to my partner in crime, the other bio teacher, and hes as frustrated as I am. And hes like Frankly, I might not make it the whole year because the administration treats us like babies. Let professionals do waht they are good at. Equip them to do their jobs right and trust that you hired excellent teachers that will have successful classrooms and successful students. But EQUIP us, dont HINDER us. We are bogged down with stupid paperwork and stupid rules and infantile ideals. ARG. I AM SO NOT HAVING A GOOD WEEK.

That being said, I do love the kids... and there is only one reason I am staying: for them. They have gotten shafted time and time again. I dont want to give up on them, I want to teach them. But when you take a teacher who is there for the right reason, and throw bs at them every day, they turn into those teachers who obviously dont care and are biding their time until retirement. They burn their fantastic teachers out. I am just PISSED. I am being pissed ON too. ARG. I HATE BEAURACRACIES. And I cant spell. ARg. im going to bed.

someone should have told me

Someone seriously should have told me that teaching was going to be difficult. I thought that once I had made it thru the illustrious C-ville that most things would be smooth sailing. I was wrong. The first year of teaching more or less stinks. There are some highlights, and I am trying to focus on those... for example...

• the girl whose parents were late picking her up after school and she actually WANTED to come hang out with me until they got there
• the girl who asked me if she could come eat lunch with me so that she could get my advice on something
• the kids who continually suprise me with their genuinely creative ideas and thoughts
• my giant room
• the other teachers, who are some of the best people I have ever met
• the paychecks

I think I will just stop there. I would start in on the bad and frustrating things (teaching 3 subjects, having no curriculum for TWO of those three subjects, havent signed a contract yet, etc etc) but I think that would just be a downer.

In other news, which is, in fact, a downer... Ethan decided to take the job in Orlando. sigh. He moves at the end of the month. double sigh. I am not really sure if I mentioned that in my last post or not... ive been rather distraught and upset over it all. But, again, trying to look at the positives... he has every other Friday off, so we should see each other at least once a month, if not twice... and we are both making enough money that flying and buying tickets wont be an issue... I am also going to go down there for spring break and we are going to go to disney world. :) Plus he is going to send me flowers now that he has money. :) And care packages containing the OCD stuff that I love such as post its and sharpies. Man I love sharpies. Its bad.

So... currently I am procrastinating. I am trying to get my biology lesson plans for NEXT WEEK done before I WORK AT THE HOSPITAL this weekend. What was I thinking? I really should have quit outright. Ugh. And my dad and brother and upstairs watching Sister Act. All I can hear is la-la-la-la-la-la. Why didnt I teach music? You pick 6 songs and you just teach them all year... none of this bit about a bajillion topics you have to "cover" or "else". okay... getting negative again. time to get back on task so taht I can go to bed. deeeeamn.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO PAIGE!!!!!!!! (I am a horrible friend, esp when it comes to birthdays! I still owe Jenn hers, though I DO know what I am doing with her)