Thursday, March 14, 2013

Job Update

Right now I have one parent who has called everyone this side of the pope (in fairness, for a week she didn't have one to call) gunning for my job for completely fabricated tales.  I can abide a lot of things, but lying about me, I just can't get past.  It's been a struggle for almost two weeks now, KNOWING I need to "not worry" about it, but letting it consume me. 

The administration has been nothing short of AMAZING.  Uh-Maze-Ing.  I should be able to throw my head back and walk away confident and content, because they've been so incredible.  But I can't.  People are out there lying about me, and I can't get past it the way I should.

Then tonight I made the mistake of checking work email and there's an email from another parent -- different kid, different class -- to the principal, complaining about me.  The principal forwarded it to me -- he's an awesome guy and such a straight shooter -- and I really don't have reason to worry that he will be anything less than reasonable, and again, I've done nothing wrong.  But in the meantime, the letter is again filled with one-sided stories and outright lies.  In this case, it's how I say all sorts of things I've never said, and how the kid is failing, and the class is a handful.  Point of fact:  the class IS a handful, but do you want to know one of the ringleaders?  You got it.... the mom's little cherub.

It's funny that the kids whose parents complain the loudest are the kids who do the least work and are the most disruptive.

Sigh.  These are the kinds of things that have nothing to do with grading or lesson planning or likely anything that anyone thinks of when they think of what a teacher does.  But they are the things that literally interrupt my sleep, gray my hair, and generally hurt my heart.  I like to think I have a thick skin, but I suppose when it comes down to it, I don't.  I do get upset.  I do get hurt.  I do, quite frankly, get angry -- especially when people lie about me.  Attacks on me are attacks on me, and that people would blindly believe whatever their kids say blows my mind.  So, as you can imagine, I got this email tonight, and despite knowing in my heart that I have nothing to worry about and have done nothing wrong, I will more than likely not sleep tonight.  What is WRONG with me?!  Sheesh!  Buck up, kid! 

I adamantly believe that there is a difference between quitting and cutting one's losses.  I've tried to cut my losses twice now, leaving public education because I no longer believe in it and because I can't continue to do this to myself, and twice I've been pulled back.  (Okay, once I was pulled back, and once I was forced back.  But you know what I mean!)  And when it's good, it's very good; but when it's bad, it consumes me.  It eats at me.  It will put me in an early grave.  If you didn't know me, you'd think I was two people, simultaneously wanting to quit this minute and not come back ever, and at the same time, planning for "next year, I can't wait to try ..."

I need your help, friends.  How do I let this not get to me?  What do you do when you KNOW you need to not sweat something, but you just plain can't help it?

I know I am not the only teacher (heck or person!) who lets this kind of stuff get to me.  But man, it sure is getting to me.   

--Jen

5 comments:

  1. Yikes! That sounds like a tough one...especially to this gal who can rarely put it in a bubble and blow it away. Several walks a day is all I can think of to keep sane! (And lots of chatting and chocolate)

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    1. Thanks, Andrea! I'm so bad at the "putting it in a bubble" -- and I love how you phrased that! I'm stealing ... :)

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  2. Hello I have been reading your blog for awhile and not sure how I happened upon it probably from another blog/comment somewhere. I have to tell you that you are an awesome teacher!!!!!!! I live nowhere near you and you have never taught my children but just from reading I can tell. TOTALLY AWESOME!!! My husband and I are the type of parents that have kids that behave pretty well and get mostly good grades. Anytime we have anything we are concerned about we go directly to the teacher first and have had nothing but great experiences. Teachers are always willing to talk and work with us and some of the issues we have had. It disturbs me that parents like that and their children take away from children that want to learn and have fun and all the class would have fun if the problematic ones wouldn't be that way. I am so sorry you are going through this. Please stay because the parents that have quiet kids and hardly say anything are so glad for teachers like you!!!!!

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  3. Ok meant to sign this since my blog is very vague. Leanna

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    1. Leanna, I'm sorry I took a few days to reply -- it's been busy around here -- but thank you. Thank you SOOOOO much. You have no idea how much your words mean, especially on days when the last thing I want to do is get up and go to THAT JOB... because it's worn me out and beaten me down. So, thank you. I needed that, and I appreciate it.

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