Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Exhale...

Crud, I can't upload some goofy and appropriate picture for how I feel right now. Darn you Blogger and your need to maintain your website!! Okay so onto why I wanna upload some funny picture I would've found on Google: Today at 2:30pm Central time I began my three day fall break (it'll be like a five day weekend with how things lay out). This week, a three day work week essentially, has felt like the longest week I have worked at school since I began my job. I went into this last day of work thinking that it would be a successful day if I and the faculty/staff made it out alive and the kids didn't burn the school down it would be a successful day.
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Thank God, we made it.
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While this week was agonizingly long, the previous two weeks didn't make it any easier. We've had a kid bring a BB gun to school (yeah, don't even get me started on the drama that ordeal entailed), particular students hitting other students and staff on a regular basis, a few getting suspended, a pre-k student, yes I said pre-k meaning the kiddo was no more than 4 years old, was expelled for screaming obscenities to the teacher while wielding a pair of scissors, in-house suspensions, regular fights on the playground, the usual daily quibbles and issues that come up day after day, and so on and so forth. All the teachers, administrators, and staff- all of us have been completely fried. Of course, the students just pick up on the mania and it feeds and continues the craziness. It's a vicious cycle. And I'm breathing a serious sigh of relief knowing it has been broken thanks to the Powers That Be putting in a fall break that I don't get paid for on the schedule.
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At least for now.

7 comments:

Sarah said...

Full moon. Bipolar 4-yo.

I think that about covers it.

Huzzah for long weekends of recovery!!!

The Pliers said...

Sounds intense.

Hope that your break offers you a nice respite from the hazards of the U.S. educational system and that you enjoy yourself and your particular passions during it!

Habebi said...

Sarah- I don't envy you one bit. What the full moon can do to those little bodies still amazes me.

Hope you had some fab downtime at Oktoberfest!

Habebi said...

Pliers- It is intense! I know I talk about the hazards of my job with a matter of factness to the stories- but, at the same time if I were to get upset, freaked out, it would be far too consuming. There has to be a certain detatchment in this job.

That's not to say I don't care, because I do care very, very much. I think it's more of a coping mechanism. I have to let go to some extent and be detatched as these children are being influenced and formed outside of school in ways I cannot control.

This job is so eye opening. While I am not naive and I knew of these issues at this school thanks to my friend and co-worker seeing it all play out while trying to do some good in the middle of all of it is, perhaps, teaching me more about myself, life, our culture, school system etc.

There are moments when I wonder who exactly is getting the education here? ;-)

I do plan on a lot of R&R including some cleaning up around here as I always feel a little better when my surroundings are straightened up. Hope all is well with you my fab friend. I will be emailing you soon!

Sara Louise said...

That little pre-schooler is tragic. That breaks my heart. Enjoy your much needed break! xo

Habebi said...

Sara Louise- It is so, SO sad!! Apparently the mother came in crying and horrified (who wouldn't?). There's not much that can be done on our end. I want to believe and hope this child and family will be able to get help for whatever is wrong. Sadly, however, I'm pretty sure the family lacks the proper resources (ie money and good insurance) to address the problem(s). The fact is that the majority of families have basic insurance or none at all. A shame that our health care system cannot help those who really, really need it.

I really could go on and on, but, I'll stop there. The good news is that there are bright moments everyday and that does help ease the sorrow that the other situations cause.

Caitie said...

O.M.G. You deserve your break. That is insane. I like your PS post too, that's a good poster!